5 Ways to Break Writers Block by Diana Flegal

Writers block has been known to hit the most well published authors as well as the newbie on deadline. Blog block hit me this week. 

All creativity damns up behind a wall of fear and dread fueled by new insecurity.

Julia Cameron in her book, “The Artists Way” recommends ‘Artist Dates’. Getting out and seeing beautiful things, imagining creative ways to use cast off junk, and soaking in creations beauty – all of these things do help to refresh me and recharge my efforts at my desk.

 Julia has posted on her blog 101 artist date ideas for us. Great list. I hope you check it out.

1. Go on an artist date

I belong to a group of creative’s here in Asheville that gather under the name The Worship Studio. We meet most Monday evenings in Matt Tommey’s River Oaks studio, in our River Arts District here in Asheville, NC. The River Arts District is home to over 180 working artists within 25 studio buildings.  It's one of the largest working artists communities in the country and certainly the most interactive!   We believers gather together to encourage one another in the gifts we have been given. Matt is a published author and successful skilled basket maker that sells commissioned pieces. But it is his vision to come along side of artists (writers included) and create community for them all over the world. Right now we are reading together, Erwin McManus’s book, The Artisan Soul.

    2. Gather with like minded people/ writers critique group/ phone a friend

Author Cindy Sproles said when she gets stuck, she accesses a ‘trash bin’ file of stories she started and walked away from. Usually she finds something there or is inspired enough to go back to the story she was stuck on.

     3. Recycle the thread in old stories

Well published author Yvonne Lehman said she doesn’t run into writers block often. When a character of hers doesn’t quite know what to do in a situation, she lets them wonder, pray about it, or throws them into a crisis. Problem solved.

      4. Re-imagine your character’s situation

Last but not least: Thank God for the challenge. Author Lilly Sanders Ubbens reminds us of this here in her blog, Christ Across Culture. Your challenge might not be mine- or mine the same as any others. But our challenges all serve a higher purpose.

     5. Pray

What do you do when you are stuck? Hope we have given you a few ideas to get your wheels spinning again or at least distracted you enough to go back in fresh. At least you know you are not alone.