Writer's block

David · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:23 pm

I have a bad case of it.

I really hoped that in the next couple of months before uni I would take advantage of the spare time to get a couple of articles published and write as much as I could, but I haven't written a thing. It might stem from a lack of self-confidence - on a somewhat related note, my slightly reworked paedophilia article got turned down by the National Times for being too controversial, and I've been feeling pretty miserable about it (where else would I even get that published? I tried The Drum, but they haven't gotten back to me).

Does anyone have any tips on how to cure writer's block? Where do you start?

Nick - Pie Man · Joined: 04 Aug 2010

well now, and this is serious and by no means trivialising your situation, i find that before hitting the piano or the computer to write some music, a quick tug does wonders to get the creativity flowing. dont know why it works but it does. perhaps it will also help your writing

Donny · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:51 pm

How would David giving you a quick tug help his writer's block ?

5150 · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

pietillidie · Joined: 07 Jan 2005

HAL · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:49 am

Is this what you call a "word problem". Do you mind if I tell other people you are projecting his or her personal experience on you here. We have nothing to fear, but fear itself. --FDR

Dr Pie · Dr Pie Joined: 08 Nov 2007

David, do they give advice in your tutorials on who to approach when trying to get freelance articles published? Lecturers like Phil Chubb and Bill Birnbauer have years of journalistic experience and a boatload of contacts and maybe you should have a yarn with them.

Good luck with your writing.

EBB · Joined: 26 Apr 2007

HAL · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:30 am

I am in Viccy Park. Where are you?

Black_White · Joined: 19 Mar 2001

Drugs.
The cure to all blockages.
Do it now.

stui magpie · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:05 pm

LOL at some of the suggestions, jerk off, go for a walk, take drugs......why the hell not?

For mine, I'll go more conservative and say.........Stop Trying.

If you sit down at the computer and try to write something, you can get blocked. It's like trying to remember a name, the harder you try to remember, the more frustrated you get. Then at 2am you wake up when your conscious brain has stopped trying, your sub conscious yells out the answer.

So, pick the topic you want to write about, and go for a walk, lay on a beach, jerk off, take drugs or do whatever, just switch your brain off the topic. Relax and let your imagination go free.

Once you're relaxed, you can start day dreaming about the topic you have in mind and the article you want to write will write itself in your brain.

David · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:07 am

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Well, I don't know how I did it, but on a whim I started writing an article on same-sex marriage yesterday, and sent it in to the National Times 10 minutes ago. Here's hoping they haven't blacklisted me after the last one*. Razz

(*actually, I'm still quite disappointed by that. I read it again today, and it's a solid, reasoned, non-sensationalist article. It's only as controversial as the topic of paedophilia itself is controversial)

Black_White · Joined: 19 Mar 2001

You're a natural born stirrer David.

watt price tully · Joined: 15 May 2007

Pied Piper · Joined: 20 May 2003 Location: Pig City

David, I am actually in a very similar boat to you at the moment for a variety of reasons, so you have my sympathy.

But contra Stui's advice above: I've always found motivation follows action, not the other way around. "Write, simply write" sounds pretty good to me - i.e. you force the blockage out by writing, even if you're writing crap!