The room had been turned into a slaughterhouse: pages, torn and crumpled, lay everywhere and amongst them her blood shot eyes were concentrating devilishly on the new project.
It is a condition, I had said to her earlier in the day, "But you need to understand that you don't always have to fight it; it is quite natural, this thing happening to you"
"It's okay to take a break, just go out and smell the roses sometimes", I had said in all earnestness, only to be met with her cold stare.
"Honey?" I held up the wine and chocolates wishing she'd take a breather and let normalcy set in again, but in vain.
"Okay-Okay, I agree I have been diseased with the dreaded writer's block, but there's nothing a glass of wine can't wash away, right?", she said exasperatedly as she opened the bottle and once again disappeared into her fantasy world.
It is a condition, I had said to her earlier in the day, "But you need to understand that you don't always have to fight it; it is quite natural, this thing happening to you"
"It's okay to take a break, just go out and smell the roses sometimes", I had said in all earnestness, only to be met with her cold stare.
"Honey?" I held up the wine and chocolates wishing she'd take a breather and let normalcy set in again, but in vain.
"Okay-Okay, I agree I have been diseased with the dreaded writer's block, but there's nothing a glass of wine can't wash away, right?", she said exasperatedly as she opened the bottle and once again disappeared into her fantasy world.
*************************
Written in response to Five Sentence Fiction Prompt 'Pages' and Write Tribe's Wednesday Prompt 'Exploring Bloggers Block'
While the above is a fictional piece, there is no denying that most of us have a lull period between our blogging/writing. I, unlike the protagonist of the story, don't fight the blogger's block, rather I acknowledge its presence and work around it.
Keep the creative juices flowing - I dance, read, cook, watch movies, listen to songs and stay in the creative zone. Anything can be a trigger and before you know it you are writing again.
Even strangers can inspire - I love to study the faces of Passersby when traveling. And sometimes a smile can strike up a conversation between two strangers. Before you know it, you'll be writing about the experience or creating a fictional character inspired from that someone you met.
Get wordy - I have an average vocabulary but whenever I come across a new and enticing word, or a familiar word used in a unique and interesting manner, I make it a point to note it down. I browse this list every once in a while to nudge the writer in me and it has worked out fabulously.
Get wordy - I have an average vocabulary but whenever I come across a new and enticing word, or a familiar word used in a unique and interesting manner, I make it a point to note it down. I browse this list every once in a while to nudge the writer in me and it has worked out fabulously.
Listen to the nature - I love to watch the sky, clouds moving slowly...taking shapes, leaves changing colors, birds singing...flapping their wings...soaring high in the sky, squirrels acting quirky, flowers blooming - they all speak to you. You just have to listen to get the magic going.
Sleep - Although I admit sleep doesn't come easily to me, I toss and turn for hours before entering my dream world. But a good night's sleep can help you start afresh!
So there, my five ways to tackle the writer's block/ blogger's block. What do you think?
Sleep - Although I admit sleep doesn't come easily to me, I toss and turn for hours before entering my dream world. But a good night's sleep can help you start afresh!
So there, my five ways to tackle the writer's block/ blogger's block. What do you think?
Of course we've all faced the lull and we all find ways to fight it... I love your tips though... Very practicalpractical
ReplyDeleteOf course we've all faced the lull and we all find ways to fight it... I love your tips though... Very practicalpractical
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thank you! :)
DeleteGreat description of that block all writers dread! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteHi Aditi, An award waits for you here :)
ReplyDeletehttp://awanderingmindofabookaholic.blogspot.ae/2014/07/quintet-of-radiance-award.html
Thanks dear!
DeleteI liked your five - sentence fiction and absolutely loved the extremely honest & practical tips you have shared! Try practising the last one dearie :) :)
ReplyDeleteHaha....u knew you'd say that Ma! :-*
Deletehahaha....writer's block can get the most of us to do ungodly things.
ReplyDeleteYeah! ;)
Deletei do sleep a lot :) somehow that doesnt work for me :D
ReplyDeleteHaha...you dream?
DeleteGorgeous word picture!
ReplyDeleteThanks Madeline!
DeleteSleep is always a good tip, works for everything :) I am so glad you included it in the list here. And of course wine too! The little fictional piece was fun to read, Aditi!
ReplyDeleteThanks dear! :)
DeleteWriters block drives me up the wall too! I loved your practical approach here! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Soumya!
DeleteI'm with you on listening to nature and believe it, or believe it not, when i'm doing mundane chores like ironing and such, ides come flowing into my head! How's that for bonkers!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have moved my Blog to here - http://www.julessmith.co.uk/blog
Agree Juliette, most of the ideas flow to me when I'm at work!
DeleteLovely Aditi! I especially like the Getting wordy idea! I notice you put that to full effect during A-Z :D
ReplyDeleteYup I did! And this trick helped a lot too!
Deleteyes sleeeep does tdo the trick he he he .. those are some very very valid points .. I shall keep them in mind
ReplyDeleteBikram's
Thanks Bikram!
DeleteCool one, Aditi! Conveys the essence!
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought the story may be a murder/suspense! :)
Ha :) thanks!
DeleteLoved your fictional piece. And the tips were great. Sometimes taking a break does help.
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes it gets hard to come back after a break....
DeleteOh...how I am simply in love with your stories......awesome one :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sushree! You are a darling!
DeletePractical tips . I keep an eye for new words to expand my vocab. But sleep comes easily to me.
ReplyDeleteOh how I struggle with Sleep...I make up on weekends though ;)
DeleteGreat story and tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Deletedrinks before writing, and drinks while writing, and after writing drinks....
ReplyDeleteLoudon Wainwright III (except for him it was before, during, and after dinner)
Or if at first you don't succeed - write, write again!
ok, I think I'll have a drink now. Randy
Haha...must follow that! ;)
DeleteLove the imagery you used for this little story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat! :)
DeleteExplore nature...like that idea....
ReplyDeleteThanks Shiva
DeleteGreat ideas and cute story :) Loved ur mum's comment btw :D
ReplyDeleteHaha....I know I need to put into place the last tip! ;)
Deletehahha... i go into hibernation often
ReplyDeleteTina from The Sunny Side of Life
Ditto!
DeleteGreat fiction, and I so loved your tips for writer blocks dear Aditi! Especially: find inspiration in nature and also let the creativity flow through music and dance - and any kind of crazy combination: dancing in the forest for example:-) ha ha - beautiful post:-)
ReplyDeleteHaha... Would love to do that, dance in a forest and wouldn't it be fun if it rained too! :)
DeleteI love your idea about watching passersby.
ReplyDeleteYvonne
It's very interesting and juicy to listen to passersby Yvonne ;)
DeleteI have a bad case of writer's block, Aditi. I thought writing for contests might ease it a bit! (And who knows I might win a voucher in the bargain!) But I have been following your blog and the gradual unfolding of your story....and then you know how bad I am at leaving comments :(
ReplyDeleteI hope you do win a few contests, liked the Oman one too! :)
DeleteN thanks for following the story...I'm stuck with it right now...the characters aren't evolving! :(
I thought this was the next part of the story! Turned out to be WT Writer's Block Prompt.
ReplyDeleteGreat pointers. I liked your 'get inspired by strangers'. True, observing strangers or talking to them can be unraveling of a big story!
Retrospectively, the fiction in this post gels well with the marathon story too. Was that the idea?
haha...that wasn't the idea but you did give me an idea! ;)
DeleteI know the feeling very well..pages scattered on the messy table..love ur tips on getting wordy, observe stranger and all. It's very helpful to beat the block:)
ReplyDeletehttp://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/wednesday-prompt-lets-beat-the-block-together/
Thanks Vishal!
DeleteInspiring post! Slowly the creative bulb is blinking above me :) Very true about sleep and listening to nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeevan!
DeleteI've had six glasses of wine and it seems to have got rid of it! Nice flash read, I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI have buttons to follow me now :)
I'm checking now Jules! Lv
Delete