It's a (Writer's) Block Party!

Ann Parker here, every-other-Thursday at the LadyKillers. Writers (of all kinds): Do you get stumped every once in a while? Hit the wall, get that "where do I go from here" feeling?

Well, you are not alone, so come on and join the party.

Doing an internet search on the term "writer's block" yields over 9 million hits. Egads, are there even 9 million writers in the world? (That's one HUGE party!) Of course, a little further research reveals not all of these hits have to do with a state of mind. For instance, a journal for communications professionals in Canada is titled Writer's Block. Adding the word "exercises" to the search term thins the herd to 1 million hits.

One of the first listings to appear is a handy list of suggestions from  Purdue's Online Writing Lab, aimed at students struggling with a course paper. Under the Invention Strategies link, it suggests asking yourself what your purpose is for writing about "the project." For example:

There are many "correct" things to write about for any subject, but you need to narrow down your choices. For example, your topic might be "dorm food." At this point, you and your potential reader are asking the same question, "So what?" Why should you write about this, and why should anyone read it?

• Do you want the reader to pity you because of the intolerable food you have to eat there?
• Do you want to analyze large-scale institutional cooking?
• Do you want to compare Purdue's dorm food to that served at Indiana University?

 Answering the "so what" question is a great way to start breaking through the block. I suspect it would work for fiction as well. So, you want to write a cozy mystery featuring a, oh say, technical writer. Well, "So what?" Why should you write about this and why should anyone read it? Think about your motivation and what you hope the reader will gain from it.

• Are you hankering to "kill off" a really nasty ex-boss in a fictional world of your design?
• Do you want to show readers how the corporate world "really works?"
• Do you want to provide an escape from real life, maybe write something funny and brilliant that will charm and entertain readers?
• Do you want to make a million dollars? (Well now, I did ask what your motivation is...)

Think about it and write it down your answer to the "So what" question. It may help focus you on the writing task at hand.

Another hit yields ten practice exercises from the Writing on the Run website, right here. Included in the practice exercises is this: At the top of the page, write: "What is the worst that could happen if I write this?" and brainstorm from there.

Many exercises are simply a way to get you to put your hands on the keyboard (or pencil to the paper) and JUST START WRITING.

Write.

Write anything.

And it will finally start clicking.

Remember: you have plenty of company. I'd guess that most writers get "stuck" from time to time. So, let's hear it: do you have a favorite technique to get going again, if you screech to a halt?

Mine is a bit of chocolate, "empty the mind," and start typing. Or contact a writer-friend or two or three, and talk about where I'm stalled and why, and do some brainstorming as a group. In other words, I make a party of it!

Chocolate: a great way to "unstick" the mind ... How do you overcome "writer's block?"

 

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

Parties work! Though I claim never to be blocked (as, in "can't" write), I'm often stuck (as in how did the killer do it?). Brainstorming with chocolate and a friend or two or a whole critique group will help every time. Just write down all their ideas and riff off one.

[Doris McCraw]

Wonderful ideas. The chocolate wouldn't help me, don't like it. (I know, my one big fault *snicker, snicker*)

For me, if I get stuck, I go for a walk and listen to what my mind/characters/events are telling me. If that fails, I read, clean the house or just write about something else. All these practices help me to get perspective and stop obsessing and let the work flow.

[Ann]

Hi Camille! -- Yep, we know the value of chocolate and friendly brainstorming, right? :-)

[Ann]

Hi Doris!
I read something recently about the value of walking to stimulate the mind. Just doing something different and letting the mind "wander" helps too! PUtting things in perspective is a great way to get "unstuck."
:-)

[Susan C Shea]

Agree that there's a difference between so-called 'block,' when you think you can't pick up the evil pencil, and 'stuck,' when you aren't sure how to get the victim into the car that's going to drive off the cliff. For the latter, talking it through with another nutty person (i.e. crime writer) usually helps. Good post, Ann - love the cartoon!

[Priscilla]

Great questions! A trip to the wine country works almost as well as chocolate...

[Ann]

Hi Priscilla...
A nice change of pace and space, right? :-)

[Ann]

Hi Susan!
Isn't it great to have a community of like-minded people to talk to about murder and mayhem (the fictional variety, of course)? Conversations over coffee can get verrrry interesting! :-)

[Nancy Jurka]

This past week I received in the mail from Writer's Digest Books a lovely edition of The Writer's Retreat Kit: A Guide for Creative Exploration & Personal Expression. It is a perfect companion to undoing a writer's block- a simple retreat. It has a beautifully written guide book alone with 20 cards each with approx 15 writing prompts for many subjects such as Writing with the Moon and Food for the Pen. I love this kit!! But-to undo a writing block- I go out with my camera and start shooting the landscape for I know I will create a poem to go with a particular photo. Oh, and a great bar of dark chocolate with pecans and raisins!

[Mysti]

I just have to remind myself for the umpteenth time that I'm not *supposed* to write like Dennis Lehane, Lillian Hellman, or Dashiell Hammett, or Cornell Woolrich. And that the lousy words have to get written, in order for the gems to start appearing.

Or, I bribe my husband to shout with a mischievous grin, "Get in there and write something really bad, woman!" Some magic combo of contrariness and relief sweeps over me :)

[Arletta Dawdy]

Hi Ann,
Your thoughtful post stimulated good ideas from others. I've had two experiences of late that worked well for me: collage work and self-imposed deadlines. They start with "butt in chair" and go from there. Actually, the collage starts with pen in hand as the facilitator guides with prompts. Of course, procrastination often leads to resetting those deadlines....until guilt forces the issue!

[Ann]

Love the suggestions, all! I see some folks go with switching to "visual" (collage? photography?) and some sort of deadline-driven prompts and encouragement from others (Mysti: love the "write something really bad!" ;-) )... and that Writer's Retreat Kit sounds absolutely yummy... as does the dark-chocolate/pecans/raisins (yummy in different ways, of course).
Thanks, everyone!

[Lori Orser]

Most of the first draft of the novel I'm now doing major revisions on was written in a little coffee shop (free refills! Great muffins!) in Carson City, NV,then about 15 minutes from where I lived in Dayton. It somehow was MUCH easier to write it there, with pen and paper, than on the computer at home. I could do the first revision when I typed it into the computer. I haven't found a good quiet coffee place like that here, but occasionally I slip into my sister's house when she's at work, and sit at her dining room table with the manuscript to be edited in my hand. When writing something for the first time, I've learned that I need to duct-tape closed the mouth of the editor/critic in my head. If I try to get every word right the first time, I won't get anything done. Caffeine, chocolate, and the freedom to include some dreadful writing that I'll fix later, usually unblocks the writing!