Stephen King would say to just sit down every day and write a LOT.
Judy Blume would say to imagine yourself in the character’s shoes.
Theodor Geisel (or better know as Dr. Seuss) would say: It’s time to write so put on your thinking cap / There are thinks to be thunked, you old chap / Making a book is as simple as that / When you scribble your words with a thinking hat! (inspired parody of my own)
But really, what is the solution to writer’s block? First of all, you just need to type into Google — or AI for that matter — about writing prompts and they will quickly spit them out. I’m talking here about writing long-term, to continually create. You might be working on poetry or trying to start journaling. But HOW, you may ask, do you keep doing it, day after day?
THAT is just it! You sit down and you work. You allow yourself to write badly. But having something on the page is way better than having a blank journal full of pages. Then one day, you might just sit down and find an idea in all that garbly-gook. You might write a short story or a letter to a friend. Maybe you’ll write the first fifty pages of a story that has been in your head for a while.
And guess what??? You don’t have to write this on lined paper, in a notebook, on a Google Doc, or use a special program. You can put your ideas on sticky notes. You can paint them (as an artist, I’m a huge proponent of this one!). You might want to make a bulleted list to come back to when you need more inspiration. But don’t allow distraction to interfere!
Be sure that you set aside a specific time that works for you. And don’t bring your phone. Are you a morning person? Don’t try to write after the kids have gone to bed. Set your alarm for an hour earlier. Are you someone who needs quiet? Don’t bring your laptop to the coffee shop (OR bring noise-cancelling headphones). Do you get distracted by the computer? Try writing down your initial ideas in a notebook. There are always manners of writing that are available. Don’t feel like you have to try each one.
If you are getting stuck, but have maintained a writing habit before, try simplifying it. Write down all your ideas in a brainstorming document and choose two or three. Play with the ideas and see if one pops out at you. I mean, really, start working out the ideas by writing a poem or trying to flesh out a story. See which one sticks.
Play with the ideas and see if one pops out at you.
What if I’m a newbie at this whole writing thing? Don’t go out and buy the best notebook and purchase the latest writing program. Start with FREE until you figure out what you absolutely love for writing. I attend a writer’s group and we all have different methods. You need to work until you find one that works for you.
>>>Try ONE thing and see if you are consistent after two to three weeks. Figure out what works and what you need to tweak. If you enjoy writing by hand, maybe you do need to go get a journal and a favorite set of pens, but ONLY after you’ve worked on it for a while.
The only thing worse than having no writing habit in a month is having spent $50 on your non-existent writing habit. There are too many free websites, writing spaces, and advice for you to spend your money in the first steps.
- Try a website like WordPress or Wix if you are interested in blogging
- Play music to get you inspired for poetry
- Want to write a novel? Just open up a Word Document
- bullet point ideas
- a couple characters
- conflicts
- setting
- ending (sometimes I don’t create this in the beginning)
- WRITE!
- Note: If you like this and are interested in more, try reading some of my blogs on outlining and NaNoWriMo (or something a little less rigid, like Pathfinders Writing Collective)
Always creating,
Hannah Marie.
