Writers block

[Nether]

We’d probably all be way more productive writers, if there was somebody there to threaten us every minute of our life.

I prefer the carrot over the stick myself.

 

[Arpeggio]

Gardening also helps.

Agree. This might be called "active rest" (as opposed to passive rest). Creativity comes out of the parasympathetic side of your nervous system, known as "rest and digest" according to my copy of "Nutrition and the Autonomic Nervous System" by Nicholan J. Gonzales M.D. (page 122). The sympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is "fight and flight" which probably (and ironically) includes worrying about writers block!

 

[why_a_u]

Whenever I can't think of anything to write while staring at the screen, I'll take a shower and pick a song or classical music that has a general vibe or emotion of what I want to convey in a scene. Especially when I'm listening to classical music, there's usually a story that can be gleaned from the chord progressions, dynamic changes, and articulation if you focus on the music and recontextualize your characters within it. I have nothing but anecdotes to back this, but I've heard shower thoughts is a thing, and music just helps me to focus those thoughts on a specific emotion, so I think it's still a harmless thing to try out if you're feeling stuck and nothing else is working.

Of course, my wife ran into me once while I was listening to some creepy ambient music while showering. She thought I was having a mental breakdown.

 

[Murphy's Dad]

I like to get moving when I'm stuck. So, I'll go for a walk, work in the garden, or clean up around the house. Doesn't always work, but I feel better about things afterwards.

 

[Maryn]

That's helpful, so long as the task doesn't demand your full attention. I used to take my exercise walks on the Erie Canal while "writing" my problem chapters in my head. I could probably do it shoveling snow, pulling weeds, or vacuuming, but not decluttering, for instance.

 

[L.Zihe]

I like to think externally when I'm stuck -- I'll call my poor friend who has the dubious job of reading my first drafts and listening to my rants, and sometimes she'll have great suggestions, but even more often just trying to verbally explain the situation stimulates my thinking enough to come to a solution myself. It also helps to realise where I've gotten too lost in the details when I try and explain and realise how convoluted it is!

That's helpful, so long as the task doesn't demand your full attention. I used to take my exercise walks on the Erie Canal while "writing" my problem chapters in my head. I could probably do it shoveling snow, pulling weeds, or vacuuming, but not decluttering, for instance.

I find this fascinating, since I use brainstorming/daydreaming stories to motivate doing boring things, instead of the other way around. It's great, because I can plug in my headphones and absorb myself in my head for hours (convenient on bus rides, long walks, planes, etc), but it's also annoying since I rarely use that time to pick apart problem areas and instead focus on whatever appeals at the moment. So if I go on a walk intending to seriously consider a problem, my thoughts drift back to the plotting and re-plotting of fun, familiar territory. (I am not actually writing the subject of my long-running daydream/brainstorming thread, for this reason -- I can't be bothered to sort out the annoying logistical details!) I am glad it works for others!

 

[Maryn]

Aren't brains fascinating? We're the yin and yang here!

 

[CMBright]

I am another who finds walking helps with plotting. If it works, it works. I don't expect what works for me to work for others, but it's nice when I learn that works for me works for others.