Most people say that when it comes to writer's block you just need to 'power through'; those people have no idea just how frustrating it is and therefore deserve a slap. Go ahead. I give you permission. I'll wait. Done? Good. Doesn't that feel better!
What I've always found really helpful are silly little methods, almost games, that help get the creative juices flowing better. My favourite has to be what I refer to as The Shoebox Method. Now I don't know who first did this but I discovered it but thanks to one of my favourite Professors at university randomly producing a shoebox full of bits and bobs one day I use it regularly. What we had to do was choose something from the box - with our eyes closed - and write the first thing that came to our minds about it.
(I
pulled out a heart shaped lollypop and went on to write a short story
that included something I had tried to incorporate into a story years
before but could never make it fit right. To this my teacher said that
it was a story that had 'wanted' to be written.)
My advice to you, if you choose to try this, is; ask your family or friends to put things in the box for you without telling you what they are. You need things that you don't know about so therefore haven't already begun thinking about them (even if you say you won't, your mind will do it unconsciously)
I beseech you all to try this yourself! If for nothing else; just for fun. Here is an example of one I've thrown together;
Feel free to 'pick' something out and write about it. Oh! And if you're feeling bold, I would love to see what you come up with!
x
