How to Combat Writer’s Block
by A.E. Albert
“One thing that helps is to give myself permission to write badly. I tell myself that I’m going to do my five or 10 pages no matter what, and that I can always tear them up the following morning if I want. I’ll have lost nothing—writing and tearing up five pages would leave me no further behind than if I took the day off.”
—Lawrence Block
1. Don't think so much. You don't need to be perfect. Just write and edit later.
2. Take a break. Read a book. Think about other things.
3. Write down ideas as they come to you. Always have paper and a pen with you. Be ready.
4. Focus on the concept of what you are trying to say. Don't get stuck on the phrasing. You can always fix it later.
5. Write about something else. Do a writing prompt, write a letter to your favorite author or a short story.
6. Break your work down into tasks. Choose one and focus on that.
7. If you are stuck on finding a solution to a problem, jot down various ways to solve it. Don't over analyze, you never know what you may come up with.
8. Create a schedule. Make a plan that works with your life and stick to it.
9. Write for yourself. Write the story you want to tell. Stop trying to be what others want you to be.
10. Stop waiting for inspiration. If you're waiting you're not writing. And writers write.
I'll never stop querying The Representative, because I'll never give up the belief that a great story is a great story, and that this is enough to warrant querying.
ReplyDeleteIn a query letter, dated a few months ago, I wrote that the agent's reason for not wanting to represent The Representative is the "very reason" that there is no reason to not want to represent The Representative.
I was aware of it, the principle of precedent, but, I was also aware that the identity of The Representative was a force to rival the force of this principle.
Life has taught me not to write for myself - but then saying that, I'll always opt to be a person of principle than a person of pragmatism.