Using Writer's Block As A Creative Exercise

Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers!

I wanted to talk about writer's block today. It happens to all of us from time to time, to varying degrees, and is frustrating no matter the degree. The thing to focus on is to not give up, but to redirect your writing to something else. Write a different scene, write some dialogue that you were thinking about, and give yourself some time to rearrange the scene you were stuck on. You'll get it right; maybe not in an hour or a day, but you will get it.

I also like to change the music I'm listening to if I get stuck; depending on how your brain works, sometimes listening to music that has a different rhythm can help. Instrumental jazz always helps me the most, but listening to a wide variety of music can help me when I'm trying to find the right groove to write a scene.

If a change in music or writing something different doesn't help, change locations. If you usually write in front of a home PC, go outside or to a library. Change your place, change your perspective, and let that somewhere new inspire you.

I especially recommend the library; if you need it, all that research material is there for you! Also, there is something so intrinsically calming about sitting in a library and existing there in the moment as you listen to everybody around you.

Whatever you do to keep moving forward with your writing, the most important thing is that you keep writing. Don't let the writer's block wear you down, because you can write your way around it.

-A.M.W.