When the Post, Page and/or Mind Proves Blank

Literally.

. . . I’d touched upon this way back when but, you know, it never hurts to re-address an issue or snag.  For those of you who are bloggers and writers, you’ve all experienced it—yup, the dreaded writer’s block.

The Free Dictionary (my personal fave) defines that annoying little impediment as “a usually temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing”.

In truth, I’m not so sure if it’s this that I’m experiencing—it’s more like hmm, what do I really want to post about today?  Blog promotion (something I desperately need to do)?  Ads and selling (something I urgently need to do)?  Attracting more followers (something I seriously need to do)?  Ensuring the Triple Threat Investigation Agency gals don’t fall to the wayside (something I must continue to do)?  Venting about my personal life, like the <bleeping> full-time job I wish I could ditch, because blogging and writing full-time would be a dream come true!?  The possibilities are truly endless.

If there’s an overabundance of ideas, it probably wouldn’t hurt to put them in a hat and pick one.  It’d be like a game, a challenge: here’s the topic, now run with it!  Yeah, I like that.  Works for me.  <LOL>

If there’s a big blank canvas where the old gray matter usually sits, then one or more of the following options are doable (a few quick ideas touched upon in past):

• take a walk or go to the gym (both which I very much enjoy)
• read a book or mag
• be creative (draw or paint, knit or sew, or do something equally imaginative/productive)
• pop into a corner coffee shop for a boost of caffeine and change of venue
• call or email a friend; talk about where and why you’re stuck or exchange inventive ideas
• listen to music
• turn on the telly, but don’t get caught up in marathon viewing
• jot down one-liner ideas/storylines (anything that pops to mind), and/or
• write out a few of your favorite writer’s passages to get inspired.

So which one(s) am I going to do?  Take a walk, even if it is bone-chilling cold outside (knew those on-sale boots would eventually prove useful).  Finally pick up the latest Stephanie Plum from the to-read tray where, sadly, dust bunnies have morphed into bovines.

And if both fail, maybe I’ll just go smack my head against a wall (figuratively speaking, of course).

Happy writing, my friends.

Author: tylerus

I'm primarily a writer of fiction and blog posts, and a sometimes editor and proofreader of books, manuals, and film/television scripts. Fact-checking and researching, organizing and coordinating are skills and joys (I enjoy playing detective and developing structure). My fiction audience: lovers of female-sleuth mysteries. My genres of preference: mysteries (needless to say), women’s fiction, informative and helpful “affirmative” non-fiction. So-o, here I am, staring up a new blog for aspiring and established e-Book writers. The plan: to share the (long) journey of getting to this stage, and share "learnings" and "teachings". There's a lot I hope to accomplish with this blog, but it may be a while before that happens as there's a lot on the ol' plate - taking care of Mom, working full-time, and attempting to get another book in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series written (never mind blog postings and other writing projects). It's very challenging and it's all good. As I like to say: teeny focused baby steps are just as effective as long forceful strides. It may take a little longer, but we will get there. View all posts by tylerus