Techniques to Overcome Writer's Block

Ways to overcome writer's block, the bane of all writers.

Every writer, young or old, amateur or professional, will experience that dreaded of all possibilities—writer’s block— that time when ideas are absent, words will not come, and the writer’s confidence is shaken.

What can the writer do? Here are a few suggestions that might be fitted to each writer’s situation.

1. Writer fast and free—write anything. Even this will not work some time.

2. Write in a journal. Many writers use this to assure that they will have something to say.

3. Talk into a tape recorder and play it back then write it down.

4. Review old material, a discarded article, or any other manuscript.

5. Switch to an entirely different genre. Try something that you have never tried before. If you write fiction, try non-fiction and vice versa.

6. Do something physical. Take a walk, play a game, do push-ups. Get you mind off writing.

7. Read a new article, a new story, or a new book.

8. Catch up on your bookkeeping.

9. Talk to a writer friend.

10. Work on your website, or build one.

11. Write your great ideas down. This is important. Although we believe we will remember it, often we do not and it may be gone forever.

12. Be careful where you stop—stop your daily writing before whatever you are writing is finished.

Not all these techniques will work for you, but one might although you must remember that writing involves hard work and dedication, seldom inspiration.

Keep writing!

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature so he writes historical novels, most based on Canadian history. He may be contacted at:

E-mail: go1c@telusplanet.net

Website: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c

Blog: http://go1c.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleDiner.com/