Writer's Block and books on how to write better **Update - added pictures of books**

For those of you who are dealing with Writer's Block, I have a few ideas that might be useful to you to overcome it. Now mind you, I'm not an English professor, but I do own a few Grammar books and they explain about Writer's Block amongst other things. So, here is what I found in my books that might help:

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Overcoming Writer's Block:

Some days it just doesn't come together. You stare at the computer screen but can't think of a thing to say. Or maybe you write, but you hate what you've written. Anything you do to overcome writer's block is just a mind game. I don't mean that in a bad way because sometimes you have to play mind games to get your work done. Writing is a solitary experience; it's really all about you and your mind. Here are some ideas:

1. Don't play. If you're going to procrastinate, force yourself to do something productive. Your choices are cleaning your room or writing, doing chores or writing -- not playing computer games or writing. Some people may advise you to take short, timed play breaks, but that doesn't work for everyone. If you start playing, you may opt out of writing to do something that is easy instead of writing. Sometimes overcoming writer's block means forcing yourself to put in the time.

2. Skip around. Don't get too fixated on writing the first sentence or paragraph. If you have a great quote or fact, and it falls in the middle of your paper, write that first and come back to the beginning later.

3. Try free writing. Write without stopping for thirty minutes. It doesn't matter what you write as long as you write. This exercise will show you that you can write, and it will get your juices flowing. A possible bonus is that you might come up with some great thoughts for your paper or great story ideas.

4. Use real deadlines. Nothing focuses the mind like a deadline. Maybe create a deadline earlier than the real one. That way you'll definitely fit in editing and rewriting time. Plan a treat for yourself when you finish a paper and a bonus if you finish earlier than scheduled. 

** For me, I've never really used any of these. When I have writer's block, I usually end up watching TV, or listening to music to try and get some ideas. I'll even read stories to maybe get an idea here or there.**

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Grammar Rules! 'college school book'

Ways to overcome writer's block

1. Start in the middle. Rather than start at the beginning of your story, start with the body paragraph you feel will be easiest or most interesting to write.

2. Visualize yourself writing, moving your fingers across the keyboard. Top athletes always use visualizing, imagining themselves going through each motion involved in their sport. Before you start writing, visualize yourself writing easily.

3. Write an e-mail about your topic to a friend, even if you don't send it. Write informally. Be playful with your language or ideas. Loosen up.

4. Call a friend or relative to chat about your topic. When you chat with friends about your topic, you are also inviting them to disagree or argue with you. Keep paper and pen at hand because this exchange can spark ideas and get your enthusiasm going.

5. Play the role of someone else and write to yourself about your topic. Take on someone else's identity -- a famous person alive now or in the past, for example -- and imagine that person listening to you talk about your topic and disagreeing or agreeing with you.

6. Imagine a scene or sound that relates to your topic. Start to write by describing what you see or hear. Allow yourself to sink into the environment of that scene or sound.

** Again, I never really used any of these, and I'm not saying they aren't useful, just not my idea of helping. Might be helpful to someone else though. There are times, I'll be at work, or walking around, and I'll go through the scenes in my head. I'll pretend I'll be my character and I'll have conversations in my head and when I get home, I'll try to remember them and write them on the computer, plus, you might find some good grammar books at your school library as well. **

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As I mentioned above, I own a few books on how to creative write. They have helped me come up with plots, backgrounds, ideas for characters, scenes, how to describe things and what to and what not to do in stories. You can usually find these in libraries or bookstores. Of course there are other books that might be just as helpful.

Grammar Girl presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students by Mignon Fogarty. 
Here is a comprehensive guide to all things grammar from online sensation and bestselling author Grammar Girl. For beginners to more advanced students, this guide covers it all: the parts of speech, sentences, and punctuation are explained clearly and concisely with the warmth, wit, and accessibility for which Grammar Girl is known. Pop quizzes are scattered throughout to reinforce the explanations, as are Grammar Girl's trademark Quick and Dirty Tips -- easy and fun memory tricks to help with those challenging rules. Complete with a writing style chapter, this guide is sure to become the one-stop, essential book on every student's desk.

Mignon Fogarty is the creator of Grammar Girl and the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips network. Her popular podcasts have been downloaded more than 20 million times. She is also the author of the bestselling Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing and The Grammar Devotional. She lives in Reno, Nevada.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com

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You've probably written your share of book reports, term papers, emails, and thank you notes. The rules of writing can be confusing, however, and might result in final drafts riddled with gaffes, typos, and errors! The Complete Idiot Guide to Grammar and Style, Second Edition, will take you step by step through the basics of spelling, punctuation, and sentence formation to help you become an effective communicator of the written word! In it, you get:

1. Explanations of writing styles including exposition, narration, argumentations, and description.
2. Definitions of such writing mistakes as dangling modifiers, mixed metaphors, run-ons, and split infinitives -- and how to avoid them.
3. Tips on turning passive sentences into active ones.
4. Insightful advice on knowing when to use slang and abbreviations -- and when you shouldn't.
5. Helpful ways to reach your intended readers with your own style.
6. Examples of model documents such as resumes, cover letters, and thank you notes.
7. The differences between drafting a business letter and crafting a personal one.

Laurie E. Rozakis, Ph.D., has published dozens of books including Shaum's Quick Guide to Writing Research Papers, Study Skills for the Utterly Confused, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing, Second Edition. She is a full professor of English and humanities at Farmingdale State University of New York and has taught English and grammar for more than 15 years.

http://www.idiotguides.com

Hope these might help you. I know they've helped me.

 

Thanks,

Raven.

Comments

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krissica15 #1
Thank you so much!!!!!
callmesabby
#2
WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS AWESOME & A VERY HELPFUL GUIDE! I AM HAVING A WRITERS BLOCK RIGHT NOW & I DO NEED AN ADVICE WHICH I FOUND WHAT IS MENTIONED ABOVE IS PRACTICALLY GOOD. I SHOULD WRITE FROM THE MIDDLE THOUGH CUZ I ALWAYS STUCK AT THE BEGINNING SCENE WHEN I ALREADY HAVE SET UP THE UPCOMING ONES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
NoonaYoung
#3
Thanks a lot Raven for this little help you're offering her. Actually for the past few days I've been trying to finish another new fics of mine but yea, everything just doesn't seem right at the right place, I mean I've been typing and deleting here and there. But I do follow some of the tips up there.
*sigh* both work and personal life is getting tough on me now.