YAWC: The Garden - How Our Members Control Writing Block!
Here is a list of the members who have been nice enough to share with us how they control writer's block!
From: Mel
Age: 13
How she controls writers block:
There are two things I do when I have writers block. One; listen to music. I go into my room, put a 'do not disturb' sign on my door, and listen to my CD's for HOURS, with a pad of paper/notebook in front of me. So many songs have so much thought into them, you can easily get inspired.
The second thing I do is just get passages from my journal, and form the words into a poem, or form the tale into a story. When I write in my journal, I am usually in such a stream of counciousness mode that later, 50 % of those passages become poems or stories.
One quick tip: If you need to write, but when you write something down, it's okay if it comes out wrong at first, or if it doesn't quite match up - you can edit it later. Just let the words come out. Eventually those words will come into a nice flow.
From: Shegoddessulina
Age: 16
How she controls writers block:
I have found that in my literary travels many things can aid the process. One such thing is imagining myself in the story, not as a character, but rather as a invisible watcher. From there I try to guess what the rest of the scene should be like. :) Another thing I do may be a little easier for the older kids than the younger ones, but turn on the TV or Surf the web and find a show or page you really like. I find that sometimes if I don't think about the story I can get an idea. Next, for poetry. First off, I believe that poetry should be written all at once, in a creative burst if you will, and edited ATLEAST a day or so later. And, try not to change the meaning, just maybe the spelling and grammer. Anyway, writers block, to work up the emotion to write a poem or two, just relax. Write after you've had a hard time with something.
Last note- ALWAYS try to write when you get your inspiration. If you let an idea sit too long it may be gone for good!
From: Claire
Age: 13
How she controls writers block:
I write about something that really happened, like a trip to the store. I put in as much detail, everything I can remember, and sometimes it inspires me.
From: Di
Age: 10
How she controls writers block:
Well, I usually then think of what I did this week, or this morning. Like getting up late or sumthing..
From: Jessica
Age: 12
How she controls writers block:
Since I like to write poems about nature, I look outside, and listen to the sounds. Or, I'll read a classic book that has nature in it. Also, when you're mad or are in a certain mood, turn that into something. It makes you feel a lot better!
From: Julia
Age: 12
How she controls writers block:
It often helps to think about real life situations I have been in. Then I just expand upon them to make them into an interesting story. Also, I think about situations I have read about in books and that gives me some inspiration.
From: Phoenix736
Age: 13
How she controls writers block:
I control my writer's block by playing a very basic game. I pretend I am my favourite character and I "talk" to another character about the adventure I'm in. I "ask" the character for advice on what I should do, e.g., how can I get out of the forest, I'm lost, or how can I escape from this dungeon, and think about what the other character would say. Usually, the character's advice works. If not, I e-mail the story to some of my friends, and say "Ahhhh! What do I do!?" and they tell me what THEY would do if they were the character. If neither of these works, I start writing another story until it my writer's block passes.
From: Milliondiamonds
Age: 13
How she controls writers block:
Take a break! Don't stress over the same project for a long time--you may get sick of it and just quit, instead of writing something wonderful. Do something else--relax! Then go back to it when you're feeling fresh! Let inspiration come to you--you don't need to hunt for it!
From: BlackRose
Age: 16
How she controls writers block:
If you usually dream when you sleep,you should record all of your dreams as soon as you wake up.Dreams are usually good story material. Especially if yours are vivid.
From: Spaceman Spiff
Age: 14
How he controls writer's block:
One thing that helps me is to just surf the internet...because there is so much information right at your fingertips (pardon the cliche)...just go to a search engine...type in anything...go anywhere...go to another anywhere ...and in no time you should have somewhat of a clue of something.
From: Kitty
Age: 10
How she controls writer's block:
Well; first I sort of imagine things like certain people doing a certain thing. I pick my characters my location and my adventure. I imagine for awhile until their adventure ends - then I have something to write about!
From: Heaven
Age: 11
How she controls writer's block:
Often, when I get writer's block, I pick up a book. I'll read and read and read until I all of a sudden, an idea strikes me! Something in the book that I had been reading triggers my imagination, and I know exactly what to write. T.V. shows do that, too.
From: Kristy
Age: 12
How she controls writer's block:
Whenever I get writers block it helps to think about something that has happened to me or my friends and see if I can put that situation in the story. It usually works!
From: Brandie
Age: 17
How she controls writer's block:
It is normal to have writer's block:
The first thing to do is to let everything go, and not worry about it. Forget about writing for a little while, maybe a few hours, days, weeks, depending on what sort of writing you are doing. If it is an assignment that is due in two weeks, then I suggest you do not leave it for three weeks. Next, I find that if I watch a program on tv, read a book, or listen to music, and place an extra character into that situation, I am inspired and find a whole lot to write about. Of course, I don't copy their idea, I just use it as a basis to get started. Right now I'm attempting to write a book based on the characters of my favorite tv show, and it is working out all right.
I hope these ideas help you, and you get over your writer's block soon. Good luck.
From: QueenStyle,br>
Age: 10
How she controls writer's block:
I try to push past writer's block by:
For one minute, write down any word I can think of. Usually one is a form of writing. Let's say I write: love, beauty, the, word, name, song, genetic, color, stream. I circle song. I try to at least start a song, but I can't, I know I'd rather be starting a story, but I can't think of any ideas. Here is what I cam up with: Story Starter- Trip around the world, Steps- ~Write something to the effest of "Jenny couldn't believe it! Her mom had said that she could go around the world if she would just give an in-depth explanation on the answers to these ten questions:
1. Why do you think people were put on this earth?
2. What do you see as the meaning to love?
3. Draw your fantasy home.
4. Draw your perfect idea of a kid's ID card.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
6. Why do you want to go around the world?
7. You can take 10 people with you. Who will you take and why?
8. Where will you go, how much time will you spend there, and why will you go there?
9. Draw a picture of each place you want to go.
10. What is something you really, really want?
Next, I answer the questions or draw the pictures if someone has given me these to answer or draw myself. I would use these answers as a basic guideline for my writing the real story (the actual trip) and the pictures as maybe the cover or inside pictures of the story!
From: Slartibartfast
Age: 18
How they control writer's block:
I usually get writer's block when my life is getting boringor if I'm really sleepy. Try getting some rest. Usually if my life gets boring I do something incredibly extreme or stupid to stir up something to think about. For example, try wrapping your body in alluminum foil and pretend you're a knight. If that doesn't help, go shopping in the mall like that. I'm pretty sure you'll have something to write about then.
From: Centurion
Age: 15
How they control writer's block:
When I can't think of anything (since I'm a real Star Wars freak and I love space battles and all), I just think about all of the Star Wars movies and I usually get an idea from there. I think thinking of something that got you into writing in the first place. Like I read one of the Star Wars books and I became completely hooked. Usually I get inspiration from that...or I eat something. You know what they say? "Food for thought!"
From: Bull Rider
Age: 16
How they control writer's block:
I take a trip to a nearby park, or quiet place where I can concentrate. Being, and interacting, with nature is one of the best ways to get ideas for poetry.
From: Bubbawheat
Age: 18
How they control writer's block:
The best way to get past writer's block is to just start writing. It doesn't matter what, just write whatever comes to mind. Soon enough, whatever you want to write will come to you.
From: Macen
Age: 16
How they control writer's block:
My mind is always swimming with ideas, but stress can get to me and cause me to get a block. Stress is a common problem to writer's block. So, you have to figure a way to ease your stress and that might helpget rid of your block. I usually take a nap or go to sleep to relieve my stress. When I wake up, my head has so many ideas I don't have to worry about writer's block for another week.
From: wackywriter
Age: 11
How they control writer's block:
Usually I draw some foolish things on the side of the page, and sometimes, when I look at what I scribbled, an idea strikes me. Or I sit at my window, look at the scenes going on below me, and usually I think of myself as that person, and then I get an idea of what to write. The normal scenes in everyday life are so interesting, with such depth, that they are the best things to write about.
BACK TO THE MAIN WRITER'S BLOCK PAGE!
Email: Kristy; President of YAWC