How do you deal with writer’s block?
In the lead-up to my book’s release, I’m answering questions on Goodreads (you can still win a copy here!). I’m not being GRANDIOUS, nor am I trying to Big-Time anyone. I don’t have any special insight, but here’s what I said about writer’s block:
I don’t know if I’ve ever had writer’s block in the way that it’s normally described. I have definitely had periods of not knowing what to write, hating what I’ve written and a probably under-remarked upon problem: "Extreme Noodling.“ "Extreme Noodling” is what I would call the endless brainstorming, noodling, planning, thinking about, worrying over and then never actually writing problem. I have definitely had that problem.
I love self-help books and tricks. Some tricks work for awhile and then stop working. But here’s a few that I like:
1. Ramp up time/crappy writing/journaling/venting: I do a variation on Morning Pages from the Artist’s Way using the wonderful site http://www.750words.com. I use it to just vent and write and really as a ritual to just start writing. I don’t judge it too much, I just try to get it done quickly. I complain, I make to do lists, I just type blah blah blah. I make with the clickety-clack of the keyboard and it helps.
2. "Don’t get it right, get it written" was a piece of advice I got from some screenwriting book a long time ago. I like that. It’s a catchy version of well-known advice. (If you know what book it’s from, let me know)
3. "Seat of the pants to seat of the chair" is the other catchy phrase from that same book. Sit down and write.
4. I can get distracted by almost anything. If I have to look up something on the internet, who knows where I might end up. So I know that if I have to really be writing, I have to turn off the internet. I use a program called Freedom that kills the internet connection for a set period of time. You have to re-boot to get it back, and that’s enough of a pain for me to not do it.
If you have any questions for me about the book, you can ask them here.
