How To Get Over Writers Block

Most writers experience the dreaded writer’s block at some point in their careers. Some even have it more often than not. They sit in front of their computer screen for hours and not so much as a single paragraph gets written. What are some good ways to overcome writer’s block?

One technique this writer and many others have used is to put aside that project for a moment and do some creative writing to get your juices flowing again. Without any intention of actually finishing them, you could start a series of suspense books. That’s a great genre, because it’s exciting, engaging and allows you to let your imagination soar.

Remember, you don’t have to write a masterpiece. Just write about whatever pops into your head. If you need an idea, look around you and pick the first thing you see. You might have a stack of handmade scrapbooking papers, for instance. A sheet of hand made paper is a perfect start!

Here’s what you might do for your opening paragraph: ‘It was a day like any other day until the enigmatic note, written on a sheet of handmade paper, was slipped under his door.’ Now write the first thing that pops into your head. Maybe the note was from a secret admirer or maybe it was from a debt collector. It’s your call!

Keep going with every thought that the images evoke. Was the note from a woman who says she has erotic fantasies about you and wants to arrange a rendezvous? Of course, you’re tempted, but is she for real or is somebody trying to trick you? You know you can’t resist, but you also know you’re going to have to be careful.

Now, at that suspenseful moment, set aside your thriller and get back to your job. You should already have it open, so you can get back to it without delay. Your imagination is running wild now and anything can happen. That Giro Ski Helmet you were supposed to be writing a technical data sheet about is now a very important part of your life. You need to describe it in detail, because you’ll be needing it when that romantic encounter turns deadly!

It sounds silly, but it works! Even if you’re writing a college thesis on a subject that’s boring to you, if your life depends on that knowledge, it won’t be boring anymore! In fact, some of the best selling thrillers have revolved around the writer’s knowledge about something technical or trivial, like the chemical composition of perfume. If you’ve got writer’s block, this is the most enjoyable way to get over it!