Rune S. Nielsen
If you by writers block mean that you can't come up with new ideas or that you can't seems to ever put anything on paper, then it is not something I typically experience. I tend to come up with a lot more ideas than I will ever put to paper.
That said, the birth of a novel is quite a big feat, it takes a lot of discipline and time to pull off, and sure some days are better than others.
BEST ADVICE
For me the trick is to keep working every day, but never overdo it. Make sure to get a decent amount of sleep, exercise a bit every day, don't skip meals, and try to remember that having a life besides writing makes you happy too, and from that happiness you become inspired.
When you are down
You need to respect that your mind works better some days than others. This is a common human phenomena, and is not limited to writing, just ask a scientist who studies the way our brain functions.
On the days when I'm feeling a bit down, I do not get mad at myself, but recognize that I should not write right now. Instead, I do related things like content for my website, draw the maps or images for the book, do layout, or PR tasks.
I do experience (on rare occasions) that if I have worked much and too hard, for too long, I get worn out. My brain gets stressed, and this impacts my performance negatively in the coming week or so.
The thing that typically leads me down this not very good road is deadlines. They are for me simply poison for the mind. So, instead of deadlines I work a lot of hours most weeks, and for me, as long as I work a lot, and do my best, I feel I have a clear conscience, and worry less about my progress. Simply because, as I can see that the novel is coming along fine.
On the rare occasions where I take a vacation, or if I have been sick, I do find it hard to "get back in the saddle" sometimes. It feels like starting over, and you just have to ease into it.
That said, the birth of a novel is quite a big feat, it takes a lot of discipline and time to pull off, and sure some days are better than others.
BEST ADVICE
For me the trick is to keep working every day, but never overdo it. Make sure to get a decent amount of sleep, exercise a bit every day, don't skip meals, and try to remember that having a life besides writing makes you happy too, and from that happiness you become inspired.
When you are down
You need to respect that your mind works better some days than others. This is a common human phenomena, and is not limited to writing, just ask a scientist who studies the way our brain functions.
On the days when I'm feeling a bit down, I do not get mad at myself, but recognize that I should not write right now. Instead, I do related things like content for my website, draw the maps or images for the book, do layout, or PR tasks.
I do experience (on rare occasions) that if I have worked much and too hard, for too long, I get worn out. My brain gets stressed, and this impacts my performance negatively in the coming week or so.
The thing that typically leads me down this not very good road is deadlines. They are for me simply poison for the mind. So, instead of deadlines I work a lot of hours most weeks, and for me, as long as I work a lot, and do my best, I feel I have a clear conscience, and worry less about my progress. Simply because, as I can see that the novel is coming along fine.
On the rare occasions where I take a vacation, or if I have been sick, I do find it hard to "get back in the saddle" sometimes. It feels like starting over, and you just have to ease into it.
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