We all have those days…

Sitting in front of a glowing screen, or empty notebook and NOTHING wants to be written on it.

This has been particularly frustrating in light of the challenge this year. I can’t afford NOT to submit something on any given day, or I fail for the entire year. Yes, it was a masochistic challenge, but it is almost the end of October, and after 10 months of success, I can’t fail now.

So, what do you do if you are having one of those days when your brain refuses to boot up?

There are several quick tips that might help. Here are a handful.

• Write something small and simple. Just to get words down on paper. Often, priming the pump like this can start the words flowing again. One of my favorite go-to’s when my brain refuses to play for me is to submit to Haikuniverse. Even on my worst days, I can usually come up with 17 syllables–and their daily offerings are really awesome to read.

• Check the market listings. Often a particular call will spark interest in my head, and I will find myself writing something new and exciting for it. Speculative writers should have Ralan.com on their toolbar, as there is no better place to start. Non-speculative writers might find Writer’s Market worth the cost of on-line access–though you can just check out the hard copy in the library if you need to.

• Network with other authors on Facebook groups like this one. Yes, you have to ask for admission to the group, but it isn’t difficult to get. And the calls change daily. Talking with other authors about their successes and failures often inspires me to submit to a specific market.

• Try something you’ve never done before. If you are strictly a prose writer, try writing a poem. If you are only a text artist, take some photographs. Draw a picture. Experiment with a musical instrument. Getting out of your comfort zone can restart your thinking. Enter a challenge, like the upcoming NaNoWriMo.

• Read a book in a genre/subject matter that you would like to explore. For instance, I read a lot of mysteries. Some day, I would like to write one. Seeing how other people do it successfully is a good basis for learning how to do it myself. Similarly, take an online class, like those offered at Writer’s Village University. This was the place that really jump-started my career.

There you have 5 Tips on places to start breaking up that Writer’s Block. Good luck!