Busting Writer’s Block
You may be rolling along for some time, writing a little bit each day or every week when, suddenly, you get stuck and the stories no longer come to mind easily. Or you may know what you want to write about but not know how to approach it. You may even have lost your drive to write at all. Don’t worry; this happens to all writers at one point or another, and there are plenty of ways around it!
The best way to address writer’s block is to continue jotting down notes whenever you find yourself reminiscing. Carry a small notepad and pencil with you, use the Notebook app in your phone or just text yourself. You never know when an idea might strike you! If you’re having lunch with friends when something they say reminds you of a time you shared with them, record it immediately. That may be enough to motivate you to write about it when you return home.
You also may find inspiration from reading biographies, memoirs and fictional life stories. As you read, observe how a story unfolds and think about how you can apply the different techniques to chronicling your own life’s events.
Don’t forget to take breaks
One of the most important parts of the writing process can be stopping. If you force yourself to write for a few hours or commit to a full chapter each day, you may start considering writing to be a chore. But your memoir should be something you enjoy working on, so be sure to give yourself permission to stop when you’re tired or just need a break.
Many writers find that taking a walk can be just the break they need from sitting in front of a computer screen. Simply walking around the block, running a quick errand or exercising your pet can give you a welcome diversion. When you return to the computer, you may find your thoughts are clearer and you’re ready to write a more fully formed story.