Writers: Are You All Written Out?
This thought popped into my head and I knew I had to blog about it. If you are a writer, have you ever felt “all written out”?
I will admit to you that there have been quite a few times when I have felt this way. In fact, there were even times when I stopped writing altogether.
So what do you do when you feel like you’ve written every single word out of yourself? What can you do when you feel empty and devoid of words? Here are a few things that help me and could help you:
- Keep a daily journal. Writing in a journal every day can help you generate fresh, new ideas. I’ve found that carrying a journal with me at all times is condusive to collecting ideas, no matter where I am.
- Write Morning Pages. This is totally different from keeping a journal, in my opinion. My Morning Pages (taken from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way) are my dumping grounds. It’s where I write about my fears, hopes, worries, and goals. It’s where I rant about my latest frustrations and boast about my children’s latest accomplishments. Morning Pages are what keep me going; when I don’t write them, it shows in my daily writing.
- Write lists. Lists are literally the backbone of my writing business. I use them to plan projects for clients, daily tasks, weekly tasks, and more. Angela Booth also suggests using lists when you get stuck in writing, and I totally agree. Brainstorming with a list is one of the easiest ways to get your creative juices flowing again.
- Do something that doesn’t involve writing. Sometimes you just need a break from it all. Step away. Take a couple of hours away from the computer. If you’re feeling completely drained, a day or two away could be in order.
- Read. Catch up on all those books you’ve been stacking in the corner of your desk. I’ll bet before you even make it through to the end of the first one you’ll be itching to write again.
The key, in my opinion, to staying prolific is to constantly and continually replenish your writing well with images and words. Writing can be compared to your vehicle. If you fill the tank up, then drive a few hundred miles, at some point, you will have to stop and refill the tank again. Otherwise, you’ll be sitting on the side of the road with your thumb in the air. 
Writing is just the same. You have to stop and fill up the tank again every few hundred miles.
[tags]writing, writing tips, refill your well, tips for writers, help for writers, writing help[/tags]
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September 17th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Wow! I love the idea of Morning Pages! I never thought about doing that before, and I bet I’d really benefit from it. Thanks for the excellent tip.
September 17th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Morning Pages are my lifeline. I neglected to note in that one that I write three pages by hand. Julia suggests three pages. I don’t always do 3, but I’ve found that even when you don’t feel like you can write past page one, if you keep pushing it out all the way to the end of that third page, you will have dumped all the negative stuff out and make room for a very productive writing day.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:50 am
I too am a morning person and I find that meditation, in all its forms, is the key to writing. In addition, fostering of whole brain thinking where both hemispheres can get involved seems to work for me.
The key is getting the conscious mind out of the way so the flow from the Universe can come in
Oddly enough, I just posted something myself on my methodology here - http://www.onehundredyearsofermintrude.com/meditative-writing-how-to-tap-into-heaven-sent-words/
September 18th, 2007 at 6:09 am
I often feel all written out, as you know. The thing is, in my head, I’m not! I just stall out when it’s time to put the words down, get them out of my head.
Maybe I too need to return to MPs!
September 18th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I think it’s important to try to figure out why you’re all written out. Because sometimes just pressing yourself forward will burn you out worse. Right now I’m all written out in one area of my life, and it’s because I can’t invest my soul in things I have so little concern for. And in other areas of my writing life, I’m on fire. It’s not usual for me to see things so clearly, but that’s today.
I love morning pages and they are a great way to sort out the blockages. But a warning: they are also a great way to procrastinate and get written out before you ever get to your real work. I guess I can turn anything into procrastination, including this post. Back to work! And I’ll be back!
September 19th, 2007 at 4:57 am
This is true, Anne. Never thought of my MP that way, but I can see how they could be a form of procrastination. I tend to see them as my “black hole.”
I can go there, write out my thoughts and get it all out so I can move on to something more productive.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I’m so glad I ‘blogrush’ed across your blog, Hope. You share some wonderful insights and these are fantastic ways to ‘break out’ of that guilty sense of having accomplished nothing when the writing just doesn’t seem to come.
I’ve found it’s important for me to pay attention to my Wordlessness because these stagnant times are always brought on by something specific.
I love the concept of Morning Pages. I use a similar concept (Freewriting) to work through any issues I’m having. If I get snagged while writing my novel I can use the freewriting to have a conversation with myself or my characters and we always manage to work through the situation and come out stronger on the other side.
September 21st, 2007 at 7:18 am
Welcome, Rebecca! I totally agree with you on paying attention to the wordlessness. Mine is often brought about my personal problems and/or the fact that I tend to bottle things up, instead of just talking them through or working them out with the appropriate people. I hate conflict.
Morning Pages ARE a great way to work out writing conflicts though…absolutely!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:20 am
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December 21st, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Great writing site! I’m always looking for more writing resources. Thanks.
For another writing blog, check out The Story Ideas Virtuoso site at:
http://debgallardo.com/virtuoso
I’d love to have you visit.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:44 am
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