Writer's Block

I have seriously bad writer's block right now, and have done for about five or six months. I haven't written any poetry in a while, and although most would say that's a blessing to the world, I'd rather like to know any tips for breaking the pattern (I promise, I won't post any of my crap here if you tell me).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Sometimes its fine to be in writer's block. Just ride it out. One day something will come to you. If you really feel the need to write, try doing some writing excercises just to get yourself in the mood. Write some goofy stuff, or just random. Free write. Thats where you just sit and time yourself for sixty seconds or something. Have a blank peice of paper in front of you and a pen in your hand. For those sixty seconds, just write everything that comes to mind as fast as you can. It can be a single word, it can be a phraase or a sentence. Even some numbers. Who knows, at the end of that sixty seconds, you might be able to pick some subject matter out of that stuff. Or if you wanna write a simple poem just to get back into the flow of it. Pick a random noun, and a random verb. Then write a silly 10 line rhyme about that noun doing the verb. Anything to get yourself back into the mood. I always find that those things help me. Maybe you'll be able to use them.

How ya doing, buddy?

I had writer's block for a good year up until a month ago. I stopped thinking about it, I went and made love with a pretty girl and then I drunkenly sauntered about the city in the middle of the night.

I've written at least 100 poems since then. You just have to shut off your brain, take the world in, and be fucking inspired.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

It's just I've got so much I want to write, but I can't seem to find the words. The world has thrown a lot of shit my way recently, both good and bad, but I can't write anything about it. A little piss-about session sounds good smelnick, maybe I'll churn out something useful like that. Sometimes I get a line or two randomly but can't write it down at the time and forget it later. I guess more dedication is the key.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I don't think dedication is the real problem. It's more to the mood. When you don't feel like it, you won't produce a good stuff even though you may have thousands of ideas in your brain. It happens to me all the time; colourful words just pops up out of nowhere when you don't even expect it and won't even appear when you think hard.

Or maybe there must be a certain condition to be fulfilled to make you think of something creative. I got a whole lot of ideas and inspirations (for poems, stories, or whatever writings) when I struggle with my insomnia every night.

The most important stuff is that you have to feel like it. Then words describing your ideas will submerge itself.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I am writing a novel, and I have had the same problem many times. What I do when that happens is step away for it for a short while, and while I am doing other things, think of what I would like to add.
The most difficult parts for me are fillers. But...you write poetry and that is a different thing altogether.
Have you tried taking a pad of paper and a pen and watching the clouds? I love watching the clouds. They are very inspiring.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Hey Bernard. Might I suggest doing something that breaks your normal everyday routine? I find when I am getting a 'block', it is usually because I am not stimulating myself in the right way. For that, I've found that keeping everyday fresh and interesting, and doing different things apart from a set schedule, really helps spark the creative juices. The best way to stimulate, is to walk outside the box and look back in it.

So if you normally wake up on the left side of the bed, try waking up on the right side and see if it changes anything. I am always surprised at how my thoughts and creativity change when I switch things up.

Quote:

Have you tried taking a pad of paper and a pen and watching the clouds? I love watching the clouds. They are very inspiring.

Seconded. Nature is incredibly captivating. Thats another thing that may help. Going to a park and finding a spot under a tree next to a pond is an easy way to relax. I had writers block a few weeks ago and I went outside for half and hour, where I found my next idea just waiting for me.

BB, taking a bit of 'wisdom' from the beat generation, might I recommend lots of drugs?

FELIPE NO

old thread is old

I don't know if it applies to everyone, but if you do some other artistic activity such as making music, or drawing, or even doodling in Paint, you may find yourself being given a new leash on ideas for writing, and may even be inspired to write again from having been doing those other activities. I say this because I was doodling in Paint out of boredom one day recently and like a spark, several ideas came to me.

Of course, my preferred method for unlocking inspiration is listening to music in a relaxed setting with a calm, unburdened mind. Your individual results may vary.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by RainMan

Hey Bernard. Might I suggest doing something that breaks your normal everyday routine? I find when I am getting a 'block', it is usually because I am not stimulating myself in the right way. For that, I've found that keeping everyday fresh and interesting, and doing different things apart from a set schedule, really helps spark the creative juices. The best way to stimulate, is to walk outside the box and look back in it.

I think it is a great advice for not only writer's block but for people who could not change the way their days are shaped. "A set schedule" is good for a while, but to "spark the creative juices", one should try to see things in a different perspective. Of course, without pushing it too hard.

Jam it back in, in the dark.