For those times when writing is like banging your head against a brick wall

[Joe McCoubrey]

We all hit a brick wall now and again with our writing.

I don’t know about you guys but at times like that I find it easier to look for something else to do, convince myself that I need a break, anything but stare at a blank screen.

It’s procrastination with a capital P and I’m ashamed of all the times I’ve succumbed to its charms.

I’ll let you into a little secret. After battling with it for several years I finally figured out what to do about it.

Let me first set the record straight. I’m not talking about the dreaded muse here! There’s no such thing! Don’t listen to those who perpetuate the myth about some sort of inspirational phantom who ‘visits’ the worthy and drips ideas into their psyche.

Waiting for some kind of divine assistance is a bit like believing in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, or that Bill Clinton didn’t have relations with that woman!

We writers have an urge to write. At times it’s overwhelming, and on those occasions the words seem to flow. But is this caused by a muse? Do me a favour! The simple fact is that our urge to write is greatest when we develop our ideas for a plot, or a sub-plot. On those occasions we can’t ignore the demand to get the ideas down on paper. SEE MORE:http://joemccoubrey.com/for-those-times-when-writing-can-be-like-hi...

[Sharon Dwyer]

When the words are there nothing can stop the writing. When they fail to appear it may be time to sit back, close your eyes, and run the story through your mind like a movie. It works for me when I get stuck or can't find the right transition to the next part of the story. Sometimes it works and sometimes it seems like a grade B, no make that a grade C movie and I want my money back.

As for the muse, Can't say it has ever paid me a visit.

[wj keach]

I try NOT to think of writer's block.  Ever.  It's my only superstition.  If I act like it doesn't exist, maybe it doesn't.  Those times I don't write are just times I don't want to write.  I never worry about it.  My belief is that when I sit down and go to work again, whatever that thing is that makes the ideas and words flow will be there for me.  It's worked for (XXXX) years, so I'm either lucky or dim.

[Jade Kerrion]

I'm under such tight (self-imposed) deadlines that I have no time to think about writer's block. :-)