Every writer faces a case of writers block at one time or another. Writers block has many causes including fear, lack of suitable ideas or simply not being able to get the words on paper. Experienced writers have come up with solutions to this creative problem based on years of writing experience. They include free writing, clustering, writing imperfect first drafts, keeping a list of writing ideas handy and having a regular writing routine.
Free writing
When the cause of writers block is a lack of ideas the "free writing" method may be used to generate and clarify ideas. In a May 2010 article in the Writer magazine entitled Get Started With Pre-Writing Techniques Robert Raymer suggests that "When you have no suitable ideas for a topic, the fastest way to get one is to free write." Raymer suggests free writing any thought that appears for a minute non-stop. Once an idea is generated "clustering" can be used to expand upon the idea.
Clustering
Clustering involves free association of words. Writers begin by writing their main idea and coming up with related words. Each word is connected to the main idea and expands upon it. For example if the main idea is money, possible related words and ideas may be: saving money, paying off debt, managing money. Clustering often leads to an influx of ideas and topics for writing.
Keeping a List of Writing Topics
Keeping a list of possible writing topics handy is another solution to the problem of lack of ideas. Natalie Goldberg in her book Writing Down the Bones suggests writers keep a list of topics to write about and "add to the list anytime you think of something. Then when you sit down to write, you can just grab a topic from that list and begin."
Imperfect First Drafts
In her book Bird by Bird, Anne Lammot suggests to her students not to focus on the quality of the first draft. First drafts don't have to be perfect. They are meant to just get the words and ideas out and are supposed to be imperfect. They can always be revised. Since fear of writing can cause writer's block writing imperfect first drafts allow writers to simply focus on writing without worrying about quality.
Set up a regular writing routine
Writers should set up a regular time to write. Writer and guide Julia Cameron has written extensively on her method of "morning pages" to release creativity. Cameron suggests that writers write three pages of free writing first thing in the morning.
Another method used by writers to cure writers block is to set up a regular writing routine; whether that be setting a regular time to write or setting a minimum word count for regular writing. This method forces writers to simply write without worrying about content or quality.
Writer's block is a common problem for writers. The above techniques offer easy solutions to this creative problem.
Catia Trooskin - Catia Trooskin is a freelance writer with ten years of experience working in the business side of the fashion industry. Catia has a B.B.A ...
