Three Easy Steps To Break Through Writer's Block

FIRST STEP: Banish the words Writer's Block from your vocabulary, your mind and your life. If writer's block doesn't exist, it cannot affect you.

I know, I know, you're thinking this first step is useless, because it's merely a matter of semantics. Not at all!

Every writer has days when she sits down to write - be that with pen & paper or on computer -- and nothing flows. It is unpleasant. At times, it is downright painful, but if you want to write, you have to accept that those moments are part of the process. The Writer's Process!

Over the years, I've found that I feel the most stuck when I am doing something differently. And because whatever I'm doing is different and new, it takes longer, and I struggle more. When I finally work my way through it, though, I find my writing has moved to a new level.

Isn't that ultimately what every writer wants? To continue growing and developing in our craft? 

SECOND STEP:  Keep a journal. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again. Record your notes, thoughts, drawings. Put in images, photographs, anything that strikes you. Turn to your journal -- again it can be hand written, typed or computerized -- whenever you feel stuck. You never know what will spark your imagination to further writing. You'll also notice that notes you write haphazardly will begin to take on themes, will interconnect.

THIRD STEP: One powerful free writing exercise to help you move through the frustrating part of the process.

Disconnect yourself from whatever you're working on and just let go of it for the time being. Then, sit down in front of a blank paper or document and begin writing.

Write whatever comes to mind. That can be what you had for breakfast in the morning. Or how your hungry because you didn't eat breakfast. Or how stupid you feel about writing this stupid document and how you don't think it's going to help anyway. Set a timer and write non-stop for ten minutes.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO RULES:

1. Keep writing! Don't stop to ponder what you're writing. A couple seconds here and there is fine, but if you stop to think too long you allow the inner critic to enter.

2. Don't edit! Don't erase or cross anything out. If you're writing something and don't feel like finishing, just pick up your pen or fingers and continue on the next line.

I believe enough in this exercise -- one that i have used on the first day of every writing class I have ever taught -- enough to say that whatever you write in those ten minutes, will contain something to move your writing and your thinking forward.

If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you. E-mail what you write to me, and we can talk about it.

So there you have it. It really is as easy as that!