Our Masterpieces...Err, Our Novels

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

RTW: Chipping The Block

Writing Song of the Day: "Writer's Block" By Royce Da 5'9 ft. Eminem

It's Wednesday and guess what happens for us tomorrow?? We go back to work *cries, kicks, screams*.




But in the mean time, we're hanging out with the ladies of YA Highway for another Road Trip Wednesday. This week's topic is:



How do you beat writer's block?



We have two major steps that we go through in order to kick writer's block a**. They go a lil' something like this:

1.) Leave it be. You know the saying: a watched pot doesn't boil? Well a mulled over, stared at, stalked manuscript will also not write itself. If we're stuck, we leave that idea alone. Whether it's writing something else (a poem, a short story, plotting a new idea), exercising, or our favorite past times, eating, and watching TV :)

2.) Talk it out. Just like when you're joints are achy and you have to shake them out...when a story is blocked, just talk it out. Preferably with your amazing writing partner/cousin. Don't have one? You can hire me or Pam for the job :) Really, this works wonders. Pam worked out a major revision point for Wants just by talking about it out loud to me.

We're always looking for more advice, peeps. What do you all do to beat writer's block?

9 comments:

Alicia Gregoire said...

Talking it out is a great thing. I did that several times during my revision of Phoenix Rising with Hubby.

Unknown said...

On the "leave it" front, getting wet seems to help too. Swimming or even just taking a shower is a great place to step away from your writing and think. I expect it's the impossibility of actually writing while in the shower, but I ALWAYS get flooded with ideas while I'm soaking wet.

Holly Hill said...

I'm definitely a "leave it be" girl. Just going and doing something else for a bit -- even if it's just laundry -- gives my subconscious time to work through what the problem is. :)

Rebecca B said...

I have a hard time leaving it be. Which is probably why I tend to power through with some crappy placeholder writing, or do something distracting, like exercise.

Jennifer Pickrell said...

I like to talk it out - my husband sits patiently while I basically talk AT him, trying to work things out :)

Bethany Elizabeth said...

I like to surround myself with other stories when I can't think of what to write next. Video games, books, movies, all of it. :)

Alison Miller said...

Awesome advice. I walk away from it, but I can also break through the block by just talking it out with the husband.

Great post!

Jessica Love said...

I go back to work tomorrow, too. WAAH for summer being over.

Jess said...

I might have to take you up on that "hire Quita or Pam to talk ideas out with" thing. I can't discuss my work with anyone around here, but I'd sure like to! Haha!