Writer's Block

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Permalink Reply by J Lynn on June 11, 2010 at 12:33pm

Thank you for your thoughtfull reply:-)

Licentious Maladay said:

Writer's block - when you are staring at the blank page / computer screen and the ideas just won't come, particularly when you are standing at the brink of the cliff of an impending deadline.

My antidote to that dreaded state is never to go there. I write constantly: when I am walking, when I'm riding the bus, when I am standing in line at the cafeteria. If I have a specific project, I focus on it; if not, I work on any one of a number of ongoing ideas. This "writing" isn't the final wording by any means. It is the story arcs, the character development, dealing with thorny plot issues, etc. etc. The point is that I don't sit down to compose anything at the computer until I have something to write. Also, because I always have something percolating, if I can't bring myself to write on the specific project, I can "warm up" by writing on another one.

If the problem is being stuck, i.e. you have a basic plot worked out and characterization, but you need a way to get your protagonist from point A to point B that doesn't sound like a cliche, then many writers state the issue clearly to themselves and let their subconscious work on it over night.

Finally, for many, writing is a solitary occupation, almost a self-flagellation. Many would rather die than consult another writer. Others find solace in a fellow sufferer. If I am still stuck, I use a fellow writer as a sounding board. Failing that, I use my wife, or even the dog (poor thing!) to help me verbalize and solve the problem.

Hope this helps,

Lic

PS: This is a very right-brained approach. The left brained writer starts from a very short thumb nail sketch of the story and keeps expanding it until they have a full plot.

PPS: For inspiration, go rent the film Adaptation. It may appear to be about orchids, but it's really about writer's block.

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Permalink Reply by Lauren Wade on June 11, 2010 at 1:33pm

While I can't offer any hypnosis or meditation advice on writer's block, as a fellow writer, I have a few strategies I use.

I would say just read your favorite book or short story, or watch your favorite tv show, etc. Really enjoying something can help inspire ideas.

Going for a walk and just noticing all the small things around you can help inspire you too. I wrote a story inspired by lust looking at advertisements at the bank-inspiration can come from anywhere, so if you open yourself to many different settings and situations, you are more likely to get inspired.

If you are stuck on how to word or phrase XYZ, then I'd suggest reading the masters behind your genre. When reworking a paragrpah on my new story, I read the beginning of "The Fall of the House of Usher", and the beginning of "House of Seven gables" to help get me in the mood, and it really helped.

And then adding onto what Licentious said, I always talk to people when I'm writing to generate new ideas. I find it really helps me.

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Permalink Reply by J Lynn on June 11, 2010 at 2:26pm

Thank you, very good ideas.

Lauren Wade said:

While I can't offer any hypnosis or meditation advice on writer's block, as a fellow writer, I have a few strategies I use.

I would say just read your favorite book or short story, or watch your favorite tv show, etc. Really enjoying something can help inspire ideas.

Going for a walk and just noticing all the small things around you can help inspire you too. I wrote a story inspired by lust looking at advertisements at the bank-inspiration can come from anywhere, so if you open yourself to many different settings and situations, you are more likely to get inspired.

If you are stuck on how to word or phrase XYZ, then I'd suggest reading the masters behind your genre. When reworking a paragrpah on my new story, I read the beginning of "The Fall of the House of Usher", and the beginning of "House of Seven gables" to help get me in the mood, and it really helped.

And then adding onto what Licentious said, I always talk to people when I'm writing to generate new ideas. I find it really helps me.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on June 11, 2010 at 3:41pm

Hello J Lynn,

Posters shared their triggers and strategies for tapping into their creativity. It's all very good.
My client's creative juices start flowing as soon as they symbolically pull the plug on just about any creative block. I elicit the necessary info during my intake/pre-talk -- It's rather easy:
Imagine giving the client a choice between vaporizing the block, moving the block outside of them or blowing the damn block up - What-ever their answer, their answer is the best imagery for them -- Use their imagery to deal with the block and then create a resource state and give them a post hypnotic signal that taps into all of their creative moments and gets their creative juices flowing -- You are in the mood to ...

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by J Lynn on June 11, 2010 at 3:50pm

Yes. very good. thank you.

Michael Ellner said:

Hello J Lynn,

Posters shared their triggers and strategies for tapping into their creativity. It's all very good.
My client's creative juices start flowing as soon as they symbolically pull the plug on just about any creative block. I elicit the necessary info during my intake/pre-talk -- It's rather easy:
Imagine giving the client a choice between vaporizing the block, moving the block outside of them or blowing the damn block up - What-ever their answer, their answer is the best imagery for them -- Use their imagery to deal with the block and then create a resource state and give them a post hypnotic signal that taps into all of their creative moments and gets their creative juices flowing -- You are in the mood to ...

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on June 11, 2010 at 4:03pm

Hi J Lynn,

Is it a client that has this writers block or are you asking for a block that you are experiencing?

Steve

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Permalink Reply by J Lynn on June 11, 2010 at 5:07pm

me.

Steve Andrade said:

Hi J Lynn,

Is it a client that has this writers block or are you asking for a block that you are experiencing?

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on June 11, 2010 at 7:13pm

You might utilize the hypnogogic state to prime the creative engine: create a suggestion represented by a symbol or word. This suggestion will "open" the creative door to the subconscious. Give post-hypnotic suggestion that, when falling asleep at night, the last thing you will think of is this symbol...Whether the ideas come forth in dreams or the waking state will be the interesting thing to note.

Best wishes,

Kelley

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Permalink Reply by J Lynn on June 11, 2010 at 7:52pm

thank you Kelley, I really appreciate the thought and care this forum provides Such wonderful people!

Kelley Woods said:

You might utilize the hypnogogic state to prime the creative engine: create a suggestion represented by a symbol or word. This suggestion will "open" the creative door to the subconscious. Give post-hypnotic suggestion that, when falling asleep at night, the last thing you will think of is this symbol...Whether the ideas come forth in dreams or the waking state will be the interesting thing to note.

Best wishes,

Kelley

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Permalink Reply by Pete & Lorraine on June 12, 2010 at 3:01am

Get The Artists Way by Julia Cameron it was originally put together for writers and artists who get blocked but is also now as a self help book, an 8 week course to help you redicover your abilities both in art and life. Use it in conjunction with the above.

Pete

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Permalink Reply by Steve Andrade on June 12, 2010 at 5:16am

Hello J Lynn,

J Lynn said:

me.

Steve Andrade said:

Hi J Lynn,

Is it a client that has this writers block or are you asking for a block that you are experiencing?

Steve

I have a small assignment for anyone in your position. Would you care to partake? Good, I love not having direct feedback, I can assume you are nodding your head and saying yes, yes, yes, of course, why not, I'm glad.....etc.

What is your most creative time of day?

What would be your ideal creative writing routine or scenario?

How do you deal with the good anxiety that comes from successfully being creative?

How do you block yourself from being creative or if I didn’t have writers block and you were going to teach me how to have writers block, what would I have to do and when would I do it and how would I know when the block is over, that’s assuming that a block is not permanent that they come and go, how would I know when one is gone?

And second to last but not second to least. Choose one of these two.

1. Write me three sentences about a left footed dancer with the hiccups.
2. or Three sentences about anything that comes to mind.

The three sentences do not have to make any sense at all and they don’t even have to be grammatically correct.

Now, lastly, I have been chosen to write the latest dictionary, I am asking people from their own talented fields for assistance, I need to describe what a “creative writer” is, in your most authentic self, “What is a creative writer,” or who is a creative writer and why?

Enjoy,
Steve

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Permalink Reply by Paul D. Anderson on June 12, 2010 at 7:00am

I visualize wearing two hats: my writer's hat and my editor's hat. I reach up and take off my editor's hat, and my writer's hat allows the creative thoughts to flow freely without blocks or interference. Then I remove my writer's hat and put on my editor's hat to revise, criticise, etc. Switching hats allows me to key from my unconcious without reservation. I don't care if it's any good or not, if it's on task or not. I simply create and let it flow. Then I switch hats and go back and edit. It works for me.

I also use pranayama and alternate nostril breathing to change cerebral hemispheric dominance, allowing me to go from right brain to left brain thinking within seconds rather than the usual 90-120 minute cycles.

Try it. Let me know how it works for you.

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