#1. Go to a Writing Friend-
Usually, one of the first things I do, is seek out my neighbor (who really isn't that hard to find). She is one of my closest friends, and always knows the insides and outs of my stories- because no matter how much I refuse to tell her, it still spills out somehow. But anyways, she will usually be able to help me by asking questions and giving me inspiration along the way. I also have another friend of mine who I sometimes e-mail to ask for advice. Or I search for my younger sister. While, she's not much of a writer, and honestly it never really helps, I find it very entertaining to see her try. But it's great having a writer friend who will help you.
#2. Write from the Middle-
This method works very well for me. I actually feel a little stupid at first, trying to write something which I don't really understand because I haven't reached there yet, but it always helps. I have never once used one of the scenes I wrote to overcome the block, I have always rewritten it, but it helps to get the creative juices flowing. Jump ahead to a key scene that you know will eventually happen, and begin spewing out random words and pen down the scene. It usually creates a mess, but then you can rewrite the scene later after you have actually arrived at the scene.
#3. Surround Yourself with Different Scenery-
When I am writing, I am usually shutting myself up in my room late at night sitting at my desk. But when I strike a block, I usually find that moving even down to the floor helps me. It's really as simple as that, just moving a few feet can explode a dam and the story will just flow out like a flood after that. Part of the reason why I can't wait to drive! What better way to overcome writer's block then jumping in a car, and driving down to an ice cream parlor, bookstore, or library. Plus, who doesn't want to drive?
#4. Leave-
Leave you story and go occupy yourself with something else. Browsing the internet, reading, bike riding, archery, practice piano, anything you like to do. Sometimes I end up taking week long breaks, but by the time I come back, I will have a whole new assortment of ideas.
#5. Find the Beginning of the Block-
Did you see that quote up on top? The one said by August Booth, from Once Upon a Time. August is an author who was helping a sheriff solve a missing person mystery while giving her writing advice. :) Doesn't he sound cool (no, actually he's annoying)? But I have used this advice several times, and it works- even if you have to go through the process ten different times. I usually go back in my mind, and search for the beginning of the block, once I've found it, I copy and paste it into another document. With the block now gone, I can continue writing with a different perspective or idea. It works really well, and probably my favorite method.
Now, I haven't written a post on here for almost a month- due to school- but I have not stopped my progress on Twelve Dawns Rise. In fact, I am now done with my first draft! Over a year after the idea first sparked, I have finished the first draft. That was definitely a victory for me! But it is far from complete, a friend of mine has suggested some major changes that I am going to go through with, so I have now begun the second draft of Twelve Dawns Rise. Of course, the change is going to effect the title, so I will be changing the title of Twelve Dawns Rise soon. Anyway, hope you all have a beautiful day!
