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Writer’s block – hit it with something hard

I think writer’s block, for me at least, is not that we have run out of creative juice (You know that heart-pumping fuel that drives us forward in a story.) I believe it’s the mind’s ability to trick us; to convince us that we have nothing left in the tank. For good or bad, our mind blocks our view of the creative horizon; protecting us from more hard work, more writing, more editing; shielding us from disappointment. What if everyone hates it, or laughs at my efforts? All those self-doubts.

The best way to beat the block is to hit it with something hard.

Hit it with persistence! Write with guts. Sit down and write. Write anything. Get past the mud-sodden bog by moving forward until you hit dry land. Cast aside your critical self and let the artist work. 

WAIT! Your character is about to have an inner thought.

How do you make the jump from your story’s outer world narrative to the inner thoughts of your character?

Are you scratching your head? Well done. That’s the secret.

Example:

The little girl held her breath in protest. Harry scratched his head and drew a hand across his receding hairline. She’s turning blue, he thought. What the heck is she doing?

Draw attention to the inner self by using the outer physical self. Outer gesture – inner thought. Try it.

B.F.