Overcoming Writer’s Block – 7 Methods That Work

Written by Associated Content


Writer’s block is something most writers have to deal with at one time or another. It can be quite daunting staring at a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen, not knowing what to say. Presented here are seven methods for overcoming writer’s block that will help you to get unstuck as a writer.

Research

May writer’s develop writer’s block when they feel unprepared. The feeling of not knowing what to say can be pretty overwhelming. You can combat these feelings by doing some research onrepparttar subject that you’re writing about, so that you do, in fact have something to say onrepparttar 141038 subject. Doing online or offline research is a great way to arm yourself with facts, thoughts and opinions on whatever you’re intending to write about, even if you intend on writingrepparttar 141039 next “Great American Novel.”

Brainstorm

Brainstorming is a great way to tackle writer’s block. Instead of staring at a blank space, use that space to write down peripheral words and ideas that are both onrepparttar 141040 subject and offrepparttar 141041 subject of what you’re intending to write about. Don’t edit yourself. Just have fun coming up with all sorts of ideas that may only loosely relate to what you want to write. Don’t pressure yourself to use these ideas in your writing. Use brainstorming simply as a writing exercise that will help you loosen and get you kick started.

Exercise

Taking an exercise break is an excellent way to combat writer’s block. Exercise helps getrepparttar 141042 blood flowing and helpsrepparttar 141043 body and mind to relax. Relaxation is what you’re looking for if you’re experiencing writer’s block. Take a break to hitrepparttar 141044 treadmill, go torepparttar 141045 gym or take a long walk. Don’t be concerned that time away from writing is wasted time. Your taking time not away from writing but from not writing. This is a healthy choice that will help you rejuvenate personally and as a writer.

Write About Having Writer’s Block

When you’re staring at a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen, many writers become intimidated and freeze up. “I don’t have anything to say,” is often bemoaned. But you do have something to say. If you practice your Zen and stay inrepparttar 141046 moment, you’ll write about what is happening right now. Write about having writers block. Write about what it feels like to stare at blankness and have nothing to say. Write about feeling frozen, scared, intimidated, pressured or whatever else you’re feeling. Also, save this piece of writing for later as you can use it for reference and add to itrepparttar 141047 next time you have writer’s block.

The Office Writer

Written by Peter B. Mann


So you’ve been hired as an assistant editor. That means you'll be doing a lot of writing. Maybe you will be named editor ofrepparttar company newsletter, but you are likely to be writingrepparttar 140754 newsletter. Or maybe you will be writing news releases, reports, speeches, or simply memoranda. Whateverrepparttar 140755 assignment,repparttar 140756 main thing to remember is that you have to communicate. To communicate most effectively, keep your writing simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. Never use two words where one will do. Use short sentences. Avoid dense text by using bulleted lists, brief paragraphs, and subheadings. Giverepparttar 140757 readers your full attention; always put yourself in their place and keep your writing conversational. Read it aloud -- or at least mouthrepparttar 140758 words -- to verify that it is conversational. If your readers can simply go withrepparttar 140759 flow, they are most likely to catch your meaning and remain interested. Remember, writing should never get inrepparttar 140760 way of communication. The Heading The title should be interesting and informative. It should let your readers know what you are writing about -- and why that is important to them. In some cases,repparttar 140761 title is merely part ofrepparttar 140762 heading. A memorandum, for example, will usually have a heading that is standard forrepparttar 140763 company or organization. It will include this information: To: (the recipients) From: (the official or department) Subject: (the title) Date: (the date of issue) In other cases -- for example, articles inrepparttar 140764 company newsletter --repparttar 140765 title will be a headline, choice words drawn fromrepparttar 140766 opening paragraph and fitting into a snug space onrepparttar 140767 printed page. Ifrepparttar 140768 document is part of a series,repparttar 140769 heading will indicate that. For example: The Primary Concern, Fifth in a Series; or Insight No. 7: The Primary Concern. Subheadings If an article is lengthy -- that is, a full page or multiple pages -- use subheads to break it into readable segments. Unlessrepparttar 140770 content dictates otherwise, there should be no more than two subheads on an 8 ½” x 11” page of double-spaced copy. Usually, a subhead will consist of few words and won't take a full line; it should grabrepparttar 140771 reader’s attention and reveal something aboutrepparttar 140772 subsequent material. The Paragraph A paragraph should consist of a few sentences related torepparttar 140773 same subject matter. In general, a paragraph should contain between 150 and 200 words. If it must be longer, look for ways to break it up. For example, if it contains a series -- James collected Rolling Stones CDs, DVDs, and concert posters -- change it to a bulleted list. James collected Rolling Stones: *CDs *DVDs *Concert posters Doing so adds “air” torepparttar 140774 page, diminishingrepparttar 140775 density ofrepparttar 140776 type. It makesrepparttar 140777 page an easier, quicker read. Style note: There is disagreement aboutrepparttar 140778 proper punctuation for this bulleted list. A particular style is not sacrosanct, however. The important thing is to adopt a style and use it consistently. The Sentence The sentence isrepparttar 140779 basic building block of every written product, whether it is a memo; a book review; a press release; a news article; or a feature story. So it is in constructingrepparttar 140780 individual sentence thatrepparttar 140781 writer establishes an article's readability and interest level. Here are some guidelines for ensuring it will score high on those scales: *The sentence should be concise. *It should be simple and straightforward. *It should flow conversationally. *The reader should be pulled byrepparttar 140782 flow. There are two essential elements in a sentence:repparttar 140783 subject (a noun or pronoun) andrepparttar 140784 predicate (a verb, one word or several words that tell what actionrepparttar 140785 subject is taking or has taken).Most sentences also contain articles (a, an, the) and modifiers (adjectives, adverbs). An adjective modifies a noun; it is a word or phrase that names or describes an attribute ofrepparttar 140786 noun. For example:repparttar 140787 blue room,repparttar 140788 tall woman,repparttar 140789 balding man,repparttar 140790 once and future king. An adverb, onrepparttar 140791 other hand, modifies a verb. It is a word or phrase that expresses time, place, cause, manner, or degree. For example, he read slowly, she spoke articulately. Adverbs may also modify adjectives, other adverbs, or adverbial phrases. Frequently, a sentence will include a prepositional phrase. A preposition is a brief word (of, for, by, at, to, under, over) that introduces a phrase modifying a noun, verb, or clause. Every prepositional phrase has its own object. For example, torepparttar 140792 movies, underrepparttar 140793 bridge, after a few minutes, acrossrepparttar 140794 lake. Note: “Concise” is not a synonym for “brief.” A long article may consist of concise writing. The test is whether every word is necessary. Check each word in a sentence; does it clarify or add meaning, or is it superfluous? If all superfluous words are eliminated,repparttar 140795 writing is concise. Brevity, of course, is desirable, too. Ifrepparttar 140796 writing is concise,repparttar 140797 article is likely to be as brief asrepparttar 140798 subject matter allows. Punctuation *The period (.) marksrepparttar 140799 end of a sentence; it also separates elements of an Internet site name [the “dot” in “dot com”]. *The comma (,) separates items in a series; divides a compound sentence; sets off interjected material; with a small conjunction (but, for, and), connects two independent clauses; sets off introductory phrases; sets offrepparttar 140800 name ofrepparttar 140801 larger geographical entity when citing city, state, or province, nation; separates discrete adjectives (“short, stocky fellow”). *The colon ( : ) follows a phrase that introduces a list; follows an independent clause that introduces an explanation; followsrepparttar 140802 salutation in a business letter; separates an independent clause from a quotation it introduces; in a script, separatesrepparttar 140803 speaker’s name from his/her speech. Note: Ifrepparttar 140804 clause following a colon is a complete sentence, it should begin with a capital letter. *The semicolon (;) separates two complete thoughts; separates items in a series if one or more of them contain a comma; *Quotation marks (“ “) begin and end quoted material; enclose titles of lesser works, such as chapters and episodes (for titles of books, television programs, and films, use italics); serve as a symbol for inches. *Quotation marks (’’) begin and end quoted material within quoted material; serve as a symbol for feet. *Question mark (?) atrepparttar 140805 end of a direct question. *Parentheses ( ) begin and end interjected material, as well as references and other information that is related to but not suitable forrepparttar 140806 main text. *Brackets [ ] set off parenthetical material that occurs within parentheses. Capitalization In headlines: Choose an “up” or “down” style and stick with it. The “up” style: Capitalize allrepparttar 140807 words inrepparttar 140808 headline except articles and prepositions that are no longer than four letters. The “down” style: Capitalize onlyrepparttar 140809 first word ofrepparttar 140810 headline and any proper nouns that appear in it.

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