Image by Shutterstock.©It might be of comfort to “Friend” contributors to read these words on writer’s block, from best-selling author J.K. Rowling:
The wonderful thing about writing is that there is always a blank page waiting.
The terrifying thing about writing is that there is always a blank page waiting.
Finding out that even she struggles to beat the block from time to time inspired us to come up with these helpful hints to get the words flowing again.
Take a while away
Put your story to one side and forget about it.
You can either start working on something new, or simply give yourself some writing head-space.
Change the voice
Perhaps changing the main character in your story will help?
Approach the story from another person’s point of view, and see if it leads you somewhere new.
You could even switch from a female to a male viewpoint, or vice-versa.
Take a a look at our Story Starters
Have a look through our archive of images and let those ideas flow!
Many a brilliant story has been sparked by these simple pictures — including a few that have made it into the pages of “The People’s Friend”.
Listen to music
Nothing transports you to another place better than listening to music.
But instead of loading up your usual playlist, try something different.
New songs could conjure up different ideas and set you off thinking in a different direction.
Change the era or location
Maybe changing your story setting to a different place or time might allow your characters to come alive again?
If your story has people on holiday, why not put them in a completely different country?
Set it in the 1970s, or think of a peripheral character and give them more to say?
This could give your story a new lease of life.
Go somewhere quiet and scream
This has been suggested by one of our authors!
A useful technique for getting the frustration and tension out of your system.
But be sure to go somewhere remote! You don’t want the police turning up at your front door . . . although, that would be a good idea for a story!
There are lots of writing tips and hints in the Fiction pages of our website.
Have a look and be inspired to banish that writer’s block!
Tracey Steel Having worked on a number of magazines over the years, I have found my perfect place on the “Friend” as I’m obsessed with reading and never go anywhere without a book! I read all of our stories with a mug of tea close by and usually a bit of strong cheese too!
