Tag: how to get past writers block

The Benefits of Writers being Readers

If you want to write, it’s probably because you spent your childhood reading. Once you discover the magic of being swept away in a great story, it’s hard to imagine yourself doing anything but writing. 

Reading can be instrumental in enhancing your writing career. 

Here are a few benefits of being a reader:

  • Understand story structure 
  • Help get a feel for what readers want in a story
  • Get  your creative juices flowing with new ideas 
  • Learn from famous authors 
  • Enhance your language skills and learn new words 
  • Explore new genres and styles
  • Learn what doesn’t work and why
  • Learn new cultures and lifestyles 

​There are so many other reasons to read, but these are some of the most beneficial to you as a writer. 

Life is busy, but make time to read. Kindle on your phone puts books at your fingertips, so when you’re waiting in line or at an appointment, you can find a few minutes to read the next chapter of a book. 

When your writing needs a boost, pick up a good book and start reading. 

Writer’s Block Prompts

As we’ve discussed in the last blog post about writer’s block, writer’s block is tough to get around, and it happens to all of us.

For fun, here are some quick prompts that may get your creative juices flowing:

  • She stopped suddenly and looked up when she heard the tornado sirens begin to wail.
  • He ducked as a large insect missed colliding with his forehead. “What was that?”
  • There is a story in the newspaper about someone vandalizing gravestones.
  • Her missing cousin showed up 13 years later and had a story that was unbelievable.
  • She hung up the phone in disbelief. Who knew that she was a relative of …
  • He stared at the painting on the wall of his best friend’s living room. It looked like the original Mona Lisa, but that was impossible.

For even more fun, here are some things to ponder:

  • You just found out that you won the lottery. What is the first thing you’re going to buy?
  • You got an invitation to your high school reunion. What memories or horrors does that prompt?
  • You were looking at the stars in your telescope, and then you saw a bright object that you didn’t recognize. Who do you call?
  • Your neighbor hasn’t been seen for weeks. When is the last time you remember seeing him/her?
  • You see a boat on the horizon, and then it disappears. What do you do?
  • Your best friend calls you up to ask a favor; a big favor. Do you help them?
  • When you unload your groceries, you notice that you have a bag that doesn’t belong to you. What do you do?

Hopefully, there is something in these prompts that spins off an exercise that banishes the writer’s block.

If you still are looking for prompts, here are some of my favs: