Education Writer's Block - 5 More Ways To Deal With It

Work on your mental attitude Do you believe in writer's block? Or is it a convenient reason for not starting something. The lesson of the red shirts shows us that when we tune our antennae to what we want to see, then we see it. If you haven't tried the red shirt exercise, as you go around today, tune into red shirts and see how many you notice. Because you're now looking for them I predict you'll see them by the dozen. Now apply the same exercise to looking for ideas. Go where people are and look for the stories you can tell from their faces. Listen to what they say. People have an individual ways of using language. A phrase picked up can be enough to spark your imagination. Ask other people for help Writing is a solitary occupation. Usually. So why do successful comedy shows and long running soaps have teams of writers? Because they need the sparks to fly and ideas to be stimulated. If your ideas feel stale and you can't get going, find someone to bounce ideas off. I'm lucky enough to have a fellow writer who prods me and shakes me up. Find a writing buddy but make sure you can trust them. Do a workshop I don't mean a writing workshop. That might make you feel more anxious. Do a practical workshop. Doesn't matter how bad you are at it. You're there to activate different parts of your brain than what you use for writing. I'm a self confessed craft failure. But from time to time I try something different. Part of me things I'll discover the one craft that works for me. but it's more that it gives me a different challenge and creates new connections and pathways in the brain. Sing Naw I'm tone deaf you say? Singing is a universal language. Even if you haven't sung in any way for yourself, and there are few people who don't admit to singing in the shower, just opening your mouth and letting out your sound is therapeutic. If you really hate the thought of singing, then find somewhere away from people. Then simply open your mouth and let out your sound. It may feel strange to you but there is a unique sound inside you waiting to come out. We talk about finding our voice as writers. Singing or sounding may help you to do that. Use your senses How real is your writing to you? Is it words on a page or a film going on in your head? Putting your body - your flesh and bones body into your writing creates a living breathing experience. Have you ever tried to act out your writing? Being each character in turn gives you access to that character at a deeper level. Therapeutic sessions featuring your characters or the reader you're targeting can bring out the emotions on a visceral level where you feel their pain or joy. It's interesting to try. Writing back stories for the readers you want to sell to creates a much more targeted text and hones your story telling skills. writing job onlne