by Denisa Howe

Created on: February 10, 2009   Last Updated: April 12, 2010

Writers have all endured a situation, where they are just stuck. A new piece that was so clear in their head yesterday, seems to have disappeared. Writers may sit down to work on a piece they have steadily been writing for a few weeks or months and WHAM!, they are blank. This frustrating time has been labeled writer's block. One will find many things can cause this hindrance. Knowing the reason why; is the beginning of solving it.

Certainly repeated rejection can bring disappointment and lead to losing one's self esteem. The worse of these rejections is the ones, which come without reason. A writer desires a reason why, what is wrong, how do I improve it. When this is the case, one needs to research and realize how many now popular authors were too rejected many, many times. Time stress, in which one does not have enough quality time to devote to writing can also block the creativeness in us. A little bit of organization can help. Pick a certain time every day to write. Even thirty minutes each day is better then 2 hours you might squeeze in. Get up a little earlier each day.

Limiting one to a certain type or style can also become an obstacle. Branch out try new things. It's true you should write what you know, but it shouldn't stop you from learning what you don't know.

Sometimes a burn out can happen. You simply need a rest, break or time away from your writing. There's nothing wrong with that. Take the time to take a class maybe even on writing. Take some time and enjoy reading.

Other beneficial methods to overcome writers block is to stir your creative eye. Brainstorming is the process where one takes a blank piece of paper and just writes what ever comes to mind. It can be one word or groups of words. Searching is a method where one looks at old photographs and notice things in the background. You might see an old mailbox in a picture set way back from the intended subject. Visualize who its family is, what do they look like, what interesting secret could there be?

Try short writing exercises where there is no wrong or right way to do it.

Examples:

How will you spend this day?

In your mind, open an imaginary door. What do you see?

Write about something on the verge of collapse. A building, bridge, marriage or contest.

Write about he one who refuses to fit in.

Write about the last piece of something: pie, real estate or posterity.

Next, write about the two people who want it.

Write about confinement, physical or mental, welcomed or not.

Open a dictionary, pick a word and write a paragraph about it.

Another exercise, which works well, is to close your eyes, take hold of an object like a brick. Feel the brick, the sensations of the roughness and the cracks and then describe it in words.

The main thing to remember with writer's block is to RELAX! Don't let it turn your world upside down. Your ability will return. Don't force it; just try to overcome it.

Learn more about this author, Denisa Howe.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.