Every once in a while there is a lull … a mind freeze … a writer’s block.
Call it what you will, but you know what I mean.
What happens when you go through a phase when your brain cells are shot and creativity has taken a hike for the day?
I did a Google search and it seems there are a number of websites recommending the same things: take a walk, change your surroundings, get more blood circulation going, listen to some music.
Well, none of those tactics work for me.
So, I reflected some and realized there are a number of things I do when stuck in a rut.
Let me know if this list is helpful for you and also share what you do when the itch just isn’t there for you to scratch.
- Create a list of things that bother you. Rash drivers, people typing on their computers in the middle of presentations, kids texting at the dinner table … you get the idea. Save all these annoying items and review them from time to time. Some day one will leap out at you and you will want to take it by its horns and write the hell out of it.
- Maintain a list of things you enjoy doing. Taking pictures, traveling, painting, babysitting (?), riding a bike … when you’re going through that period of a constipated mind, look over this list and catalog the reasons why you love doing these things. Jot down memories, sensations, experiences. Craft them into prose that sings.
- Browse the net. Look at the top news, the most re-tweeted events, op-eds, other blogs. What are folks talking about that’s topical, relevant and pikes your interest? What’s your stand on it?
- Look into your archives. Is there a piece that you wrote eons ago that (you thought) was exceptional and needs to be re-shared? Did you think it would elicit more engagement than it did? Do you think more people will be interested in it now than when you first posted it? Tweak it, refresh it, and see the magic unfold.
- Dig deeper. Have you saved something from the time you were in high school? Or college? See what a different writing style you had back then? Notice how you’ve developed your voice over the years? Take that germ of an idea you had back then and transform it into something beautiful. Or if you want to be crude, share the original post with your readers, so they can appreciate the writer you’ve become.
- Just write. Whatever comes to your mind. I loved Duane Scott’s Pleasantly Disturbed Thursday series because they allowed me the freedom from thought. Unfortunately he discontinued the series, but that’s no reason why you couldn’t just take the notion of freeform writing and run with it. Check out some of my entries for his series and try your hand at it. It’s a lot of fun.
Bloggers: What do you do when your mind becomes a pit of white space? Come, share some tips.
Also, if I’ve inspired you so much that you’re bursting at the seams with ideas, contact me. I’d love more guest posts on this blog.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Mansi Bhatia
You might also enjoy:
Hey Mansi,
Have you checked out postaday/postaweek challenge by wordpress?
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/welcome-to-the-daily-post/
You might find some ideas there and if you start posting regularly, after a while, the ideas you have will start generating some variations on its on that you wont be stuck without ideas.
I like this post. I write three blogs regularly and also guest-post regularly on a couple of sites. I found that maintaining a little notebook where I keep jotting down thoughts and ideas really helps – so am rarely at a loss for a topic to write about. The “Look into your archives” is a great idea and I always find that I’ve got a lot more to say about it today.
So that works. Now don’t laugh – but I have a few of my old diaries – and that helps too 
Thanks for the tips!! Im numb at most times. Your tips will help me!!