12 Tips to Overcoming Creative Writing Blocks

Many of us dream of being writers and publishing a book, but many of us never realize this dream because so often a lack of confidence causes us to stop short of our goal. Also, many creative types encounter creative blocks that cause them to doubt their abilities and to over edit their writing.

(PRWEB) January 29, 2005 -- Recently two mothers teamed up under the umbrella of The Literary Midwife to offer, The Write on Target program designed to help writers clarify their writing goals and to overcome blocks to completing their projects. The writer then embarks upon an ongoing program designed specifically to help them navigate the ups and downs of the creative process and get their manuscript completed.

Here are some tips offered by the Coaches at Literary Midwife:

1.    Begin in the middle. Often writers can get stuck on how to begin, trying to coming up with the perfect first sentence, paragraph or opening hook. But there is no rule that says you have to start at the beginning. Just dive in anywhere in your story and start writing.

2.    Give yourself permission to write badly. When we expect perfection immediately, we can feel blocked because nothing we can imagine writing is good enough. Get rid of the censor and give yourself permission to write badly. Then get writing. You may surprise yourself with how good your writing is.

3.    Take a long walk or run. Exercise can be meditative and provides the brain with oxygen which can allow you to free associate and come up with new ideas and inspiration.

4.    Take a 2 day or 1 week (maximum!) writing break and do something during that time to feed your creativity -- go to a museum, take a hike in the mountains, sit in a cafe and people-watch, go to a spa, volunteer at a soup kitchen. Sometimes we just need to live a little in order to re-fill the creative well so we can access new images, metaphors, new ideas.

5.     Try drawing, painting or singing -- be creative but in a form other than writing. It uses a different part of your brain and can give new insights into your writing project. Can't figure out where to go with your story? Paint your character. If you're blocked with your screenplay, make up the theme song.

6.    Use dictation as a mode of writing and "write" aloud into a tape recorder. Then simply transcribe what you have recorded. This can allow you to tap into a different way of creating and capture your unique voice on the page.

7.    Set tiny, thoroughly attainable targets. One of the biggest mistakes writers can make is to set unrealistic targets that set them up for failure even before they begin. It is much better to write one page a day, or even a paragraph, rather than aim for 10 pages and get nothing accomplished.

8.    Always stop writing while you are still in the flow of your topic and know what you want to say next. That way you will be able to pick it up again easily and get back into that flow when you start writing the next day.

9.    Make yourself accountable to someone else. For example, set up a regular writing date with another person and ask them not to let you know if they can't make it. That way, you have to show up regardless.

10.    Get a writing coach who can guide you through the ups and downs of the creative process, and give you honest, insightful editorial feedback on the inherent strengths and value of your project.

To learn more tips interview Shelley Drayton or Judith Burfoot or visit http://www.theliterarymidwife.com/

Judith Burfoot has been sharpening her skills as both an editor and writer for the past ten years focusing her career in the corporate sector and with sports publications. Judith has worked as a policy writer and within the corporate training environment. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of I Got Game magazine (exploring the amateur and professional Canadian basketball worlds) and a former contributing editor of Sportsfemmes.com) Judith is the founder of the Algonquin Womens Writing Retreat (1997) and looks forward to bringing these same experiences to The Literary Midwife.

Shelley Drayton, MA English has honed her editorial skills and dedicated herself to working with writers and speakers to assist them in gaining greater clarity and focus in their work. Shelley's passion is inspiring writers to live their artistic dreams and fostering the creation of their own unique literary offerings. Some of her published editorial credits include Business and Social TRENDZ: Profiting with Spiritual Economics (Abbeyfield Publishing), by G. Robert Switzer; Music of Soul (Little Hut Press), by Thomas Drayton; and Dream Yourself Awake, by Darlene Montgomery.

To learn more about the Literary Midwife, visit: http://www.theliterarymidwife.com/ or call 416-696-1684.

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