Writer's block.

[NachtSorcier]

What do you do when you get it? I love to write, but I simply cannot think of anything or anyone to write about. It's maddening, really, to just sit there with paper and pen and not be able to push anything out of your head and into your fingers. I realize that some of the best (and worst) comes from spontaneous bursts of creativity, but I feel like I'm in a real rut. Any suggestions?

[mutsumiasakura]

Flood the paper (or computer). Just sit there and write anything and everything that comes into your head, even if it's "I can't think of anything to write" over and over. Eventually you'll get over it.
Eventually.
I feel your pain.

[NachtSorcier]

You've just reminded me of what I used to do when I was younger. Thanks. :-)

[angel011]

Or you can just do something else, away from the computer (playing computer games prolongs the writer's block). Eventually the writer's block ends.

My psychology professor suggested something else: do something crazy (but something you know that, although crazy, is actually safe). When she had writer's block, one of her silly actions would be to call her ex-husband and ask him to marry her (she knew he knew her well enough not to take such a call seriously, and also that he wouldn't be offended or feel hurt -- he'd just play along to help her).

[NachtSorcier]

That sounds kinda interesting. I'll have to try that sometime.

[Shelley/Stoker]

I love your dp. Nachtsorcier. Thats a good idea Angel011... Might try it sometime...

[end.of.eternity]

I have this all the time, too. Some time ago I thought of writing about something completely crazy, for it could perhaps help me to create something and become inspired so I asked my friend for suggestions. She said 'write about a banana'... and then I just started describing banana war in a banana world and in the end it became a novel. Something like this:

"Brother banana looked down on the street and suddenly started loudly screaming as he saw this ghastliness lying on the pavement; banana skin, hopelessly lolling there, the remains of an immolation."

Anyway, it didn't help... But yesterday I got a yummy idea for a novel, so I'm working on it now.

I don't know any special way of making oneself more creative...it just pops out when you're in the right mood. Or you've experienced something. That helps too. But perhaps reading more?

[nuksaa]

I would have to say put it all away. Get all of it out of your mind. Not sure what your specific method would be to switch your thinking away from the project. Hopefully it gives you a new breath when your approach it again with a new insight. I often discover myself asking 'what the hell is this crap?' and inject new energy into it.

[Minyaliel]

I've found keeping a blog helps - you can either just write a stream of conciousness entry there or look back on things that have happened to you earlier and try to write something with inspiration from those sitations :P

[spookypurple]

* Go out and watch people.
* Go and stand in the middle of a field.
* Sit down and write the most apalling rubbish. Lists of words, random adjectives.
* Watch a film that you know has always provoked a strong reaction in you.
* Keep three bags, labeled 'people' 'places' and 'actions'. write things, names acts, etc on bits of paper and throw 'em in. Then you can pull one out from each and challenge yourself to come up with something.
* Read through any unfinished stuff you've done.
* Go and do something childy- climb a tree, jump in puddles - or fully clothed, into the shower...
* Go and do something else altogther different and forget about the writing for a day or two.

[Crimson_Terror]

I suggest getting inspiration by changing your surroundings. For example, you could try dimming the lights or playing your favourate music in the background. If that doesn't work, you could even change your location entirely.

[Somber Illusions]

I also love to write, poetry to be exact. Every writer as experienced "writers block" sometime in their life, and each writer finds different ways to break out of it. For me, it depends on what mood I'm in. If I feel like writer horror, I'll listen to dark spooky music or watch a horror movie to gain the emotions. Its all about the emotions when writing poetry, however I felt when I was watching the movie or listening to the song, I will jot it down on paper.

[Cicero]

I'd been experiencing writers block for about six months, though after a few eventful and exciting times I feel my creativity is starting to trickle back in again. So yes, I agree on those advising "doing something crazy". It works!

[Virulent Dryad]

Try denying the existance of writer's block and maybe you will start to believe it and then you can write again.

[J.M.Lovechild]

I really feel for you, i hate writer's block. There are three different methods i use (they don't always work of course, but most of the time):

1.) Pick an object in the room (chair, ornament, cat, goldfish, younger brother) and write about. Start by describing it, then maybe make up a background story about it. It usually get my creativity flowing.

2.) Go for a walk. I usually go for a walk in the forest and sit by the river. I think the fresh air and change of scenery clears you head, relaxes you and helps you to think.

3.) Listen to some music. Listen carefully to the lyrics of a song, try to imagine the message behind it and invent a story about it. That's one of my favourite methods.

Hope these help, and good luck!

[spookypurple]

I think someone should collate all of these and send 'em to the people who publish things like the Writer's Yearbook - that'd be as helpful as what size margins to have!

[Catch]

Sometimes I think about a topic to write about, then go about life. As things happen or maybe a little quip the outline forms. After awhile the whole idea forms and it is just a matter of putting it on paper.

It is useful, because at least I'm not wasting all day looking at paper. Plus, having a muse is very important to creativity.

[happy_dude]

Originally Posted by J.M.Lovechild

1.) Pick an object in the room (chair, ornament, cat, goldfish, younger brother) and write about. Start by describing it, then maybe make up a background story about it. It usually get my creativity flowing.

2.) Go for a walk. I usually go for a walk in the forest and sit by the river. I think the fresh air and change of scenery clears you head, relaxes you and helps you to think.

3.) Listen to some music. Listen carefully to the lyrics of a song, try to imagine the message behind it and invent a story about it. That's one of my favourite methods.

Hope these help, and good luck!

Thank you, I don't do much in the way of writing, but I do find myself at a loss of what to draw. The first one is an interesting one, I've already tried the third and second on occasion.

[Crying_Crimson_Tears]

Read other books (but don't copy them), surf the web for ideas, listen to music, draw, space out, etc.

[cradle]

I'de take her^^^ advice...listening to music really helps me clear my mind and start a new slate to write and stuff.

[transformingfate]

I hate writer's block with a passion. What I normally try to do when I have it is to watch a movie or listen to music that I know inspires me; surf the internet for pictures of things/people/places that may strike a nerve somewhere; talk to someone who knows me very well; and if none of those work, I put it all away, purposefully ignore it, and go for a walk outside somewhere.

[sunbound]

Most of my poems are based off of depression or sadness... so when I'm stuck, I will usually "revisit" that time, or place... or look at old pictures... and try and re-grasp how I felt. I guess I'm a bit of an emotional masochist. When the tears start flowing, that’s usually when my imagination and creativeness kicks in.

If it’s something that’s happening now, I usually just go off and argue with the voices in my head, and a simple phrase, or idea will pop into my head. That acts as a spring board, and off I am...

Unfortunately, this doesn't always produce the most splendid results, but it does help break through the empty patch of writing...

[MollyMac]

i walk away to do something completely irrelevant. the more you force something, the less it will work.... much in the same way that you will find your keys when you give up. relaxing the though process is as important as exercising it

[Pyre]

I don't simply have Writer's Block, I have Creator's Block altogether -- I find it difficult to create anything, be it writing or artwork. Sometimes I force myself into it, other times I seek inspiration from music, feelings, past experiences, etc.

Once, about four years ago, I had to write a paper for a teacher. Luckily, though, the teacher handed us a piece of paper with a series of sentence starters on it. I don't remember what it is she really expected out of us, but instead of doing what she wanted I chose to do my own thing completely off topic. I used every sentence starter she had, and simply added whatever popped in my mind at the time. It was complete nonsense, but at the time it was a relatively good paper, which was something that many people enjoyed reading.

I still have it somewhere. I believe I found it on a floppy disk and saved it to my hard drive, as a matter of fact. If anyone is interested in what I had to say in the eighth grade, let me know, and I will share with you my writing

[grimreaper993]

I go watch a movie or something until something inspirational comes to mind. Or just stare at the Microsoft Word for about an hour.