What is a good way to get rid of writer's block?

[MomToTwoBoys]

I haven't worked on my project for the last few days because I just can't get into the mood. I also can't get past a writer's block that's preventing me from both writing new material and editing the material I have written already. I sat down yesterday and went through the first chapter, noting the content of each chapter to help me better organize it and write a summary for future submission to publishing. But ahhh, this morning is horrible!

I have all this desire to write, but I can't think of what to write.

I got the kids ready for school, took a shower and got dressed. There's nothing else on my plate today other than boxing up some clothes that the kids have completely outgrown. I keep getting distracted by either TV or a kid or email and I can't keep my focus.

I'd like to have the first draft finished before Christmas vacation, that way I can edit it and send it out on CD and print before February 1st. At this rate, I'm not looking like I'm going to hit that deadline. The book's not very large, but I do have a whole lot of editing to take care of before then.

How do you get rid of a writer's block?

[Laurie in Bradenton]

When I get blocked I go for a ride on the interstate. For some reason that helps to clear my head. Put the radio on load, sing along and in about a half hour I'm good again. Also use this method when I have a problem I can't figure out. Something about the road helps me.

Laurie in Bradenton

[The Muse]

I have a book called [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Down-Bones-Freeing-Writer/dp/1590302613/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228412244&sr=8-1"]"Writing Down the Bones"[/ame] that has short writing activities. When I can't get going, I'll take 1/2 hour or so and do one of the exercises.

People tend to either love or hate this book, I fall into the former category. I've been using it since high school.

[Sara Noel]

“The real writer is one who really writes. Talent is an invention like phlogiston after the fact of fire. Work is its own cure. You have to like it better than being loved.”-- Marge Piercy

[Momto2Boyz]

I often find that when I have writer's block, simply writing other things will help me get past the block on my current project. Here is a site I like to check out on occassion, just for ideas if I need a short project to get over a block.

Check it out, and you'll find some topics to write about. Then maybe once you get the creativity flowing, you'll be able to work on your current project again!

http://thepromptwriter.com/

[forHISglory]

The Bones book is good. I get an object, anything, and explore it and describe it. For example, I might get a coat out of the closet. I begin to write a description. Then I begin to think of someone wearing the coat. Who? Where? Why? What might be in the pocket?

If things in my own house are too familiar, I can walk thru a thrift shop and find something to describe. This leads my brain down some marvelous paths.

[dcompton]

An exercise I used to do when I taught writing was just to write anything that comes to mind, stream of consciousness stuff. If you can't think of anything, write that. Start with your topic more or less, but if it wanders off to bananas or Christmas trees, that's ok too. Eventually just putting words on paper, any words, will help. Don't make it "good" writing. Make it fast.

Or, despite your deadline, just give yourself a day or two of permission to forget it about it. It will be simmering on the back burner and that could give you a fresh start when you come back to it.

Or work in small times blocks until you get past the block. Decide on a time. 10 minutes. Set a timer. When it's up, stop, even if you're in mid sentence. Go do something else. Then come back and do another 10 minutes. It may be lousy stuff when you go back to edit it, but at least you have, again, been putting words on paper.

Just some suggestions.

[janelane]

Put it down, walk away, and try writing something else completely different from what you are doing. Just *anything* at all. Write a letter to a friend, pick a random word from the dictionary and write a paragraph revolving around that word, look out your window and just describe what you see, write a short story, just *anything* that isn't what you are working on. Sometimes being too focussed on one thing can drain you. Switching gears might help you get back around to where you want to be.

[IntlMom]

here's I cure writers block....I DON'T WRITE!!
ok, I know that;s not what you were looking for, but I couldn't help myself

[JerryG]

A really, really long walk even if it's cold, wet, dark, whatever. Think about every single thing EXCEPT writing and when I get home, I'm ready to run

[fixer]

As silly as it sounds, I do my best writing when I am not writing. As I am doing something else, my mind will wander and I have some of my best ideas. I have a small notebook in my pocket anyway, so I just jot down the ideas.

[staceyy]

I have some subliminal hypnosis tapes for writer's block that I use. They are from Valley Of The Sun. They work.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I'd love to thank everyone for their awesome suggestions. I managed to get past the writer's block shortly yesterday, wrote out about twelve pages, and then I edited it slightly. I think the one thing I found that works for me is by listening to music while I write. For some reason, giving me something that I can sing and dance in my chair too sort of clears my head.

[IntlMom]

btw - what do you write? (or maybe that should read "what are you writing about?")

[MomToTwoBoys]

Well it started out as a book about autism but then I changed my mind. I'm writing about frugality in today's economic environment and how to get started. It's about 6 chapters so far with each chapter at roughly 8 to 12 pages double-spaced.