What Should I Write About
By Jason Tanamor, N2Arts Correspondent
Tips for overcoming writer's block
 

riter’s block is something that happens to all writers, myself included. And it always seems to happen at the worst times, such as the night before a ten page research paper is due. You know what I’m talking about, you’re sitting there, staring aimlessly into a blank screen while the blinking cursor grimly mocks you. It screams at you, “C’mon, I dare you. Make me type something.”

If this is you, don’t worry.

Here are tips you can apply to overcome that feeling of, “What excuse should I use for not having this completed?”

1. The first thing to do is write something down. Anything. Even if it’s the worst thing you’ve ever written. The point is, you’ve started. Looking at something that exists is so much easier to build on then nothing. Then, once you’ve cruised into the second or third page, you can go back and fix or delete what you’ve started with.

2. Another way to get through your anxiety is to read something, a book, a magazine, this article.
When a person reads, he or she gains inspiration. Reading someone else’s work makes you feel that you can do it also.

3. Make sure that what you’re writing can be done, meaning it has a beginning, middle and end.
Outline the story first, that way you can use it as a guide when it comes to drafting the final piece. Sometimes writer’s block occurs because the writer is thinking about how it should end.

Aha! Another way to write.

4. Start writing the middle or even the ending. If you want to leave the beginning for later, do
it. No one will know that you wrote the paper or book in a different order. To give you an example, my last novel, ‘Burrito, Illinois,’ I wrote the beginning last. It’s so much easier to write to an ending because you know where you have to get to.

5. Getting into the mood is important when it comes to writing. Professional writers already know this. If needed, wear comfortable clothes or play your favorite CD to get you feeling positive about writing.

6. Finally, if none of these techniques work for you, take a break. There’s an old adage that goes, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.” So get away from the computer and relax for a moment.

And if you don’t believe these tips work, before I began writing this article, I had no idea how
to start.

Jason Tanamor is an award-winning writer. His articles have appeared in more than 250 publications nationwide. He is the author of the new humor book "Random Acts of Nonsense." You can learn more about him at www.tanamor.com. Jason can be reached via email at jason@tanamor.com.