Writer's Block? Techniques To Repel Writer's Block For Good!

Some people see creativity as a fuel. When we run low or run out, our writing can come to a screeching halt. It can even leave a piece with wonderful potential stuck on the the shoulder of the freeway to completion indefinitely. Writer's block has plagued every great writer from time to time. I can personally attest to this: if you look at my Buzzle author profile, you'll see that there can be huge gaps between the dates of articles and then there are days when I'll pump out five articles in rapid succession.

As an aspiring author, I've contemplated how to overcome writer's block. I believe every writer has, and every writer must come up with their own solutions in order to be successful. What works for one person might not work for another. So, rather than spending days, months, and even years trying to figure out something on your own, why not try techniques that have helped others climb their way out of a bout of writer's block? You might find something that works for you, and you might not. Still, it doesn't hurt to try!

Here are just a few ideas I've tried, some successfully and others not, in order to regain inspiration and creativity:

Random Google or WIkipedia Searches

If you want to find a new topic to write on, why not let a computer pick something totally random for you? You can absorb that information and mold it into a piece of fiction or rearrange it into an informative nonfiction piece. If your first try doesn't yield something you find interesting, you can always click on something else and try again!

Reading Current Events

There are a lot of fascinating things going on in our world. CNN, BBC, NBC, and others are chock full of stories that are happening right at this very moment or have happened recently. Some might be tragic and others inspiration, though my very favorites are updates on the latest scientific breakthroughs. You'd be amazed by what's going on in the world's laboratories today! This is always a great source for science fiction writers. Or, if you're into politics, perhaps you can write a commentary about how you think the government should change some policy or why you support a certain candidate. An inspirational story about someone doing something good in the world or someone overcoming fantastic odds can perhaps give you a great idea for your own story of hope and triumph.

Reworking Other's Ideas

You may not realize this, but the vast majority of William Shakespeare's works are stories he took from others and remade into his own masterpieces. Granted, in today's society some of his works would have gained him a slew of lawsuits by the people he "borrowed" from, but he still managed to take a story invented by someone else and make it his own. You must be incredibly careful when you do this so that your work is not a blatant copy of someone else's idea. For example, let's say you're a Star Trek fan. Why not take the idea of humans exploring the galaxy at the speed of light and add your own creative twists to it? In some cases, you can add to and improve a basic plot that's been used time and time again and, with a certain amount of skill, create a masterpiece like Shakespeare did.

Another note of caution on using this technique: don't be afraid that your story won't be entirely "yours" or "unique enough". If you create your own characters, your own settings, and your own plot twists, that piece is yours and yours alone. Coming up with an entirely original plot these days is next to impossible because of the huge library of novels, movies, and TV shows out there that you could probably find a story with a similar plot as yours. Don't let that cripple your writing like it's done to mine. If your characters have a depth, personality, and voice of their own, it will make your story stand out among the scores of others.

Writer's Notebooks

Doesn't it seem like we come up with great ideas at the most inconvenient times? I often find this to be the case just as I'm about to fall asleep. I am comfortable and tired so I don't want to get up to get paper and write it down or pull my computer out and start typing up an outline. You could be in the middle of a project at work or at the grocery store and can't just stop what you're doing, sit yourself down, and begin to write. The solution to this? Carrying a tiny notebook with you in which you can quickly jot your ideas down. You needn't write in-depth plot points or character details; if you simply write down the gist of your idea, it will refresh your memory for when you do have time to write.

Good ol' Brainstorming or Free Writing Exercises

There are probably an infinite number of brainstorming and free writing exercises out there. Look into books about cultivating creativity or ending writer's block at your local library or do a quick Google search. Some of them might be corny, but you never know what might come of them!

Still stuck after trying all of these? Don't force it. Sometimes we need to just take a break from writing for our inspiration to come back to us. Go take a nap or a walk, break out the video games, or play with your cat. Take it easy for awhile and come back to your writing in a few hours or even a few days. No matter what happens, just know that writer's block is not only a curable ailment but one that can even empower us to search for truly unique ideas for creating a compelling piece of art!