I am part of a great writers’ group that meets weekly to critique members’ work and to support one another in our writing journey. We recently started a podcast to discuss writing craft. Our fifth episode on YouTube asked “What does writer’s block look like for you? And how to you get past it?”
In this episode we discussed our experiences. A number of great writer resources were mentioned, and I’d like to share those with you now. We looked at research on writer’s block, as well as multiple ways to combat it.
This New Yorker Article discusses the research on Writer’s Block. https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/how-to-beat-writers-block?fbclid=IwAR1kmFN7ip956mOKzexa2EqkkJseCchGu5ze7ddl_tdv9SVlhCLLPf_VqnA
Not everyone believes that writer’s block is real – including my writer’s group colleagues! Check out the opinions of 25 famous writers. https://lithub.com/is-it-real-25-famous-writers-on-writers-block/?fbclid=IwAR1XZe9tyTOTXXzMB7dYRIuwVnEcwY5o9L75gNk8hj3MxUsgpkPNsV0mnRc
Taking part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) was mentioned as a great way to learn to write fast without judgment. https://nanowrimo.org/
The Pomodoro Technique is one way to tackle writer’s block. I use it and like it a lot. https://www.amazon.com/Pomodoro-Technique-Acclaimed-Time-Management-Transformed/dp/1524760706/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VNC5OWRE5MIM&dchild=1&keywords=pomodoro%20technique%20book&qid=1595992405&sprefix=pomodor%2Caps%2C226&sr=8-3&fbclid=IwAR23ObGxkr8GMYuK8WusH9WFzTXC-nGguR0uIvyvqxZuRUJfVPe8C5w8mpA
Julia Cameron’s seminal work on creativity can help you attack writer’s block. https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B006H19H3M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=33IW7N6S9AXYW&dchild=1&keywords=the%20artists%20way%20julia%20cameron&qid=1595992703&s=digital-text&sprefix=the%20artits%2Cdigital-text%2C222&sr=1-2&fbclid=IwAR00I7h0D0XfvtTJy0lDzzlDeoMS8I8wNIrUzjlEzX_rsKCBssUihygIgRo
Natalie Goldberg is another great resource on writer’s block and writing craft in general. https://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Goldberg/e/B000AP7I9G?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1595992642&sr=1-2&fbclid=IwAR2ajW1ONfwh_RUMySB6ZAeynoN8qZmMSauAtQmkbmd10yyZvSGK32H3O40
Peter Elbow is the father of the free write, a classic method for getting words on the page. https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Elbow/e/B001IGUSXE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1595992602&sr=1-2&fbclid=IwAR2YJ3gQqM3R9z2CgKU5R1Fg8yx_xuusfqmBKfU-dYdKWrkHB6rJmD7XGmg
James Baldwin also has words of inspiration to jump start creativity. Listen to the podcast to hear them. https://www.amazon.com/James-Baldwin/e/B000APVA9U?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1595992676&sr=1-2&fbclid=IwAR2ajW1ONfwh_RUMySB6ZAeynoN8qZmMSauAtQmkbmd10yyZvSGK32H3O40
Finally, one of our group members swears by great music. She listens to Kevin Eubanks. https://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Eubanks/e/B000APYCUE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1595992287&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR22XVXPrkCdO4uRaBOKfNSDUew3MU1CUih0qLT0i3c7OGdbviX_Srpu4RE
Check out some or all of these great resources, and join us soon for our next episode.
My partners on the podcast include (in alphabetical order):
- Avis Adams, an amazing published poet and YA writer whose novel is under consideration by an editor
- Carl Lee, a writer of paranormal fantasy – his first novel has also generated interest from an editor
- Melanie MacDonald, a mystery writer editing her first novel
- Wendy Kendall, the author of a published cozy mystery
Watch Episode 5 on Writer’s Block now at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7lwwJBZ-Qc&fbclid=IwAR2aXTav-cePWppaozqDfyuyQmq4VyW0ppIyC1eX1HzdmM-Y123CVkIruEc&app=desktop
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our subsequent videos! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5RZS7tkuPKB4rvfWuER9Q
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