Do you need some new ways to write when you cannot get the words out anymore? Did you set writing goals for the New Year? We all cycle through some sort of New Year’s Resolutions and then by the end of January, we fail, and drop the idea altogether? Lol
This really stands as the main reason why I stopped setting New Year’s Resolutions for myself on any level. Sure, the New Year sort of wipes the slate clean, but it simply doesn’t change my goals.
And, if writing still chases you with the cycle of hope that you will finish or complete a book, then read these ideas for those dry writing days. You do hold a story to tell or information to share, you just need to inspire it to rise to the surface.
Ways to Write When the Words Fail You
Focusing on your writing when the kids are crying or you need to clean your house really challenges a mom’s brain. Try some of these ideas to get writing when you simply cannot think anymore.
When you get a list of ideas and topics, save it so that later, you have a running idea list to help you write and publish. Try these ways to get writing.
Go on a walk
One of the best ways to launch your writing brain includes stepping out. I don’t just mean to clear your head, although that could work too. But walk out the door and look around. What do you see? Think about your senses here.
Think about Henry David Thoreau and his On Golden Pond poem. What did he do? He went for a walk and wrote about it.
If you walk out onto a busy street, what activity do you see? What catches your eye first? If you live in a small town, what do you hear first? Or what if you live in the country? What do you smell? Using your senses to tell a story, even if it is nonfiction, makes it come alive.
Read a novel or short story
Nothing gets you thinking about your own writing like reading a story, does it have to be fiction? Reading other’s work works as a way to write. But, reading a novel helps redefine your own descriptions, even in your nonfiction articles and posts.
Some authors have an amazing way with words that leaves us pondering about the images they create. Maya Angelou is one. Her voice still resonates in my mind when I think of her.
Create art
Do you paint, draw, or create sculptures? Did you know that creating art is another way to launch your writing muse? Sometimes getting your creative brain fired up helps draw the words out onto the page.
Take time to create works of art, even if it is only for your own amusement. Finding time to express yourself creatively can bring out thoughts and ideas to express in the written word. Painting images with words is a creative pursuit as well.
Play or listen to music
Another way to kick-start your writer within is through music. I admit, I took piano as a kid, but I seriously cannot really play much. A small piece of Heart and Soul is about all I can do. It is a silly little song that stuck with me my whole life. I think I even forgot how to play chopsticks!
But anyway, even listening to music can spark the soul to words and writing if we let it. Choose your favorite music or play an instrument that you know. Creating music, singing, or even dancing to it gets our writer’s brain in high gear.
Watch nature
If you live in a location where snow is part of winter, this is a really awesome time to simply watch and listen to the senses outdoors. Silent snow falling brings such quiet to the world and the more snow there is, the more it blankets the scene outside.
Don’t have snow? Watch the nature outside your window to go someplace that does.
Watch a kid’s show
Let your kids sit down with them and enjoy a funny kid movie today. Then, jot down the ideas it generates.
Whether it is on YouTube, or you watch funny movies. Think about how you can or even do use comedy in your writing. How do you make others laugh in the middle of your work? Or what funny story can you tell that will make your readers laugh aloud?
Go for a drive
If you live in the city and want to get out, go for a drive in the country. Or take a drive to a park and then walk around. Getting out of your immediate surroundings does more to stimulate words and thoughts than remaining stagnated.
Drive up the road or take the kids to the park.
Feed the birds
I admit, my youngest son sold me on the bird idea. I always thought they were strange. But, have you ever watched a cardinal or a barn swallow? Setting out a bird feeder with the right type of bird seed always gathers a response from nearby birds.
Some places have duck ponds where you can feed the ducks. Or, what about parks where pigeons and other birds gather in the city?
Play a game
I read somewhere that even Maya Angelou gets her writing muse from doing crossword puzzles sometimes. I admit, I do word puzzles on my computer tablet, and my phone. This works better than you think when you need ways to blog.
But, get the kids to play a board game with you. Even playing word or math games side by side on a computer tablet helps stimulate your mind, as well as the kids!
I think it is akin to switching your brain gears from solving daily problems to focusing on the writing you need to do. Doing word problems, or maybe math problems helps you shift your mind’s focus in a writing direction.
Our brains contain language and math centers, which at times need to be stimulated to be used.
Re-design your blog or website
Sometimes when the motivation seems to evaporate, you can find things to work on in the technical and design aspects of the blog. Tune up your theme, change the logo, or find a new plugin to increase the productivity of your publishing direction.
Plus, when you design your website you find the passion to blog and rekindle the reason you started writing in the first place.
Build something
Everyone thinks differently, and we all possess different ways of thinking and solving problems. Sometimes solving one problem in the form of building something helps us discover our writing muse.
Whether you build things with wood, you work on car motors or you build computers, using the solving part of your brain helps you find the language or words you need to express yourself in words.
Finally, “Just Be”
As a teacher, I have seen so much forcing and pushing of children to learn and “grow.” But, as the years have marched on, I learned that children learn best when they discover ideas and concepts.
I wonder if we as adults are not like that too. Think about the best time and methods for you to learn something new. Maybe it is one of the things I listed above, and then again, maybe it is something else. Free write for a few minutes, if you have to to get your words flowing.
Whichever method you use, there is no right or wrong way to learn a better way to write. You simply choose the method that works for you.
My challenge to you is to find the method that works best for you to write and bring out the words. Improve and hone your writing craft and you will find your voice in the world.
