Every now and then I, like many creators get writer's block. This has been a source of constant annoyance to me, and I'm sure anyone who suffers from this.
With this post, I wanted to share, with you two techniques I learned about and have employed that have helped me to return to creating.
I also created this post as an open invitation to the tapas community on what techniques that you or someone you know employs to avoid creative stagnation:
Technique one: returning to and fixing old drafts.
Returning to old stories or story drafts can be quite rewarding, as you are likely to not have as much emotional attachment to it, as you do on a current project.
And since the foundation is already there, you don't have to build the story from scratch, just rearrange, refine or build upon the existing story.
You can essentially use this draft as a canvas, where you can try out new writing techniques, rewrite characters and overall improve your skill.
The final benefit to this, is that given enough time, or returns you can eventually transform this draft into a polished product. killing two birds with one stone.
Technique two: Copy/paste and rewrite
Before I start let me say I do not condone this if you intend to use this technique and sell the final product, unless it's been completely changed, to the point where it's unrecognizable.
Otherwise this is only for personal use as an exercise to help get back into producing.
It's basically a cheat code for overcoming writer's block, this was recommended to me by my editor, when I was especially lackluster in my production.
Get a copy of a script or novel and simply rewrite some of the scenes. Change around character motivations, names, quirks and dynamics, and see where your creativity takes you.
A slight change in even one aspect of a character or plot point can radically cascade and change the story which you originally copied.
This is quite a fun exercise as you don't need to think about the ending, consistency, quality, really anything other than rewriting the immediate dialogue or plot point.
If you have any suggestions I really would love to hear them.
I hope this helps return you to your creative endeavours,
-Pablo, Author of INTERMINUTE