How do you overcome writer's block?

Hi, For me whenever I have a writer's block going out and ask the opinion of others can be an effective solution to me. There are always new things that I haven't thought about which come out of other people's mind, due to their different experiences and the way they think. When I get home, the first thing I would do is to job down the main points that I got from other people, and if I was attracted to their way of speaking, I will even jot down the full sentences that they used while talking to me. The difference of one personality to another can really be shown by using different writing styles to describe each individual in a book, lets say, a novel. I hope you'll be able to finish your book soon. Have fun writing!

You say you keep writing the same thing but in a different way each time... are you editing before you finish writing the book? It is advised by all professional writers to just write the story and then go back and edit. Get the whole thing done first. If you go back and edit every time you sit down, you will not get any further along in the story. Having said that, I have finished a story and am in the editing process and have lost my motivation. I am procrasting, spending time on the internet, etc. I try to think of other things to write about and just can't seem to think of anything. I know I need to go back and finish that novel because it's almost finished! For new stories, there are ideas everywhere. Look around. Eavesdrop on conversations or watch the news. How many Law & Order episodes were "ripped from the headlines"? As Nike says, Just Do It! (Yeah, I know I'm being a hypocrite but I am a little lost right now). Good luck.

I just take up another writing project...search photos on the internet (there are millions!!!!) and once you find one you really like write something about it. Make up a story for the photo. Find a story in a newspaper/magazine and write your own back story for it. Go wherever you want with it! Another thing you could do is get a dictionary (if you have one) open it to a random page and put your finger on the page. Whatever word you land on, just start writing! Where did the word come from? Make up your own definition for it. Write a story containing the word. Anything you want, serious or goofy! You say you're writing a book? How about just trying to start a short story to take your mind off your story. If you focus all your energy on your story you'll never get out of your writers block! You could also try just going back to the beginning of your story and start editing. Good luck! I know writers block sucks!

Hi charmaine36, When writer's block strikes, I feel unproductive. I rack my brain for hours sometimes try to snap out of the funk and sometimes, not too often, I have such luck. So, what do I do to get my creative juices flowing again? Different approaches come to mind. Sometimes, I get up and move completely away from my writing area. I pick up a book that I have been trying to finish and I read and few chapters, observing the writing style and how the characters are brought alive on the pages. Other times, I simply take a nap to clear my thought and maybe even have a mini dream about the writing. I have several other methods that helps me overcome my writer's block. I also, will take a nice stroll in my garden and watch the ducks swimming on the lake. Anything that takes my mind to a peaceful place is acceptable help. All of us writers have had writer's block once or twice. The key to success is to just keep writing and eventually get published.

First, you should get someone who isn't your friend and pay them to read your story and give you an honest opinion on it before you take the time and effort to move any further. And second, look at what you wrote so far and get in your mind what you want and think of things that inspired you to write this story in the first place. Sometimes you can't get over writers block and it just takes time until the ideas hit again. I've experienced it before because I'm an artist and you never always know the image you want to make sometimes and just go draw until...a masterpiece is born. lol I hope this helps.

whenever i have a writer's block i just stop and do some physical activities, like clean out a closet, cook something, or even walk around the block. It clears my mind efficiently thus giving me "fresh" ideas.

If I experience writer's block, I will stop writing and do whatever I like to refresh my mind. Well, I finished my first book and I haven't published it yet. I really wished to publish it someday, but still doesn't got enough money to publish it. I plan to do self publishing. How about you?

When you try too hard it gets harder each time. Writers block is not something you can find a hurdle around you just need to walk away from you what you want to write and keep your mind off it for the moment then come back to it with an open mind. This helps me, hope it does you. Good luck with your writing.

I find it helps to get away from the writing for a while, or write something different. In fact, I am struggling with some writing at the moment and coming on myLot and just commenting helps free me up. Sometimes when I cannot seem to make progress, it is because there is a problem with what I have written before. Maybe the first part of the writing does not allow me to continue. I may need a better foundation. Or sometimes, I find that if I cannot go on further, it is because I have reached the end. It is not that I must just stop writing, but that may be the task ahead is to develop parts of what I have already written, building up to and revealing my current point as the end point. I think too it can be worth stepping back from the writing and thinking about where you want the writing to go. Sometimes a book or story writes itself once you start, but sometimes you need to know broadly where you are going in advance. I definitely have been unclear about where my current project ought to end up. Hope some of this helps.