|
Home::Writing
Blast Your Writing Blocks
Author : Angela Booth
*Article Use Guidelines*
This copyrighted article is free for you to use as content in
opt-in publications, or on your Web site. When you use it in opt-
in publications, or on a Web site, please include the resource
box.
However, please do not charge for it. Please DO NOT include it in
CD compilations, paid-subscription sites or in publications for
which you charge.
**
Summary: Writing blocks are usually related to some form of anxiety, or to a lack of information. Here's how to conquer them.
Category: Writing
Words: 800
Blast Your Writing Blocks
Copyright © 2003 by Angela Booth
How many words do you write a day? Some novelists manage 2,000
words a day or even more, but most writers feel they've done a
good job if they can turn out 500 to 1,000 words.
If you're writing zero words a day, you're blocked. Writers get
blocked because they're anxious, or because they dont have
enough information.
=> Dealing with anxiety
Anxiety can show up in various forms, either physical, mental, or
emotional. You may feel tired, or have a head-ache. You may
decide that you're bored with what you're writing, or so
depressed you can't think. Or maybe you convince yourself that
you're just too busy (the lawn needs mowing, and you should spend
time with the kids). You'll do your writing tomorrow.
The anxiety block is hard to manage because you often dont
realize that it is a block. You have terrific reasons for not
writing. No one would expect you to write with a migraine, would
they? And you really do need to mow the lawn.
The only way I've found to manage this block is to be tough on
myself. I set myself a daily word target, usually 1,000. I may
not reach that target, but before I go to bed, I MUST write 500
words. Every day.
Paradoxically, I've found that even when I'm not in the mood to
write, or when I have a headache that would fell an ox, I feel
better when I've written my 500 words. I often go on to write the
full 1,000.
The most pernicious anxiety block occurs when you're convinced
your writing is worthless. This block may happen as a result of
chaos in some other area of your life: perhaps with
relationships, or illness, or finances.
Handling this block takes careful management. First, try to see
that it's a block, which has happened because of the stress
you're under. Your writing is fine --- you've just lost
perspective. If you can convince yourself of this, it's a major
achievement.
Try to write anyway, even if you feel your writing is trash. If
you can't, take a break from writing without feeling guilty.
Relax, exercise, eat well, and indulge in a few movies, or a
favourite hobby.
If this block lasts for more than a month or two, visit a
therapist. There's no shame in this, and seeing someone can save
you endless months of frustration.
=> Eliminating the "no info" block
You can also get blocked because you dont have enough
information. You're trying to write the final draft, instead of
tackling the writing process draft by draft.
Here's a handy way to prevent the "no info" block by taking your
writing through clearly defined stages:
A. First draft: your thinking draft. In this draft, you write
whatever you like. You're aiming for quantity here, rather than
quality.
B. Your second draft. Your first draft has shown you what you
want to say. In this draft, you have a crack at saying it.
C. Your clean-up draft. Your final draft. You've said what you
want to say, now you get a chance to say it better. You clean up
the redundancies and spice it up.
In practice, stage B may have several additional drafts, as many
as you need: B1, B2, and more.
The easiest way to kill the no-info block for good is to allow
yourself to write badly. Every day. This is because writing is
hard when you try to think and write at the same time. Allow
yourself to think on paper for as many drafts as you need. Then
write the final draft with confidence.
=> Writing cycles
This isn't a block, it's a process. Everything happens in cycles,
even your writing. Sometimes your writing catches fire. You're
inspired. At other times, writing is like wading through
quicksand, and it takes you forever to write 200 words.
Accept this. When you're in the low part of the cycle, aim lower.
If your target was 1,000 words a day, make it 200. Or even 50.
Blocks are a part of the writer's life. Use the above tools to
write your way out of them. As incredible as it may seem when
you're in the middle of a block, the day will dawn when your
block is not even a memory, and you can confidently say: "There's
no such thing as writer's block!"
***Resource box: if using, please include***
Digital-e: For writers and creatives.
Ebooks, free ezines, Creatives Club.
Love to write?
Turn your talent into a business!
http://www.digital-e.biz/
About the Author
Writer, author and journalist Angela Booth has been writing successfully for print and online venues for 25 years. She also writes for business.
On her Web site http://www.digital-e.biz/ she conducts workshops and courses for writers. Spam emails More free articles Related articles
|
More related feeds |
GOOD WRITING DAY « Light of Truth
To tell you the truth, good writing days often sneak up on me. I donât usually plan out long blocks of writing time. I just kind of fall into them if a thought hits or a story blooms. My husband can attest to that because he knows ...The Winners of Twitter Writing Contest 2 Are⊠â Copyblogger
The first Twitter writing contest was tough to decide. This one was ridiculously hard. Just shy of 1000 haiku entries. ... ... Email Updates. Subscribe by email · more info â. Enter your e-mail: ... Blast Your Writing Blocks
Blast Your Writing Blocks by Angela Booth *Article Use Guidelines*. This copyrighted article is free for you to use as content in opt-in publications, or on your Web site. When you use it in opt- in publications, or on a Web site, ... How to Create an Author Showcase Website for the Media « Write ...
So you see, all three types of sites have a unique strategy and the media website should not be combined with any other type of site especially with an e-commerce or sales site as it seems odd that you would want the media to buy your ... Writerâs Block: Creating Rituals to Blast Through Writerâs Block ...
If youâre struggling with writerâs block, hereâs another tip that might help you to overcome it:. Create your own âwriting ritualsâ - specific things you do to help you get in the mood to write. For example, you might want to put on ... Murderati: The anti-food post
If youâve written, say, a couple dozen characters in your writing career so far, and you havenât written a character who has a problem with food, or weight, youâre probably not being very realistic. Think about it. ... Gapers Block: Book Club, home of the GB Book Club and a literary ...
I always wanted my own magazine, and then I created one, and it's been a blast. GB: Not there isn't humor in Alternadad, but why did you choose to make this non-fiction and not your typical satire? NP: My satire usually makes fun of ... #15 Fun Things To Do With Your Family This Weekend « Motherhood ...
The scent of fresh-baked gingerbread will draw the masses from blocks around. Dressing your ginger-people for success is a snap: Choose healthy snacks such as raisins, dried cranberries and pepitas, or go Old School with gum drop ... Blues Historian: Illinois Blues Update
Festivals... The Blues Blast & IllinoisBlues.com's website are great ways to promote ANY Blues event or product. In fact we believe we just might have THE best Blues advertising vehicle anywhere to promote YOUR Blue event! Blues CD's. ... Ăredev is different - Glenn Block
Following in Oren's suit, I wanted to let everyone know that Ăredev is one awesome conference, and I am having a real blast! If you know me, then you know I am usually really bad about blogging about conferences I attend. ...
|
|
|
