J. L. Harland   •   March 26th, 2018

This week we have been talking about writers’ block. It isn’t always about that blank page syndrome when even cleaning the toilet seems attractive. Writers’ block sometimes hits when you get to the middle of your story and somehow things are not quite panning out as you expected. So, what do you do? Here are some suggestions.

• Go for a walk, do the cleaning or something physical that distracts you. Your mind will be busy working on whatever plot problem has arisen while you are occupied with the activity.

• Visit a museum or art gallery and just let your thoughts wander.

• Go to the library and read something in a different genre from the piece you are writing.

• Pick up an object, anything from a penknife to a baby’s blanket, and give that object personality. If it was a person what would it be like? Sharp, cold, helpful, soothing, useful?

• Play the ‘what if…’ game. What if your character is a different gender, age, ethnicity? How would he or she respond to the situation you have imagined?

You’ve probably got some ways of your own to help with writers’ block. Sometimes all it takes is a cup of coffee and a chat with a friend to get those creative juices flowing again.