Letter 23: June 9, 2008
Allow me to share with you something I wrote in 2004: my ten guaranteed cures for writer's block. You might find five things you can try today.
1. When the writing doesn’t come, stay at the desk for the planned number of hours. It’ll come.
2. When the writing doesn’t come, leave the room, take a walk, get into a positive mood. You can write later.
3. Always write in the same place. Just being there triggers your mind to write.
4. Always write in different places: in the coffee shop, on the bus. The variety and the sights trigger your creativity.
5. When you don’t know what to write, write anything. Try this: write for eight minutes about earwax or car batteries. Don’t let your hand stop. Go!
6. When you don’t know what to write, put down the pen, focus on your project, read the last page, carry on.
7. Always write in a quiet room with no chance of distractions.
8. You’ll find music, television or the bustle of a coffee shop are all helpful: they displace the fears and distracting thoughts.
9. Never discuss a project with anyone while it’s taking shape. Any comment at all can stunt its growth. Exposure can crystallize your idea when it should be fluid.
10. Share your developing work with a writer’s group. It gives you a deadline, encouragement and different ideas.
David
David Jung McGarva
+1 (818) 707 1871
Write me: david at todayiwrite dot com
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