Anyone have a good cure for writer's block!?!?!?

[styersc]

And unfortunately cruising DU isn't getting the job done.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. Weed.

[styersc]

2. That was my answer thirty years ago which is what got me

where I am today. Poor, writer's block and typing to strangers.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. Works great for me.

:shrug:

[truedelphi]

9. But we are friendly strangers!

[truedelphi]

11. Two cures - depending on the level of help you seek

One is to write something - A letter to a friend, a grocery list that
Isaac Newton might have written for himself, an account of your worst (or best!) week ever lived back in high school - doesn't matter what - but something.

Or do 280 words. Assign yourself a story - main character, initiating action then plot twist then resolution - but in has to be told in 280 words.

[AllegroRondo]

3. what works for me

just write ANYTHING, whatever pops in your head. get the words on paper first, and worry about editing later.

[Joe Fields]

4. free association. I almost never had writer's block, but it works.

[pitohui]

5. try using 2 deadlines

in addition to the editor's deadline, set a deadline for yourself sufficiently in advance of the "real" deadline that it takes the stress off

have little treats you can give yourself, after you meet the deadline, the reality of life as a writer being what it is, make these low or no cost treats, for example, AFTER i finish the current assignment on my desk, i'm going to the library and getting a stack of books to read just for me, in better (cooler) weather i will plan outings to good wildlife/good birding areas for my treat

i'm pleasantly surprised how often i meet the artificial deadline and it gives me time to do improvements or start a new project sooner than i could otherwise if i just went w. the "real" deadline

all too easy to fall into the trap of not doing the work until the last minute if you don't game yourself a little

[Dora]

7. Nicotine, caffeine, and green tea.

And weed.

[Richard Steele]

8. I remember what always worked for me back in school...

Plagiarism.

[BOSSHOG]

10. Two suggestions

- walk away from it for a short while. No thoughts of writing. Or
- and I'm serious here, read something you've written backwards. It works for me.

[Az]

12. Stop trying

If you are focused on trying to write you are not writing. You don't want to try to write. You want to write. So stop trying to write and when you are ready you will write.

[Sanity Claws]

13. Let me recommend a book

Julia Cameron wrote The Artist's Way in which she incorporated the lessons she used to teach a class on lifting blocks to creativity. There's a lesson a way and the exercises go for 12 weeks.

[BlueIris]

14. Like, real writer's block? "Unstuck," by Jayne Anne Staw, Ph.D.

Best book ever. GO ORDER IT NOW.

[Boojatta]

15. Read non-fiction that you strongly disagree with.

Then speak into a tape-recorder an explanation of what you disagree with and why. Then transcribe your words.

That's one approach. I'm sure there are other approaches.

[barb162]

16. Just start writing even if you think it's crappy

[SPKrazy]

17. Psilocybin maybe?

:shrug:

nahh, just a little hopping up and down, screaming at the top of your lungs, laughing as hard as you can at a joke, a real laugh, and maybe a nice shower.

then reapply as needed.:D

[Inchworm]

18. not reccommended

drink to oblivion for 3 days straight. Free write in a journal as you come out of it.

:shrug:

[Poiuyt]

21. It worked for Edgar Allen Poe

[Adsos Letter]

19. Get outside...

Whenever I have long papers, especially when the approach to the thesis is unclear, I like to get out and walk. Put the subject on the backburner and let it sort of cook there while I'm breaking such intense focus.

I suspect your writing is probably different than the History monographs I work on, but it works for me.

As Dr. McCoy would say: "Good luck, Jim."

[wildhorses]

20. living --

in the moment

[Poiuyt]

22. My mother was a professional writer and she said to start on page 2

Skip ahead and then come back and fill in the holes later

[BikeWriter]

23. Uh...

[The Straight Story]

24. I got some awesome stories I want to write, maybe you could do em for me :)

that would help!

[anti-everything]

25. The

North shore of Lake Superior. That view just seems to inspire me.