Any advice on writers block?

[nostalgicroxas]

You're probably not going to like my answer: but the answer is WRITE.

Since you have time, eat a meal and prep a beverage and then get out some paper and pens and physically write with a timer. It's a "writing marathon" where you write for 3min, 5min, 7min, 10min, and eventually work up to 15min~20min stints, for 2-3hrs with no breaks. You give yourself prompts and no prompts and alternate between them.

• 2min - prompt: chicken dinner
• 3min - no prompt
• 1min - prompt: favorite shoes
• 5min - prompt: grocery list
• 7mn - no prompt

stuff like that. The important thing is following the timer. You finish your thought and then proceed on.

The idea is that you're writing all this random stuff that may or may not apply to your actual project, and it's flexing your writing muscles in a way that's different than your norm. I've done this before with the intention and expectation that nothing I can use for my writing projects will come out of it, and in the last 30min or so, I end up writing something that will work entirely perfectly. Some entries end up being complaints, or in my cases, a lot of talking about how hungry I and where I plan to go to buy food and eat it and what my exact order will be..... lol

((note you can do this with a laptop but the idea is that you cannot backspace to make things perfect. it forces your inner editor to shut up))

[LJ2]

thank you!!!!! I will try that!!

[doriantorres112]

Don't force yourself to write something if you're in a writer's block. It'll worsen, at least for me. Just listen to music, read books, or do something to take your time and while doing so try to imagine a scene and hopefully you can slowly get rid of the writer's block. It might take days or hours or weeks though. I still haven't discovered the cure for writer's block, sorry.

[Kiweevil]

Listen to music in the shower, and let your mind roam. It will come to you the more you open your mind and stop pushing things.

[faisalhussein394]

Take a nap and have a dream about your novel, you might get an idea in the next day. Works for me.

[Jerrico.ink]

End it in the most horrible, cliche, uninspired way. Write a terrible ending/scene. Like, make it laughably bad.

For me, I always crack up and feel like the pressure to make something great gets lifted. Then I write knowing that the real version can't possibly be as bad as what could have been.

[darthmongoose]

Usually when I have writer's or artist's block, it's for one of two reasons:

1. I'm scared to draw or write this bit because I feel like I'm going to mess it up; it can't live up to my expectations. If it's this, my solution is to take a little break to calm down and then just have a rough go at it, reminding myself it's okay to try again or to edit it later if it's bad.

2. Something about how I've written or thumbnailed this...isn't working somehow. I can't put my finger on how but I just feel like it's not "right" or I've painted myself into a corner. If it's this, I try writing out a brief for myself. What does this illo or page need to get across? What key themes and events am I trying to hit? I might try a radically different approach and doodle or jot out some really wacky solutions. Usually I have a brainwave that fixes the problem!

[LJ2]

Wow, that's really smart! It will definitely make me feel better about myself thanks!!

[Psychobott]

Hey there. I'm not a professional writer or anything, but generally, when I get writer's block, I usually try to use it as the moment to continue adding elements and constructing how the story would continue, like what would be the rising action, climax, would there be another ark, other questions, etc.. It's how I excite myself and aggregate ideas, which could actually turn out to be the next chapter. And then I'd go back to forcing myself into writing as soon as possible because if I don't, I'd get too lazy to continue the story, which actually happened to me before.

[LJ2]

yeah, I'm a little nervous that i'm going to get really bored with my story and not be able to finish it....
I've started so many story's before, but I've never had the motivation to finish.

[river_onei]

That's such a good idea!

[Psychobott]

The greatest motivation that actually kept me writing these days was my readers engaging with me. If you want, you can drop me a link to your story, I'd love to check it out and help.

[Xicaradecha]

Idk, i had writers block, and then it went away, idk if it was coffee or what but i actually finished writing an arc of a story, i had never ended anything before, and ending that gives me motivation to keep going idk

[LJ2]

caffeine always works

[LJ2]

Okay, I sent you a private message with the link

[Maxedrox]

You can see everything that you "should" do

[puddle]

I second the suggestion of an idea-list that you keep on hand-- but also: Brain-dumps are great!

Set a timer and just write/type. Let your brain fill the space and write the words as your thoughts wander- it could just be about how your day is going, a recent interaction with a stranger, or a food you're in the mood for. Just write to write and let your mind wander-- same with art blocks! set a timer and just put some vague lines down.

It won't immediately give a "eureka!" every time, but it's a lot like doing stretches before a more strenuous exercise- I highly recommend it

[joannekwan]

If you're stuck at a particular point in your story, use your time to go back to the beginning and read what you have, maybe do some editing along the way. Sometimes the answer to what comes next may be hidden in what came before.

And also do take time to read other works and watch things to get your creativity juices flowing. I also recommend watching youtube essays (Lindsay Ellis and Jack Saint I love), movie reviews, and writing advice channels (Jenna Moreci and Alexa Donne are my go-tos) if you want some craft-for-thought.

[RainbowCat]

I hate writer's block but I found some really good tips on how to overcome writer's block here

Writer's Block - ShanniiWrites

Whenever I get writer's block now, I just pick one of those 9 tips and try it! Sometimes even just reading through writing tips helps me get my mind back to a good place to write

[WOSTR]

Maybe think about the things you miss, the things you don't miss and what you plan or hope to do after lockdown.
This isn't the most positive of thinking yet I find myself thinking about work, the mistreatment and how I'll have to go in with a more assertive demeanor, do I see myself staying? Do I imagine a future elsewhere or not working at all? How are things for those who aren't off?
Essentially, looking to the past, present and future.