How to Cure Writer's Block

Whether you have a writing job or just like to write for fun, you know that it's no fun at all to have writer's block. Here are some fun and creative ways to find your writer's muse and cure writer's block, once and for all.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Imagination
• An open mind
• 15 minutes here & there
• Writing equipment

1. 
    
   Use television as a creative way to cure writer's block!

   Watch bad television and movies. Take what you don't like on each television show and rewrite it in your own writing style. Love the beginning, but could do without the ending? Like one character, but despise the rest? Rewrite the story. The only cure to writer's block is writing something, so consider this television exercise one stop on the road to remedy.

2. 
    

   Go to a bookstore or library (free!) and browse the sections you normally wouldn't browse. Look at character names and imagine who they might be. Look at titles and random pages and create your own connections. Write your thoughts as fast as you can. The writer's block will disappear if you keep an open mind!

3. 
    

   Go to the mall, park, or any public place with people and comfortable seats. Sit back and people watch! Imagine where they're coming from and where they're going, who they may have met today and what they may have eaten. Write as much as you can as fast as you can. Repeat until someone catches you staring.

4. 
    

   Repeat these steps to cure writer's block in any order, any combination, anywhere, and anytime. Since the only cure for writer's block is indeed writing, your only goal is to see that writing utensil moving and those fingers pressing keys. It doesn't matter if it's good or not initially. Just have faith and know that you have to start somewhere.

5. 
    

   Be open to write (almost) anything! Sometimes we get so stuck on one writing project that we create writer's block for ourselves by blocking out opportunities to write. I understand that the deadline is important, but perhaps expanding your writing horizons might get you there faster. Take a break and write that nagging thought or that funny thing that happened on the way to work.

6. 
    

   Be ready to write anywhere at anytime. You think you'll remember to write down that brilliant idea when you get home, but chances are you probably won't write at all if you wait that long. Keep a small notebook, a smartphone with a word processor, or even napkins around at all times. If you have the necessary tools, you can focus on writing from the heart anytime.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember: for writer's block, the cause and the cure are one and the same: write something!
• Keep a pen! Don't be caught without some way to take note of those brilliant ideas when they do show up. Writer's block won't cure itself.
• If possible, write instead of recording. Practice makes perfect ideas become perfect finished writing projects, so keep writing the old-fashioned way.
• However, if leaving yourself a voicemail or using your phone recorder to protect that genius notion is the only way, do it! Just make sure you write it down later.
• Be careful not to plagiarize when you're rewriting those library books. The purpose is to find inspiration. Although you might get a pretty good adaptation out of it.
• Don't watch the same bad television show more than three times, or you might get hooked. Been there, doing that. Darn television shows.
• Avoid laughing aloud while watching people and writing about them. You might find yourself looking for another how-to article involving other types of cures.

[forgetfulmare]

on 7/23/2009 What great ideas; I'm saving this and sending it to all the writers in my life. Thank you!

[Handmadedreams]

on 6/5/2009 Very useful article to get rid of writer's block.

[Kathymcbain]

on 3/7/2009 what wonderful ideas for getting rid of writer's block. I'm printing this.

[betterbody]

on 3/6/2009 Yes, just write something. Anything!

[LisaBud]

on 3/3/2009 These are great ideas for curing writer's block and entertainingly written! Thanks!