What is the best way to get over writers block?
I'm trying to write a book and nothings coming to me. I keep coming up blank, how do you get over writers block?
While writer's block is difficult to deal with, there are some simple techniques that can really help all writers. When I was in seventh grade, I needed to write a series of vignettes, such as those of Sandra Cisneros' "The House on Mango Street." I had a TERRIBLE case of writer's block, and I used that to my benefit. I wrote a short story about a wall that blocked ideas from exiting my brain and going to my hands to write it, and it turned into one of my favorite stories I've written.
Keep a small notebook on you at all times, because you never know when an idea will pop into your head. An idea can come to you any time, such as when you're on the train, walking through the park, or on an airplane, and you might not have anywhere to log the idea. I was once walking down the street, and saw this boy who looked so forlorn, and I took a notebook, and when I got onto the bus, I took out my notebook and began writing a back-story to the boy -- why was he so upset? What happened to make him upset? From that, I got several ideas for different stories that I am currently working on, one of which I am done with, and might become a novella. If you have a notebook and pen or pencil on hand, you are always close to something where you can log everything that comes from your mind. Ideas can come at any time, so it's good to be prepared for a flash of genius that will inevitably come.
If I have writer's block, I sometimes just write random words, and hopefully some idea will come from that. Take a pencil, or an empty Word document and just begin typing or writing words. Something is bound to hit you eventually. I used to just do these exercises where I did nothing but write random sentences without using punctuation. This helped my brain juices to flow, and it allowed me to write some short poems and short, short stories. Sometimes that rare moment when two words fit together perfectly to give you a great idea for a story occurs, and who knows? Maybe those two words can launch a series of books, or a series of plays, or the great American novel.
I draw inspiration from everything when I have writer's block. I take inspiration from news stories, from YouTube videos, music, a story my friend told me, your own personal experiences, and anything and everything in between. It's not wrong to get ideas from everyday things such as a news story about a gay teenager committing suicide, or an attempt terrorist attack of an airplane. If you do end up using something like a news story, you have to make it your own. Keep that in mind if you do use those things as your inspiration.
"Writer's Digest | Writing Prompts"
http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts/
"Creative Writing Prompts"
http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/
"Writing Topics"
http://www.thewritesource.com/writing_topics/
The last advice I can give you is to keep at it. Don't give up because you don't have an idea. Go for a walk, get some air, go for a drive, go get some food, or do something that can help your brain work, and then you can get some ideas. Never give up, and push through the writer's block, because something brilliant is bound to come out of writer's block.
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