Ask Questions

A good way to blast through "writer's block" is to ask questions. What would happen if...? How would it feel to...? What's another way to do this? Or describe this? Or solve this problem? What's another way to say this, other than use a tired old cliche?

I substituted in a junior high technology class the other day. The reading assignment had to do with innovation and invention. 

I wanted the class to get a tiny taste of what innovation means, so I held up a paper towel and asked the students to come up with different ways of using that paper towel.

At first they kind of just looked blankly at me, but gradually the ideas started come and before long it was hard to stop the overflowing creativity.

Not a bad little exercise to try to jump start the brain into writing fresh, exciting material.

Ready...Set...Get Playful

Years ago I took a creative writing class. One of the most helpful things that I learned was this: Before starting to write, loosen up...get playful!

Children are naturally creative. Watch them at play. What do they do? They use their imagination. They giggle. They have fun. They play games.

Got writer's block? Before writing, try this: Act like a kid. Get down on the floor with your 4-year-old and have a tickling contest. Play dress-ups with your grandkids. Share knock-knock jokes with your tween.

If you don't happen to have any children around, think of something playful to do. Stand on your head. Call someone up and share a hilarious joke. Play Chopsticks on the piano. Pat your head while rubbing your tummy.

Do something...anything to loosen up. You'll be amazed at how much more creative your writing will be after this exercise of acting like a kid.