Solution for writers block…

I never thought that I would reach this point but I confessed to my wife that I was running out of things to talk about. She replied by saying that all I had to do was ask her a question and something would come to me so that I would interrupt her before she finished her sentence. Hummm…. I guess I have to work on that…..

Seriously though, I have found myself stuck while writing a couple of my novels. At other times, I just can’t type fast enough to get the ideas out of my head and onto the page. It’s like the words are fighting to get out of my brain.

I founded the Ottawa Science Fiction and Fantasy writers group and have discussed writers block over a beer or two with other writers. What I have found works for me is to plan the book over a longer period of time. I especially like to come up with scenarios when I’m out running in the summer. The problem with that is that I don’t usually have a pen when the solution presents itself. Every try to remember something in the middle of an 18 Km run?

I’ve noticed that solutions to problems come in the strangest places. I very often go to bed with a question and wake up with an answer. I also come up with solutions to problems in the shower. Perhaps it has something to do with running hot water over my brain?

My advice to you would be:

  • find time to think,
  • think creatively outside the box,
  • exercise for longer periods of time so that your brain has time to wander,
  • give yourself a problem to solve when you go to bed at night,
  • never give up and remember that if the solution is hard, there must be an easier one,
  • don’t go directly to Google, it short circuits your brain,
  • socialize with people outside of your normal group,
  • start conversations with people about bizarre things,

Live large and enjoy life. It’s amazing how many things I draw on from Tae-kwon do. General Choi was a very observant person. For today lets consider his advice on sparring as it applies to life. (Consider the following a bizarre conversation, although one sided). The bullets are the general’s rules for sparring, the comments in brackets are my adaptation to life in general.

  • Courage (To face the world)
  • Timing (Is everything especially in business)
  • Accuracy (Make sure you understand)
  • Control (Self control)
  • Alertness (Stay awake)
  • Combinations (Mix it up to keep life interesting)
  • Observation (Pay attention)
  • Reaction (Participate)
  • Physical Conditioning (Be ready for every challenge)
  • Speed/Reflex (Don’t wait to react)
  • Stamina (Train for the marathon)

 

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