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How to overcome writer's block

Writer's block is a difficult thing. While much has been writtenA writer sitting at computer and desk (Lego style) on writer's block, the truth is that nearly all writers will, at some point, feel uninspired. There will come a point in any writer's career where he feels frustrated, at a loss for words, and generally stuck at a point in the story. It's important for writers to take control of the situation when writer's block arises. Whether you're a creative writer coming up with a short story for a writing competition or you're a full time author penning novels for a publisher, overcoming writer's block is essential to continuing your writing career.

Spice it up
If you feel bored with your writing, the first thing you can do is spice things up. No, this doesn't mean that you have to add a zombie invasion to your story in order to make it interesting. What spicing it up means is simply writing something differently than you would before. Does your work mostly center on dialogue? Why not write a few scenes using only descriptions? If you're a writer who focuses more on the location of a piece, consider trying to add more dialogue between characters in order to change up the chapter. You may find that simply adding a conversation or trying something new is enough to inspire you to continue the story.

Change Location
For writers who work primarily from home, growing bored with your current surroundings is a huge issue. Why don't you take your work with you for a day? Take your laptop or iPad and head to your local coffee shop for an afternoon of mochas and writing. You could also head to a park and do some people watching while you write. Sometimes just overhearing snippets of conversation can be inspiring in and of itself. Another option would be to go on a walk, head to the mall, or even have dinner at a restaurant with the single goal of finding inspiration in the things other people say. You might hear something small, such as someone ordering her food by saying, "Um, yeah, I want...." Then you can go home and apply the dialogue to your story.

Use Writing Prompts
Finally, consider trying out some writing exercises. Pick up a book of writing prompts and try a few. Another option would be to set a timer and force yourself to write about anything for 10 minutes. You can write a lot in ten minutes, especially if you use a writing prompt, too. Chances are that you'll come up with something you can use. Some writers find that simply forcing themselves to type words on a computer is enough to get them back into the swing of things with their story.

Don't Give Up
No matter how experienced of a writer you are, there may come a point when you feel uninspired, frustrated, or bored with your characters. Instead of giving up or telling yourself that the idea was rotten, be proactive in beating writer's block. Frustration with your story doesn't have to mean that the story is finished. In fact, how you handle your frustration can make your story stronger than ever. Remember that all writers experience writer's block at some point. The important thing is to keep pushing forward and to keep writing. Eventually things will all come together.

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