#write promptly

“But mom I just cleaned my room!”

“No more saving people until your room is clean! You can’t stuff everything in your closet or under the bed and call that clean. Being a super hero-”

“Vigilante, mom.”

Feeling stuck in a rut? Perhaps you won’t admit to writer’s block, but you’ll understand what I mean when I say you could be experiencing a writing slump. Lately you just haven’t had any ideas, or maybe you have it’s just you have little to no drive to execute them. Do you find your writing bland and resorting to cheat words like “felt” or the same actions repeatedly?

A few pieces of advice to power through writer’s slump:

Browse your music or find something new to listen to. Sometimes finding a new sound or bringing in a new sound stirs up new inspirations. It’s out of the ordinary which is what you’re used to. Find new artists or listen to music you haven’t heard from trusted artists. Create your own playlist that pertains to your work somehow. Whenever you feel stuck call upon that mix of music. 

Read. Pick up something someone else has written and just read. Experiment by reading different authors in order to get a sense of each unique writing style. Go the extra steps and take notes as you read on what you like and don’t like so you’ll have ideas of what you can include or new ways to execute your ideas. 

Exercise. Get that blood flowing, oxygen pumping, organs working better. Physically move yourself out of a slump (especially those shoulders) to get those creative juices flowing. At least stretch until you’re loose.

Browse and research. While I don’t believe you have to have all the facts before you write or even while you’re writing, it’s a good idea to get a taste or a sense of theme to influence your writing. This is especially beneficial, I find, when writing historical fiction, science fiction, action, romantic comedy, and the list continues to grow. Set the tone.

 Do something out of the ordinary. Start taking the longer route home, go for a walk, talk to someone new, get more sleep, something that breaks the monotony. In order to get out of a rut you have to step out of it. What has become a comfort zone is also a prison. Break the bars by trying new things even if it’s writing something you normally wouldn’t.

Look at lists of descriptions and synonyms. Today’s modern conveniences help you with just about everything so why not writing? A lot of my writing knowledge comes from Pinterest and Tumblr besides reading articles, blogs, books, through practice, and my writing buddies. If you don’t have a writing buddy (aka another writer as a friend) I highly suggest you test the waters until you find one that you can stick with. 

"First my guitar had to be restrung, then the kids next door broke my window with a baseball, and now I've burnt the green beans?! UGH! Can this day get any worse?"

On the counter next to him his phone began to ring and vibrate. His hand over the device hesitating to answer. It was a Rhode Island number. Since he had family still living over there he decided to answer it. He cleared his throat before putting the phone to his ear.

"It's about time you answer! Listen, you've got to fly over here. Quick."

He sighed as he slipped his hand in his pocket. "Hello to you too, big brother. I can't just fly out to Rhode Island, Monday I've got-"