*shudders*
It’s a pain isn’t it?
The nightmare situation for most writers….a blank page (or computer screen) and your mind, desperately searching for the words that just won’t come *gulp* 😦
The lovely Andy Szpuk wrote this poem which, to me, sums it up very nicely 🙂
You sit there looking at the page
The page stares blankly back at you
You’re locked in a wordless cage
You sit there looking at the page
So glad you’re not up on stage
With your heart and soul all askew
You sit there looking at the page
The page stares blankly back at you
“Locked in a wordless cage” is the line that really made me think, the connection between being blocked and being inspired, is freedom. Ok, now bear with me on this lol.
Inspiration isn’t going to fall into your lap, it doesn’t just magically show up the minute you sit down to write (ok, perhaps it does for some people lol). Most of the time, you have to find it…..and that’s why I’m a big believer in always carrying a notebook 😉
As writers, most of us don’t bother to nourish our muses with experience. So, for me, when the words just won’t come, I try to come up with things that will excite my muse 😉 we need to give him/her the freedom to experience new things, great things, small things 🙂
Here are my top 10 things to do to free my muse from that cage:
1. Go to a cafe or park and people watch. Take your notebook, write down snippets of conversations and free write.
2. Go to an art gallery (most of them here in the UK are free). Immerse yourself in visual stimulation.
3. Sit on a beach and stare out to sea (one of my favourites….I love beaches 🙂
4. Make soup! Lol…..can’t cook? Yes you can, don’t tell porkies 😉 Making soup is so therapeutic, all that chopping lol
5. Listen to music, read, or watch a film, depending on your preference. All can be really inspiring, and relaxing, coz lets face it, being blocked is stressful 😦
6. Go for a walk. I must confess, I’m not a huge fan of exercise, but, I love walking down a street and looking at people’s houses, imagining who lives behind each door and what their lives are like.
7. Do something arty. Paint, draw, do some colouring, or make something out of modelling clay.
8. Go notebook shopping. Always fun IMO and a great purpose to boot!
9. Do some gardening. Ok, so you haven’t got a garden….but I bet you have a windowsill that could do with a few pot plants or herbs?
10. Tidy your desk/work area….ORGANISE even if that means you have to invest in a couple of pretty folders or brightly coloured plastic wallets (ooooo, another excuse to visit a stationery shop! Lol).
And my top top tip …….wherever you go, and what ever you do….take a camera!!!!! (or mobile phone lol). Any photos you can take can be used as prompts 🙂
What do you do to excite and stimulate your muse?
The View Outside 
I read books in a different genre from what I am writing. Because lots of ideas that I wouldn’t think about writing I usually find in other genres, and that seems to free my Muse.
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That’s a good one, yeah, I can see that would help 🙂
Thanks hon, I’ll add it to my list in my note book.
Xx
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Great tips. I like to look at pictures. Prompts are the best way to help block. I participate in quite a few prompt things on WordPress.
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Oh definitely, pictures, art, the stories that can be inspired from a painting! What’s that quote, a picture paints a thousand words….so true 🙂
Thanks hon 🙂
Xx
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I don’t know. I appreciate your advice on muse-stimulating, but sometimes you can take too long, and the point is to finish something.
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That’s very true hon, procrastination and avoidence are things im plagued by lol. But, for me, spending each and every day surrounded by the same 4 walls with just my pen, paper and Netbook, can be stifling 😦
I think, sometimes we can be so desperate, as writers, to get to the finish line, that we don’t take time to enjoy the journey, if you know what I mean 😉
Xx
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What a great list! 🙂 I can attest that gardening really does sing to a muse.
When I get stuck, I do a total free write. I go total stream of consciousness and just scribble nonsense. Eventually, all the nonsense loosens up my writing groove and I can switch back into my work in progress. 🙂
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Thanks hon 😉
Oh, yes, free writing, I’ve only just recently discovered it 🙂
I’m finding that I can’t do it indoors though, I have to be out somewhere, be it a cafe, a park bench, a waiting room. If I try to free write at my table at home I just end up pouring my heart out about my crappy day lol
Xx
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Great to see so many sharing ideas here, and sometimes breaking out of regular routines can help as Alex Turner (Arctic Monkleys) observed in ‘View From the Afternoon’ – ‘you can pour your heart out around 2 o’clock, when the 2 for 1’s undone the writer’s block!’
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That’s a good quote, thanks hon 🙂
Listening to music, with words, can be very inspiring IMO….as can other peoples poetry 😉 Thanks for letting me use your inspiring piece 🙂
Xx
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Organizing and changing things in my home sometimes does it for me. Re-doing/painting a piece of flea market furniture, painting and sometimes a glass of wine will bring that little rascal (muse) out. I’ve had dreams before of something I want to write about, so I’ll get up and type furiously before the idea leaves me. I’ve started a rather disturbing short story and got such great feedback from my writer’s group, but haven’t finished it yet….:).
Nice post, Vikki and thanks for the tips!
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It’s definitely a good way to shake up that muse, and you get the added benefit of ending up in a better atmosphere….win win 😉
Ha ha ha….I did think of putting alcohol on the list, but I didn’t want to be accused of being a bad influence lol.
Yeah, painting furniture, good one! 🙂
Oooooo, good luck with your story honey!
Xx
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great tips, Vikki! what’s funny is that I have never tried any of those. i think I should because i’m having trouble with the planning stage of my third book. i want it to be epic without it being forced, and right now…it feels contrived. i wouldn’t call what i have writer’s block, but i’d call it writer’s freeze. i just don’t want to make the wrong move here and mess up the story.
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*tuts and shakes head* Mr Stadler, shame on you, get out there right this minute!!!!! 😉 LMAO!
Ooooo, yeah, writers freeze, I know where you’re coming from there honey. But, I do honestly beleive that staying indoors stressing about it just makes it worse 😦
Good luck, and if you try one, let me know how you got on 🙂
Xx
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hahahaha yes ma’am!!
and you’re right….staring at the walls usually results in just that…staring at the walls / no productivity.
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Lol 😉
But we still do it don’t we 😉
Xx
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Here’s a link to a post I wrote titled, “I Love My Writer’s Block!” with an accompanying photograph: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/i-love-my-writers-block/
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Wow, Laurie, I LOVE that…..I WANT ONE! 🙂
I definitely need to get myself “A Writers Block”
Thanks honey, brilliant!
Xx
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Vikki – It’s a fun and different way to look at something that’s usually viewed in a not-so-pleasant fashion. A positive shift in perspective 🙂
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Definitely! 🙂
Brilliant!!!!!
Xx
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I get these far too often, I even write a few extra posts in drafts in case i do run out of ideas 😦 thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for stopping by honey 🙂
If you do try any of the ideas do stop by and let me know how it went 🙂 I’d recommend getting out and about ANYWHERE for a free writing session 🙂
Xx
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You’re very welcome Vikki! I’ll give it a try thx! xx 🙂
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Great tips. A bike ride or a hike in the woods usually does the trick for me! Somehow getting out of my head.
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Ooooo, yeah, a walk in the woods, lovely! 🙂
Xx
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That was a great poem to share! I find walking on trails and through gardens helps a lot. Luckily, my son walks with me. People watching is great, too! You’re also right about chopping veggies while cooking. Going into the kitchen is my break from writing. Great post!
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thanks honey 🙂
Oh yes, definitely walking in parks and gardens, good for the body and the brain! Lol
Chopping veggies gives me time to think 😉
Xx
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It can be very frustrating when you experience writer’s block. But I have learned not to be hard on myself and just distract yourself with something else. My best ideas come to me when I go out!
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thanks for stopping by hon 🙂
That’s a very good point, I think we can so often be too hard on ourselves about it….stop thinking about the result and enjoy the ride, that’s what I say 😉
Xx
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Great post Vikki. I don’t really get writers’ block as such, but to stimulate my mind I’ll probably sit on a bench in a park and watch the world go by. Thinking, reading and meditating all help too. The main purpose is to take your mind off trying to think of something to write. 🙂
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Thanks Sandra 🙂
Oh, I totally agree, sitting infrint of a blank page willing the words to come will just make it worse 😦
Xx
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I am happy to say I’ve never had writer’s block (touch wood). I wonder if it is because I do a lot of things on your list just on a regular basis?
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Ahhhhh, well then you, my dear Janet, are a brilliant example 🙂
*whispers* I’ve never had writers block either…I can always find something to write about lol
Xx
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I found this unexpectedly helpful. Thank you.
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You’re very welcome….and thanks for stopping by 🙂
Xx
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Pingback: Blank pages and the eloquence of wordlessness « The Kelworth Files
Love that poem – thanks for sharing it! I posted a bit about poetry eloquently summing up the sensation of not having the right words, and shared some of my favorite song lyrics on the subject, here: http://kelworthfiles.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/blank-pages-and-the-eloquence-of-wordlessness/
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Thanks for sharing that poem, I love it! I just posted about the idea of poetry eloquently summing up the sensation of not having the right words, and shared some of my favorite song lyrics, here: http://kelworthfiles.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/blank-pages-and-the-eloquence-of-wordlessness/
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I love that poem, thanks for sharing it!
I just posted about the idea of poetry eloquently summing up the sensation of not having the right words, and shared some of my favorite song lyrics, here: http://kelworthfiles.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/blank-pages-and-the-eloquence-of-wordlessness/
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It’s good isn’t it! 🙂
If you’re not following Andys blog already, do go and have a look Chris 😉
Ooooo, I shall come and see!
Xx
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Pingback: My Writers Block – I Love It! | The View Outside