Writer's Block!?!

Are there any other writers out there? How do you deal with the no-mans land that is writer's block? I've been a victim of it for basically over a year because I can't seem to hold onto the initial inspiration that comes with a new plotline. Usually I can overcome the short-term block by listening to music in the tone I'm aiming for. But this has not been effective recently.

What do you do to escape and find the next big idea? Or do you just wait for the big idea to find you?

I am an amature song writer, so it's not the same thing as writing a book but I still get writers block. What I do to overcome it is to just start writing. If my writers block is really bad, then I start writing about anything and I do it with an attitude, this makes what I'm writing come out really wild and usually really catchy, and often so embarrassing that I won't let other people read it. I find that this opens my mind up and I am able to start productively working on songs.
Also, when the mood to write comes upon me, I try to lay aside everything else and write until I am plum tuckered out.


As another note, I like to ask myself the question "what if," then start writing for this "what if". I might write several "what ifs," then choose one to expand upon.

The trick is to train yourself to just write, not edit or overthink,
So get a stop watch, and start off by deciding a subject then just writing for a minute and do not stop for anything. Write anything rather than nothing. Over a period build up to around 20-25 minutes before a break.

Do not edit the same day you write, leave it overnight before doing it.

A book called " freewriting" available from amazon is useful to read in this context


As for the " big idea" not sure I can help you there, except to say you write best on subjects you have passion for. Bsomething you love, hate or are angry about!

Sorry, I forgot to say: the reason this works is your brain has two almost competing halves. The left brain, responsible for analytical thinking, that thinks in lists, and does not want to start anything until it knows everything about how to complete the task - which is a problem when doing creative things, not easily subject to analysis like novels.

The right brain is creative and passionate, and is the side from which writing will flow - writers block is what happens when the analytical side gets in the way and says whoa! You must not do this till you have thought it all through. The write for a minute without stopping and building from that is breaking down the left brain reluctance to commit, to allow the right brain to take over.

As for the 20 - 30 min limit, think that is based in psychology too. Seem to remember it discussed in a book called " brain rules" but I may be wrong on that.

Not many can write for hours without stopping , and almost none can write high quality without editing, although a mystic called Katya (Catalina ) Rivas has certainly done so writing a dozen books without stopping, whilst being critically observed including by scientists, in defiance of the fact she is not an educated woman, but has written in languages other than her own! I suspect the nature of her writings might upset some - but the fact she can is interesting. Perhaps not of this world.

for me, I always take this as a sign from our Father that He has
other things for me to work on - over the years I have found
this to be so.....

I love to write, I have an entire Christian novel done, any suggestions on publishing? Feel free to send me a PM...

Kindle store is the obvious choice, but just putting it there does not get it seen. The key is to use a title and description that references a lot of searched terms, get some reviews (and they need to be real, not fake!) - then get traffic, even pay for traffic to "prime the pump" because traffic gives sales, sales give ranking, and ranking gives more traffic and sales.

The editor "scrivener" is useful to create it in a form that kindle accepts, and indeed can access the kindle upload tools.

Thanks! I'll try to write something without being critical of it. That is definitely one of the issues I have, probably because I watch and read too many film criticisms.