Question for "writers block"

[johnnie]

Just out of couriosity...all of you who are writers, artists, songwriters and the like...
What do you do when you get a case of creative stoppage? I have tried some of my old methods, but I am completely drained. I thought I would post this question to see what others do to get the creative juices flowing when they seem to dry up.
BTW, I am mainly a songwriter.

[Commendatori]

1. Go out drinking - seriously

Every time I've gotten writer's block, I'll go to my favorite brew pub, sit at the bar alone, drink as much as I can handle without acting like an ass, and just think. I never write drunk and don't even drink that often, but some of my best ideas have come in a stupor.

Allow yourself at least four or five hours. This method is guaranteed.

[cheezus]

3. write drunk, edit sober

or code drunk, debug sober

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. I take it as a hint that

I am not supposed to be writing now . I went through a complete writer's blockage during 2002 . As 2003 I felt inspired through some strange reason and I have not stopped writing since then . Sometimes you should take everything " in " before you put it " out " . Taking the time to actually " live " and " experience " is how I get through my writer's blockage .

[flowomo]

6. I surf the 'Net, randomly read stuff that looks interesting....

I'm a columnist. Sometimes the block is just that your imagination tank is empty.... needs a fresh fill of facts, insights, ideas. Like that link on DU about exorcism! Just went to the LATimes article and you know, I'm thinking of writing a column on some aspect of that. So do this: read that article, and write something in response to it -- then you can say the devil made you do it.

[Dover]

4. Just journal........anything that's in my head. It clears out the clutter

but keeps the pen moving. I'm not talking about writing story ideas....just journaling everyday for an hour...stream of consciousness or jibberish, about how I hate my neighbor, my stubbed toe pain, or wondering at watching wasps make their nest. ANYTHING!
Just be in the moment with no expectations.

[XNASA]

5. I listen to my influences.

Then I just use that as a foundation and work from there.

I'm actually a much better song arranger and editor than I am a songwriter. Especially the lyrics. I have a tough time with those and have to wait for my muse.

I'm the person who comes up with the Middle 8 when no one else can. But if I'm starting from scratch, then I go right to my influences.

[flowomo]

8. Jeez, as Cubs fan....

I figured you'd have written dozens of blues songs by now. And when the Red Sox beat 'em in the World Series this year..... well, you can write the first blues opera!

[XNASA]

11. I don't have the right to pen a Blues song.

I'm a middle-class white kid from the suburbs. It wouldn't be appropriate.

[amazona]

what I do

I am a firm believer that if you are "blocked," there is already too much writing out there anyway, so go on with your life and enjoy yourself. Alas, this philosophy is not of much use when an editor is tapping her toes waiting for me to turn in an assignment. In that case, I usually skim through some of my old stuff and then brainstorm, then skim a little again to make sure I'm not using an idea I used too recently, then I just sit down and force myself to type something, anything, on the topic. The first paragraph is the worst. If I can somehow force myself through that one, even if it's like ****ting bricks, then the rest of the piece usually writes itself. Also, it's easier to get in the flow if you do a lot of writing at one time. I don't know why. It is easier to be prolific than it is to just write once in awhile. Not sure how this would apply to songwriting but if it helps, I'm glad. I suspect my advice is pretty obvious though.

[johnnie]

9. It applies...

...trust me. I have a lot of parts and pieces that I go thru once in a while to see if anything kicks in. Thanks for the reply.

[johnnie]

7. Thank ya all..

I knew you would come thru. Great ideas, and also makes me feel better that everyone gets the block. I know we all do, but it's still good to not feel like it is gone forever.

[flowomo]

10. Great, have the devil song on my desk by 5....

get moobin'

[stellanoir]

12. well. . .

sometimes one just needs to recharge one's "battery". I used to counsel college kids from one of the more prestigious art institutes in the country. I used to joke that one day the prof's would calm and tar and feather me for telling the kids that. . ."discipline and technique are factors that require consistancy. . .but face it the muse is inconsistant for most of us. . . You know when creative energy is flowing through you and you know also it's absence."

The concept of devoting ten to twenty minutes a day to something creative even if it's very mundane. . .crafts, gardening, rearranging your furniture, finger painting, sand castles. . .whatever, I feel is a good one.

But I swear you can't force the muse

I wrote 800 pages in about two months once. . .yet have barely done anything for quite a while. Creativity like anything else is an energy exchange. Depletion occurs when energy invested is not reciprocated directly.

A primary rule of energetics. . .energy can not be created or destroyed. Forces you have sent forth may be trying to re-inspire you in ways you are simply not noticing.

Maybe change your focus and you'll probably be
pleasantly surprised.

[mac56]

13. Here's what usually works for me:

Write crap. Plain old unadulterated crap. Nothing that's good. Just words on paper on any topic: a "vowel movement", if you will. Soon you will find yourself writing something worthwhile. In addition, some of the "crap" can be tweaked into something worth keeping. So don't throw any of it away.

[BigMcLargehuge]

14. do something physical

that always recharges my creative batteries. Take walk, go for a jog, lift weights... do something physical.

sometimes a nap helps. However, naps are very seductive. Once your brain learns that you sleep when you can't think of something to write, it wants to sleep whenever you hit a snag.