If I am suffering from writer's block, I simply stop writing...
Normally
it does not get to this as I am often playing with several ideas at
once within my head and if one idea is not sparking my creativity
another may be. The fact is if you are not being stimulated to write
something, your readers certainly won't be stimulated to read it.
Forcing yourself to write is a lot easier than forcing readers to read -
so don't bother. If a story is not pulling you along with its momentum
then its time for a break.
In this situation, the first thing I
do is look at potentially doing some more research on my story. I try
and build more around the history of my characters and locations and try
to map out exactly how each one of them has got to where they are. So I
research their profession or where they grew up - look at the politics
and education of their upbringing or past relationships. A lot of this
will never get anywhere near the pages of the story, but helps to
fashion each element in a more realistic and natural way. If I know what
sort of life a character has lived then their actions and words will
come out automatically as I write. This researching either helps my
writing once the block has gone or unveils new angles and ideas for my
stories, thus tearing down the block itself.
And if all else
fails I read books and watch films. This is the source of my spring of
creativity - looking at stories gone by and recognising the strengths
and weaknesses of each. Whilst I don't rip off other people's ideas I
will often come across an arc and think "that was good, but it would
have been better if..." and so I twist and morph it into something
original.
The key to it all is not to force anything. If you
absolutely can not continue to write a story perhaps it is time to be
ruthless and ask "is it really that good?" Always challenge yourself to
write something you can't leave alone - because then hopefully your
readers will feel the same!
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