I dont know about anyone else, but I often times suffer from writers block. It's very aggravating, especially when I have alot of ideas to write about, but just cant get the words flowing.

I am creating this thread in hopes that it can be used as an information center. Members can share tips and ideas with each other about writing techniques, styles and maybe even some useful writing exercises

*Please try to stay on topic and not let this thread turn into another chat room*


I look forward to everyones input.

Okay...this may sound kinda lame, but it is helpful info when your really stuck in a rut. Actually the writing exercises that follow this one are more interesting....but I will wait to see if anyone has an interest before posting them.




ALL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS FROM THE BOOK CALLED: Writing From The Heart... By: Leslea Newman
(Inspirational Exercises for those who want to write)

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Assignment #1


Free Writing

Free writing, also called sudden writing, or spontaneous writing is a technique in which you write for a certain amount of time without stopping. Free writing is not speed writing. The idea is not to write as fast as you can, but to write continuously. If you get stuck don’t stop and think about what to write next, just continue writing. If you get really stuck, simply repeat the last word you wrote until you get unstuck and your writing moves forward again.


Example:
The cat is purring loudly on my lap. I have to hold up my note-book at an awkward angle as I write this, but I dont mind really. I hope someone will inconvenience herself for my sake when I'm one hundred and fourty years old, which is how old this cat would be if he were human. One hundred and fourty-who would want to live that long? My grandmother died when she was ninety nine and a half, not wanting to make it too one hundred. If I live that long, I'll be obsolete; I'll be the only human being on the planet who still doesn't know how to use a computer. There I go again terminal uniqueness. I remember the terminal cafe at the dock where you get the ferry to Staten Island. I always thought if I ever wrote a horror book, I'd include a creepy hangout called the Terminal Cafe. One cup of coffee and you'll never return. Isn't that amazing, the stuff that lives on in the unlimited hard disk of ones mind. Who needs a computer? The cat has crawled off my lap and now lies next to me on the couch in a splash of sun sun sun sun sun sun what? I've only been writing for ten minutes. Ten down and ten to go.....
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Free writing is a great warm up, akin to a musician practicing her scales or an athlete stretching their muscles. Get in the habit of starting off your writing day with a glass of orange juice and twenty minutes of free writing, It’s a good way to begin to understand the inner workings of your mind.

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I will post the 2nd exercise from the book, if anyone is interested in reading more from this author.

hey now coooooo idea ~hugs~ for me~scratches head~hmmmmmm I wanted to say music helps aloooot but I never have had a block~knocks on wood/scotty's head~ lol so I guess I not be huge help in this issue, but I can maybe offer a few words that have historically inspired a few thats all I can do about blocks, I hate to think myself stuck on one

advice in general is helpful....it's not just about writers block. It's more a place to share what inspires us to write...perhaps giving each other an inspiring nudge when needed and for those who never run short on words.....maybe you have tips that will help those who do find their selves limited.

I think the best way to start writing something is to make up a lie. If you can't or just don't want to write about something you feel or know or see, then write up a lie. It works!

On the other hand, when you're looking for inspiration, find something that plays on your emotions or makes you think. I'm always more eloquent after reading a good book, and more emotional after listening to something instrumental. Using music you listen to often might not cut it, unless you listen with your whole body....y'know, focus all of your attention on every beat, every instrument, every pause. I like instrumental because it doesn't confuse the mind with lyrics, you can explore your emotions in more directions than where the words are pointing you. I listen to soundtracks mostly for this...Le Violon Rouge, Amelie, Red Dragon...there are many wonderful soundtracks out there...Many from the artsy fartsy movies we all know and love, some by big hollywood productions too, look at Danny Elfman, he works with Tim Burton a lot of the time and his music makes me feel strong emotions when I listen to it.

Yeah, that's the best I can come up with at the moment

I... Think.

I try to think.....but I'm not always successful at it

I was thinking....if any one had project ideas for the communtiy thread we could discuss them here. That way we don't complicate the current project that is under way. I am looking forward to doing alot more community projects

nono I know hun I can try and advice but I was arguin ma self out of sharin ma sources of insiration lol

and the thinkin thing, naaaaaaah arc just feels alot, but when he thinks its scary, lol look he pinned ure thread up here for all to use and to stay up see he thinks

i used to completely brick it when it came to writer's block, the first time it actually happened i thought...that's it, i'm never gonna be able to write anything again!
...but, these days i've sorta overcome and found what i think is a good solution to it.

i basically look at it as running out of gas, if your uninspired then what do you need to do?...find inspiration.
you've come to a point where you have no new ideas and subjects to write about.
what works with me is just putting aside writing altogether and feeding your head with as much info as possible.
reading as many books as you can get your hands on, listening to new music and just getting outside into the world and absorbing as much as possible.
visit art galleries, take a trip to the theatre, go catch a movie...all these things work...cramming as much as you can into your head.

a good book i got recommended by (antihero) is - "the outlaw bible of american poetry ~ edited by alan kaufman", that book literally is my bible for poetry...very inspiring.

going back and visiting old and painful memories is fine if that's all your looking to write about, but if your really interested in moving forward then i suggest something completely new, something you've never delt or worked with before.

the free writing exercise is great, i've done that a couple of times, really helps you open up.
i spent hours doing it once and came out with a notebook full of words, some of it was complete shit, some of it was great.
but more importantly it helps you find old and new rythms to work with.
it's something all writers should try i think.

I recommend Rumi and Attar, hafes and Emily Dickenson as far as reading goes. three persian and one american hehe


hey Sue I gots a little surprise in ma thread come check it~hugs~

NEVER save your writing to a floppy disc without checking to see if it saved properly....or printing it out....Grrrr, one can loose some great work that way. *speaks form experience* Unfortunately!

wow, great thread. When i get writers block, I find I agree with laaz, I need new stimuli, but if I have ideas and they are not expressing themselves properly, then I find if I read back over my old poems, especially the last ones I had wrote. I can note a trend in my writings, maybe a issue or emotion that is a reacurring theme, or a problem that I am stuck on, even if I am writing about ideas and not personal experiences, I find my state of "today" is still some how expressed in my writing. Sometimes by working through "today" i will open up new ideas and words or be able to express what is really trying to be said. Other times I just write shit until I break the cycle.

if you wanna be a good writer, you have to read everything you can get your hands on. it's as simple as that. it's also a damn good way to get rid of writer's block; reading a good poem reminds me of what words can do, and gets me in the creative mindset again.

I completely dis-ma auntie on this subject~shakes head~ NO NO NO NO thanx

pretty hard to disagree with that. i've never known a good writer who wasn't an avid reader.

ever heard of subconscious perjury?

there be a fine line and a real give and take on this matter, for do U believe art a learned skill or a genetic gift? there is a most definit loss and gain in the matter that all artists have to accept when makin their choice of studying other artists of their own field or not, whilst one may gain technical skills by the study of others their originality slowly dwindles away unconsciously

if you want to make art, you have to know art. one could also argue that the less exposed you are to your art form, the more stagnant your style becomes. how would you be able to change if you don't know where you can go?

I can see your point Mighty....unfortunately not all of us are gifted with the natural skill of writing...or whatever the skill may be. I like to read other peoples poetry for inspiration, as well as for enjoyment. Perhaps hoping it will melt down my road block. I also like to see how others use their skills to write...some obviously know how to use their words well, and others just write words. I myself fall into the "just words" category...but I hope one day, I will be able to write with more meaning. (using my words to their full benefit) does that make sence??

hehe I said that senior ofcourse there is a loss with every gain, so U loose in technique what U gain in originality and style~style of Ure own~