We've all been there. We lose our way for a little while, lose our motivation to write, lose our inspiration to blog. Self-doubt sneaks in, and we're left thinking: Oh, my God. I've finally run out of things to say. Or, why would anyone be interested in what I have to say? And so on. It's a scary place to be, but we've all been there. It seems to be common among writers and bloggers alike...the dreaded "Writer's Block."
This week's discussion prompt deals with Writer's Block/lack of inspiration and motivation/or whatever you'd like to call it.
What do you do when you face this dreaded obstacle? How do you recapture your inspiration? What motivates you to keep writing? How do you squelch the self-doubt?
Share your methods and ideas with your fellow writers. We may be able to draw a little inspiration and encouragement from each other.
When I'm stuck for ideas, I usually look at writing prompts at various places. If nothing clicks, I look at the older prompts.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I also get ideas when I read someone else's blog. Not that I plagiarize (no no no), but I get inspiration. Or I might copy their meme (with due credit given of course).
Most times, I usually jot down ideas as and when they come and when I'm blocked, I go to my notes and see if anything jumps out.
I'm having a hard time lately with creative posts. Sometimes I feel like I'm writing a 10 page college essay. I have to remind myself that sometimes it's ok to just write about my everyday life and take the pressure off myself.
ReplyDeleteInspiration comes to me suddenly. For example, one night I picked up my phone and felt sudden inspiration when I looked at it's wallpaper. I had to immediatly type out a blog post about my Dream Adventures.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm stumped I don't force it because if I do, I end up getting frustrated and then I delete the entire thing! Tehehe. For this reason, I can't write for prompts all that often (though I love the opportunity)... they really have to *speak* to my spirit in order for me to be able to write =)
My best writing comes from drawing on personal experiences.
Music and childhood photos. Otherwise, I operate much like Jenny. I'm often struck with sudden inspiration.
ReplyDeleteShowing not Telling! It was always my very favorite assignment in Junior High (oh so very long ago) and my amazing teacher Miss Lane gave us a new one to do every day. For those who don't know, Showing not Telling is where you take a basic statement of ANY kind (i.e., "The bunny was scared") and do what you can to CONVEY the meaning of the statement without actually SAYING the statement. (i.e., "The air was eerily calm, and yet the tiny rodent's downy fur appeared to shiver as if it were being ruffled by a playful breeze. His nose had stopped moving and froze like every muscle in his taught, alert little body. His ears were perked up as if held aloft by the invisible threads of a sure-handed puppeteer..." Etc, etc.) Lame example but you get the point!
ReplyDeleteIf you Google it, you'll find lots of sites that have great prompts of this kind, but the best one I've found actually comes up first: http://www.writedesignonline.com/assignments/shownottell.html
And, of course, I'm also motivated by life experience, other peoples' stories (sans plagiarism for me too LOL) and lightening-bolts/whispers of inspiration.
I get a lot of ideas while I'm running. I pretty much have to make my brain shut up so that I can hear myself think...
ReplyDeleteLike Dweej, ideas dance in my head while I'm running, on four wheels, to work each day. My fifty mile drive is precious quiet time before the insanity of the day begins. The return trip home is always a fight for road survival and my thoughts then are focused on making it through the gauntlet of wannabee Nascar drivers.
ReplyDeleteOr, like today, I'm up at 4, awakened once again by what I thought was yelling down the hall from our guest room; a room my mother occupied before her death and where I'm certain her spirit resides still.
Maybe, in some way, her ghostly presence helps me to get past the writing roadblocks I've recently encountered. I have my own personal, paranormal, prompt....