That Big Mountain...

“Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.”
― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

That's the truth! Sometimes, we get so stuck on writer's block that we cannot figure out how to get around it, over it, or out from under it. It's like this big mountain standing in our path. And if you're not careful, it can become intimidating and frustrating. You cannot possibly see how you'll overcome it. It's so huge, impassive and insurmountable in your mind.

You cannot imagine how you'll be able to climb that block and get to the other side of it. Well, I have found a way that definitely works for me. Write! Write, you say? Right! Just write. That's the best answer that I have.

IDEAS FOR TACKLING WRITER'S BLOCK:

1.) Reading
2.) Watching a movie
3.) Working out
4.) Going for a walk
5.) Painting
6.) Drawing
7.) Sexing...did I just say sexing? I think I did. Oookay! I'm just gonna leave that with you. Because if it works, don't knock it.

But of all the ideas I listed, I still say writing is the best way to push your way past it. It's nanowrimo, so I've been focusing on the word count rather than content this month. It's enabled me to push through this new project that I'm working on.

But what happened when I became stuck and couldn't find my creative muse? That little mystical, elusive sprite flitted off to her play land and left me high and dry. As if she is in control of my stomping grounds, and in control of when and when we don't create. Yeah, baby, I can get attitude, too with the best of 'em.

So, what'd I do? I forced her to come back. In actuality I did not give up and let that sink ship. I continued to write, allowing myself to capture all of my ideas and thoughts. Now, I know that this will create more work in the end. Because, after I wrote even while I had writer's block, what I realized was that I still captured some great ideas during this time of writing.

Now, as I go back and weed through it, while reading to my #1 fan (my hubby), he was able to tell me what he did and didn't like. Even as I read it out loud to him, I could tell what I did and didn't like, as well. But more importantly it helped me to realize where I went off track and flesh out the good stuff, determining what I would and would not keep. It brought me back to my original train of thought, when I started the story.

Writing will allow you to shake loose ideas that you haven't quite fleshed out yet. If you try to capture it on paper, even if it doesn't make sense at the time, when you go back and re-read it, it's likely to jar a spurt of creativity or some train of thought.

So, don't quit writing just because that huge mountain is in your way. You can tackle it by climbing it and taking it on. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to conquer it, if you don't run from it. And even if you can't shake anything loose in that story you're working on, write something else.

WRITE WHAT?

Maybe a blog post, letter, work on another story, or an email. Just write!

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Living Life Beautifully Inspired!
Chelle Ramsey