Take a shower
If that helps, great, if not then at least the writer is fresh and clean.
Go running
Also a good idea, and even if the running doesn't help with inspiration, at least the writer will get fit.
Take a nap
Well, why not. Plenty of rest is important and who knows, while napping the writer might have a dream that “shows him the way”.
Eat bacon
While regular nutrition is just as important as plenty of rest, with the suggestion of bacon I hope the man’s writer’s block doesn’t last too long or he might develop cholesterol problems and high blood pressure.
Write about the color orange
That is the weirdest suggestion I’ve ever come across. I wonder if it helps.
While all these suggestions might help, the one that stood out for me came from Kimi P. She said … “ I find that when I have writer's block, it's because I've written myself into a boring dead end. It might be worth taking another look at what you wrote last.”
I found this to be very true while writing “Lily”. In general, “Lily” was the easiest book I’ve written. Compared to “Waiting for Silverbird”, “Voice of an Angel”, “Kitten Diaries” and “Debbie”, the novel “Lily” almost effortlessly flowed onto the page.
Still, there were times that I was stuck. That I wanted to push my writing speed into fourth gear, but instead ended up in park. So I would reverse, read what I had written and then start over with something different.
My biggest problem is typing when writing creatively. There’s something about looking at a computer screen and moving my fingers that interferes with my inspiration. On the other hand, give me pen and paper and the words will just come. My brain will go into such overdrive that my hand can hardly keep up.
Writing in solitude doesn’t work for me either. While some writers need peace and quiet, I’m like Leo Tolstoy, I need people around me.
I remember this one coffee shop in Toronto. It was barely more than a hole in a wall, crammed with tables, chairs and benches, and packed with students and office staff on their lunchtime.
On that cold, rainy day it was nice and cozy, with condensation dripping off the windows. With a coffee on my left, a pastry on my right, and listening to the buzz of conversation it was sheer heaven.
When I took out my pen and notebook, chapter 33 of “Lily” practically wrote itself.
There are other ways of beating writer’s block, but I’ll get to those tomorrow.
In the meantime, for those who are interested in "Lily", click here to be directed to Amazon and the "Look Inside" feature to sample the book. Currently only available in electronic format, but the paperback is coming shortly.