Hey everyone,
So as a writer, I know that writer’s block can become a great enemy. It’s a giant indestructible wall that takes some time to dismantle (unless you’re lucky and your wall is made of wood and you can burn it down!). While you’re suffering
the mental blankness or anxiety while staring at blank paper (or screen), you might want to try a few writing prompts just to keep you writing. Responding to prompts might not tare down the wall, but it might put a dent in it. I personally like writing responses to prompts while in a writer’s block phase because it keeps me at least writing something. I might write up something that’s complete junk, but at least I thought about something and then put pen to paper! So I’m just leaving you with a few prompts you might want to try out to flex those writing muscles and maybe do some battle practicing against that writer’s block wall!
Prompt #1: Write in an opposite gender’s voice.
I usually write in first person as a girl, so I’ve been trying to switch over to a male voice to try it out. It’s really hard to nail the switch when I’m so comfortable with writing from a girl’s point of view, but the challenge really helps me think and write a lot more to perfect the voice. With this prompt you don’t necessarily have to write as a girl if your a boy or vice-versa. It’s more like writing in the gender voice that you’re not as comfortable with.
Prompt #2: Take a cliche phrase and work it into you’re piece in a new way.
Just recently I was given a prompt to write something off of the phrase “If Walls Could Talk…,” a cliche line. I was asked to write the phrase somewhere in my piece of work and to see what the phrase inspired me to write about. I know a lot of people stray from cliche phrases, but sometimes they jump start your writing into creative and new ideas. Sometimes you begin to rework the phrase or find a new meaning to add to it. I recommend sitting down and seeing what inspiration you can draw from a cliche or commonly used phrase. Challenge yourself to rethink it’s meaning or find a way to make the cliche work in your writing so that it might not actually be cliche anymore. Maybe just see where the phrase takes you and drop it out later. Either way, this prompt definitely helped me to start writing something.
Prompt #3: Take a book closest to you and fan through the pages. Pick a page and close your eyes. Then point your finger to a line in the book. Write something containing that sentence or based off that sentence.
I’m sure this prompt has been explained before, but I always find this prompt fun and interesting. I love see what I can come up with from a random line in a book. Sometimes the sentences surprise you! I took a sentence from a textbook that I would never have paid that much attention to before this prompt. When I wrote something based off of the sentence, it was really interesting what meanings, stories, and images that came about from the ordinary (but really not ordinary) sentence. I would try doing this prompt with some book that is unexpected like a text book, biography, or maybe even a manual if you are feeling adventurous!
Hope these helped! Happy Writing!
Are you currently experiencing writer’s block? What are some of your favorite prompts? How do you beat writer’s block?
xo,
NicoleLynn
5 Comments
Crash Through Writer’s Block (or make a small crack!) | PopCrunchBoom
16 August 2012 at 2:13 pm[…] As we’re fast approaching the end of summer, now’s the time to rush in some extra writing before the busyness of fall comes upon us and we’re trying to squeeze in a minute or two for writing. But if you’re like me you might be suffering some form of writer’s block or writer’s burnout. Personally, when I can’t seem to put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard) I like to have a writing assignment. An assignment takes away the pressure of having to use all my imagination and wit to come up with an idea or plan. So on that note I thought I’d leave you with a few more writing challenges that hopefully will jump start your writing juices! (For my first three challenges check out this post here.) […]
theRibz
29 February 2012 at 12:21 amWhenever I have a writer’s block, I open a file called BIO on my desktop and start writing off pieces of my life. I started the file a few months ago, where I started talking about significant incidents of my life, and the text went on and on to become some sort of a biography. If I don’t get inspiration from the world, I get it from my own past. It’s not going to become an autobiography project or anything, or at least I’m not planning it, but it helps me get my muscles moving. When I finish, I usually have a lot to write about. It especially helps with characterization.
Sometimes I listen to some music, and imagine the events that lead the singer to sing that particular song, and a story comes into place.
NicoleLynn
1 March 2012 at 4:22 pmI think events in one’s life have a real impact on one’s writing. I know I personally have inspirations from my life that appear in my work when I’m writing. I also like to listen to music for inspiration as well! Thanks for sharing!
Fiercely Yours
28 February 2012 at 10:44 pmGood prompts– I go for walks and listen to the voices in my head– as scary as that may sound.
NicoleLynn
28 February 2012 at 11:51 pmWalks are nice and hey whatever works, works!