Overcoming Writer's Block
By John Brake, N2Arts Correspondent
Churning up a few good ideas
 

riting isn't easy. It can be demanding and there is nothing worse then sitting down to write with no notion of where to go.

Ideas don't always come out of thin air. Sometimes you have to work to make them bubble to the surface. In that regard, your imagination shares a lot in common with a car. On those wintery days, it has to sit and warm up before it can perform its best. One of the keys to writing is knowing how to rev your imagination's engine. It's not hard and can be extremely fun.

All you need are your writing instruments and a quiet place to think. There are hundreds of techniques to get your motor running, but I am going to focus on three for now.

1. Timed Exercise

This one, although simple, can get your imagination flowing in no time at all. What you need to do is pick a certain amount of time, say, ten minutes and just write. It doesn't matter how much time you decide on. Just follow through on your commitment and write for that amount of time. Try to follow these guidelines:

-Keep your hand moving. (Don't pause to reread the lines you've written.)

-Don't cross out or edit yourself.

-Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar.

-Lose control. (Write what you feel.)

Above all, don't stop writing until your time limit is up. You'll be amazed what comes out and how many ideas you can generate using your own thoughts and feelings.

2. Group Brainstorming and Word Play

The act of writing may be a solitary one, but coming up with ideas doesn't have to be. Finding a group of friends or, better yet, fellow writers can be a great resource for generating ideas.

Get together and throw out any thoughts you may have. Let those thoughts bounce around in the heads of a few others and there's no telling what you may get back. Several heads are always better then one.

Another alternative is to play word games. Find a group and throw out a random word or two to everyone. Go around and see what the word brings to each person's mind. This is a fantastic way to get a few ideas bouncing around in your head.

3. Using Your Experiences

Inspiration is all around you, if you just know where to look. Everyday observations can be turned into great ideas, stories, and characters. You just have to watch for the details.

Keeping a journal is a great way to remember events that happen in your life. A journal can be easily kept and can help you remember those inspirational experiences that touched you in some way.

Even without a journal, almost everything around you can be turned into an idea. There are literally thousands of resources at your beck and call. Movies and books are excellent idea generators, giving you a foundation you can build from.

Having trouble coming up with a character? Use your friends or family as a starting point. Their talents and physical characteristics can be put to good use in your own characters. Just keep it too yourself if you decide to turn your Aunt Ester into a gorilla.

When brainstorming, remember to look around, take in the details, and use them to your advantage. Don't criticize what you've written. In these beginning stages, grammar and misspelled words don't matter. You'll have plenty of time for that when the writing is done.

John Brake is a freelance writer who loves nothing more then sitting down with a notebook and pen. He resides in Alabama with his family.