Writer's Block

[rockymtn devil]

Since I know we have a diverse range of professions here, I'm curious how others deal with writer's block. I spent all week (and WAY too much of the client's money) writing a brief that, while I'm happy with the end result, I am not happy with how hard it was to write. I've dealt with these issues before and usually I simply refuse to write if nothing is coming out and come back to it at a later date when the words come easier. Because I always give myself more than enough time to get stuff done, this generally works. It didn't this time because it wasn't happening. I'm a little worried because I have a BIG writing due by the end of September. Maybe it was just this writing. But maybe it wasn't.

How do others deal with this problem?

[wilson]

Since I know we have a diverse range of professions here, I'm curious how others deal with writer's block. I spent all week (and WAY too much of the client's money) writing a brief that, while I'm happy with the end result, I am not happy with how hard it was to write. I've dealt with these issues before and usually I simply refuse to write if nothing is coming out and come back to it at a later date when the words come easier. Because I always give myself more than enough time to get stuff done, this generally works. It didn't this time because it wasn't happening. I'm a little worried because I have a BIG writing due by the end of September. Maybe it was just this writing. But maybe it wasn't.

How do others deal with this problem?

My strategy is pretty similar to yours, with the understanding that some pieces, you'll just have to slog through. Sounds like this was just one of those slogs...not worthy of existential fretting, IMO.

[YmoBeThere]

...not worthy of existential fretting, IMO.

My life is an existential fret...

[CathyCA]

Sometimes I just put thoughts on a piece of paper. They don't need to be organized, just jotted down, and then you can circle them, draw lines to order and organize them, highlight them with different colored pens, and then jot down more ideas as they come to you.

Sometimes just seeing the words on paper helps.

If I'm doing it on the computer, I do a rough outline--just to get the big ideas on paper and then I fill in the details later as they crystallize.

[devildeac]

More pale ale... :oops: :roll: