3 Things Writers Can Do When They’re “Blocked”

Hello Fellow Readers and Writers–

Corrections have been made to two of my books.  YEA!  So onto another topic–Being “Blocked”  Here’s what I find works for me, and hopefully it will work for you as well.

1-Journal about how you are feeling–Have you become bored with your story, or is it something else?  Are you stuck with how to proceed?  This is the place to rant, rave, scream, curse–whatever makes you feel better.  Get it all out of your system, then proceed to the next step.

2-Write a letter to your main character.  Sounds crazy, but it works wonders.  “Hey there.  How’s it going?  Listen, can you help me with this problem I’m having?  I brought you to this bar, but I’m not sure where to go from here.  Are you meeting friend or foe?  How will you react?”  Now change the color of pen you’re writing with, and crawl inside your character, seeing the scene through his/her eyes.  Start writing his/her response.  What were you thinking, bringing me to a bar?  I’d never go in there.  I’d be too afraid!  Rewrite the scene and put me someplace I’d go–like a shopping mall.  Or send someone else to get the information you need at the bar.  Just don’t put me there!  Things such as these will just pop into your head when you try this exercise.  We writers don’t know how it works, but it’s amazing!  Pantser or Plotter, this is a helpful tool to keep in your Writer’s Tool Box.

3-If the two suggestions above don’t work, try this.  It’s my surefire block-buster.  Before you go to sleep tonight: (a.) put a pen and paper by your bed.  (b.) Close your eyes and picture the last scene you wrote, as if it were a movie.  (c.) Ask your main character where he/she wants to go from here. (d.) Drift off to sleep. (e.) When you wake up, jot down notes about the next scene.  This trick works 90% of the time.  Our subconscious mind is a strange and marvelous thing!  While you were sleeping, it’s been continuing the “movie.”

Hope these simple suggestions help you get unblocked.

Meanwhile, Happy Reading and Writing to You All,

Jill-Ayn

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