BeBa

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QotD: Take That, Writer’s Block!

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How do you beat writer’s block?
Submitted by marvel is my pen name.

I am a born editor. I always get writer’s block when the screen is blank – especially when I’m writing an article or promotional copy (or any other writing I’m actually paid to do). So my goal is to get words, any relevant words onto the page by taking a casual brain dump on the topic.

My favorite trick to make that happen is to pretend I’m writing a blog entry or an email to friends. The words always seem to flow when I’m in that mode.

Then I have the words to work with. Now I can go into my more natural editing mode and clean it up, make the piece work for its audience.

Written by Betsy

January 25th, 2007 at 9:25 pm

Posted in blogging

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5 Responses to 'QotD: Take That, Writer’s Block!'

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  1. Wow, that is an awesome tip. I know that I am better when in fix it up mode, but had never thought of using this approach as a way around the trouble of knowing where to start. Awesome suggestion!

    Kiss Me Cate

    25 Jan 07 at 2:31 pm

  2. Thanks, Cate – hope it helps!I forgot also to mention one other trick I have: Take a shower! For some reason it always opens the floodgates of creativity for me.

    beba

    25 Jan 07 at 3:19 pm

  3. That is one of my tricks as well. Usually my mind is so backed up with thoughts, I take a huge brain dump lol

    Kristen

    25 Jan 07 at 3:20 pm

  4. You are a VERY good writer and keep my interest which is hard to do! Good tip with the shower! That's when all of my creativity (or lack of it) happens! lol

    shellakers

    25 Jan 07 at 5:13 pm

  5. I could say this is actually the point where you have trained yourself to temporarily shut OFF your inner editor (with the promise that you'll hand her back the red pen when you finish your blog entry or letter); it's also the point at which you visualize your audience and they become real to you – not just some abstract concept. It's always easier to write to an audience, I think, than to throw words out there like half-cooked spaghetti and see if they stick.

    Holly

    25 Jan 07 at 10:28 pm

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