There is no such Thing as Writer's Block

[puppetmaker]

Or keeping the creativity flowing

According to Peter who tends to move onto another project and then back to the one he is working on when he gets stuck. I try to do the same thing when I get stuck in a project. I'll start something else that I may not finish just to clear the brain and have another run at the problem I am working out in my head.

I also find that when I hit a brick wall on something going off and taking a walk or even a nap can help me regroup. Then I can come back and try something else. On occasion I can't see that I am that frustrated but Peter will and strongly suggest that I go do something else for a bit.

I think everyone has their own tricks when they hit the wall on a project.

So the question to the group is what do you do when you hit the creative wall?

I am very interested in the answers.

I am grateful when the wall goes away for a while.

Comments

[vysion-of-books.livejournal.com]

Fortunately my livelihood does not depend on a constant creativity output. There's plenty of multitasking done in my job and I treat it much the same way. If I get stuck with a task, I either take a breather getting up from the computer or change tasks. Sometimes deadlines prevent this so I press on through the tedium or difficulty and finish though the quality of work suffers.

Regarding free time creativity, I frequently rush into a hobby and enjoy it intensely at first, with waning interest later on as other interests become noticed again. I like to jump from computer game to book to comic to bookcrossing to videogame to puppy time to sheer relaxation.

[mythandwonder.livejournal.com]

I try to do other stuff that might awaken creativity - reading, watching some good films, looking at other artists' works. Looking at other people's stuff often wakes me up creatively.

[jeff-morris.livejournal.com]

I'm slowly getting back into the writing thing--oh God, it hurts so much, I'm so rusty after two years off--though it's mostly Ultraman fic for my insatiable wife. She's been on my back for two weeks to do a silly story, but I said no because I didn't know what the hook would be.

Generally if it's not coming right away, I just let things settle in the back of my brain and percolate until something comes to me, as it finally did in the above example.

I'd like to claim a few rousing games of Sims 2 or Civilization 3 also help, but my wife says that's nothing but procrastination. :)

[susan-wright.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I go lie down and close my eyes and imagine the scene I'm trying to tell. It's very relaxing and I think it changes the brain waves or something. Then I can let the narrative unfold in a sort of daydream and see exactly what the problems are that are holding me back.

Sometimes I assume a character will act a certain way, but really that's my own expectations interfering in the flow of the story. Sometimes I can't focus on that particular scene, my mind moves to some other part of the story. That shows me maybe this scene isn't important enough or isn't saying what I'm trying to force it to say. Often when I skip things or work them in differently, that resolves the blockage.

[auryn29a.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to figure that out. I try to force myself into doing something completely different. But then I'll eventually find myself in a place where I can't do any of my projects. Then I'll go clean the kitchen or something. Strangely, I get a lot of creative flow when I'm cleaning. It's like my mind just sort of lets go and starts cooking something up.

[lupagreenwolf.livejournal.com]

I just take a break, for a few days if necessary. Better to write 1000 excellent words than 5000 crappy ones.

[ghilledhu.livejournal.com]

I generally walk away from it for a bit, do something that doesn't require any brain or creative power, then come back to it. The trick is making myself start back up again, and not give in to inertia, but that's a whole other issue.

Setting myself deadlines also helps. For complex, multistep projects I like to make myself lists -- it's actually fun and satisfying to cross things off, and it makes the progress seem more concrete. This works particularly well for costumes; less so for writing.

[michael-b-lee.livejournal.com]

Walking away and sleeping on the problem works best for me. Gives the brain time to process the information and let the frustration bleed off.

Failing that, I try to read or take a long walk, where I can take in the world and just let my mind noodle along.

I used to play a lot of video games, but that doesn't actually help at all, I've come to realize. If anything, it just makes me more keyed up and restless.

[wandereringray.livejournal.com]

I usually try to do anything but think about it. :D Clean house, go shopping, take a nap, or write on something else for a while.

Though lately having conversations with my characters seems to help a great deal. I get a new perspective from it.

[kradical.livejournal.com]

I just walk away from it for a little while -- watch DVDs, play games on the computer, maybe work on another project -- then go back to it in a bit, or maybe the next day.

Set things aside

[theresamather.livejournal.com]

I set things aside and move on to something else, then pick up where I left off on the original project later. If I'm really not feeling productive I take off and go do something else for a day. That generally does the trick. :)

T