WRITERS BLOCK

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

Writers Block. What is it and how do we as writers, cope with it?
For some, writers block is as real as yesterdays rejection slips. Others declare that it's only a state of mind. I tend to agree with the latter. But for those who take it seriously, it can become very real. All too real. That's when it begins to fester into a terminal illness. One that could actually destroy a writer. They wrestle with the concept for days even months, putting off the gory job of finishing an agonizing bit of revision, or the dreaded, yet uninspired detail their manuscript needs before the task of quering can begin. The illness only grows worse with time if not corrected quickly. This can be done by reading about or listening to other writers who are dealing with the same disease. So, don't just sat and wait for relief to come to you, start looking for an answer as soon as WB appears.
There are many things that contribute to writers block; Coffee, chocolate, noisy children, barking dogs, a trip to the mailbox, even a change in the weather. Any excuse will do. Because during a bout with WB we are looking for some kind of excuse. Anything that will keep us out of that chair. Because in a untangible way, it threatens those of us who like to (Dare I say it?) Procrastinate.
The funny thing is . . .The very things that keep us from writering can be the ones that inspire us to continue our writing, if, we look out of the box. Determination. That's the key word here. Determination and ones state of mind. Take another look at the causes I listed above for causing WB. These things are with us each and every day. How we choose to look at them is our own personal decision. How we choose to use them is also up to each of us. But they can be our vantage points for grasping new ideas. Each of these causes can in reality furnish us with new Ideas and concepts to make our stories shine. Take coffee for instance, when I sip my hot cup of java, I close my eyes and can imagine myself anywhere and in any situation. Chocolate can do the same thing. Listening to children is a special resource that a lot of writers don't have. Children can become, when truly being observed, a wealth of information at ones fingertips but not if the observer isn't interested in learning. Dogs, cats and other wildlife carry with them their own unique tales but it takes a willing mind to capture their stories. These are true stories that are always presenting themselves to the animal enthusiast.
Look out of the box the next time you need to be inspired. Watch your dog or cat play in your living room or the back yard. Listen to the children play. Take a walk wheather in the park or your own back yard. Truly look at the blue of the sky, the racing dark clouds, trees bowing under the wind.
If nothing else works, try playing your favorite song or light a candle. Anything to get that muse jump started!

Sensational Idea, Brainstorming, Story

When I think of writing a story, I think of more than a simple story idea. I like to brain storm every aspect of the idea; original characters complete with emotions and short-comings, idealic settings that will add to the story and frame it out, carefully chosen words that color the character and exemplify his/her emotions-thoughts & world. That takes a little time but pays off in the end when I go to write the piece. Usually by that time, I have a solid outline of the story already in my mind and the story seems to write itself! By then, I'm excited about getting all the stuff floating around in my mind on paper and I can't rest until I do just that. And at that inspirational moment, the words have a mind of their own and are flowing from my fingertips like hot lava from a volcano. My fingers fly across the keyboard. Paragraphs form almost by themselves. A story comes together like magic. And before I know it, the thing is done! When that happens, I can at long last, lean back in my chair and breath. Whew! I love, love, love it!

This is exactly what I did yesterday when I created a new PB for a contest. The whole process of creating something entirely new is very challenging and wonderful to me. It is fun. It is exciting. It is very, very satisfying to know that I have created something new in this vast world of knowledge.

Next, comes the edit.