the secret of writing..

Philippines
May 16, 2010 4:10am CST
hi all! I am so wanting to write articles but I am so unfortunate that every time I write something, my mind becomes empty. I admit that I love to read and there are a lot of ideas in my brain. I am also good in English but one thing that I don't really like is to Write. Whenever I stumble unto blogs I always feel envious and it makes me want to write a blog myself. Sad to say after 1 to 2 paragraphs I'd become mental blocked... is there someone here who has a situation like me? for all good writers out there..can you give me some pointers or suggestions for me to do so that I can write a whole article and stop from being mental blocked? Please help!! thank you...
2 people like this
10 responses
@Jules01 (131)
16 May 10
Hi Pinkberry009, I think there are many people out there who have great potential, but don't know where to start. I sometimes feel like one of them. For that reason I'm just starting a blog where people can learn techniques and get ideas that can help them. There are a few things I suggest. Firstly, rather than just sitting down to write, take an idea (any idea) and see how you can develop it. Have a look at mind maps. They can be used to brainstorm ideas, to see how you can develop things before writing. Secondly, there is a wealth of information on the net for people with writers block. Just do a search for it on one of the big search engines. Thirdly, get together with like minded people. Other people who are trying to write. People on the net (like myself), writers groups on and off the net. I belong to a terrific writers group in my home time. You wouldn't believe how good they are. Above all, get over the fear of writing. Write anything. Keep a small notebook with you to jot down ideas. If you see something or someone unusual, jot it down. Ask what was happening, why, what caused this, what's going to happen next. It doesn't have to be good to start off. The more you practice using your imagination, the better it gets. Just let go and enjoy.
2 people like this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
16 May 10
Wealth of information on the internet, I couldn't agree more..
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
16 May 10
I think it's got to do with not having any topics sometimes. That's what I feel whenever I feel like there's a mental block or some sort. I might be blogging and when the mental block arrives, I'm still not able to come out with any good topics to write. What I suggest is for you to go to article writing sites, it can be any site at all, or any writing site for that matter and go through titles to gain some inspirations. You might want to write a similar topic, or based from the genre of some other writers, you would have some form of ideas on what to write as well. Topics are diverse out there, and if you put your heart and soul into it, you might gain some form of ideas on what to write. Let's say you already have a title in mind, but you are jammed up on what to write inside the blog contents or something, save the draft and go on to read a book or other sites' articles. Or you can interact with mylotters and after awhile, the writing feel will come back. It usually works for me, trust me on that one.
• Philippines
17 May 10
ill take your advice.. this sure will help me out. thanks zed! :)
2 people like this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
30 May 10
You are so very welcome..
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
21 May 10
the more u write, live, and experience different things, the more u will have something to write about. get out more. expand ur mind. look at different things. look at things differently. write about the same topics from different angles. try different things. take a risk. be open-minded, and the world will open new avenues for u to explore...
1 person likes this
@evepin (721)
• Philippines
17 May 10
hi there! may i suggets that you read more articles, get books on how to write articles too. there are online sources too on how to be a good writer, but i guess practice makes perfect? continue writing. A blog is an opportunity for you to practice and hone your skills. before writing, know your topic, come up with an objective / main idea, then write first all your thoughts. then you'd see what are relevant and what are not. then just keep on writing. edit after. cheers and happy myLotting!
@udaymohan (437)
• India
17 May 10
Everybody seems to have contfronted similar situation. Whenever we start something new, we become nervous alnd lose our wits. Nothing to be ashamed of or become discouraged. When your English is good, you have got good imagination and can connect the story properly, why can't you write. Forget your handicaps and start writing. Remember, unless you start how can you accomplish your mission. I wish you the best.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 May 10
Hopefully it'll make you feel better to know this little secret: Most writers don't actually like writing. It's true. We spend so much of our creativity in thinking up ways not to write. We love the before and after. We love coming up with ideas, and we love having written those ideas down into a narrative. But actually writing? No, we tend to dislike that. It's just so boring, you know? I mean, we already know what happens, we know the specifics, but this dang paper wants us to actually get it written down?! Ridiculous! That being said, unfortunately, there's nothing you can really do to get out of it. The trick is to just simply sit down and get it done. If you want to have written, you need to write. Simple as that. Many people have suggested carrying around a pad of paper to jot down ideas when inspiration strikes. That's exactly right. I write sketch comedy, and I always have a pocket-sized Moleskine on me for just such an occasion. It's a life-saver. Maybe what you can do is, at some point every day, set aside an hour to write. Then, during that hour, sit in front of your computer. Don't put pressure on yourself, but don't allow yourself to do anything else either. That's writing time. Maybe you'll write, maybe you won't. But if you're doing something for that hour, it'll be writing. Maybe today you'll just get a sentence out, but then tomorrow, you're starting point is no longer a blank screen with the cursor blinking, taunting you. Another thought: That mental block? It's not the absence of ideas; it's an overabundance of ideas. It's too many ideas to be able to focus on just one. Be inspired and empowered by that. Just get to writing. The right idea will soon come forth. I promise.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Jun 10
I have the same problem with blogs. I've probably started a dozen of them and eventually, I'd delete and start a new one because I would run out of ideas for the blog. That said, I do write and complete single idea works such as articles, short stories and novellas. Basically, writing becomes easier when you use two approaches. First, is organizing. Write down all the points you would like to get across. Then organize those points into an outline. At the same time, if you come up with a great sentence, write it down, and you'll find that you can usually work that into the article. This way, you will have tackled the organizational part of writing and also gotten a start on the creative part of writing. The third thing about writing is sometimes you have to sit there and work it out on paper. Just seeing words, even if they are not right is still progress. Because if you have words down, you can always build on that.
• Philippines
16 May 10
i also share the same sentiments, i wanted to write and publish a simple book someday. but my problem is i'm not good in english, the right grammar, good words. one good thing is to read a lot, and talk to some people who had an expertise on that field and gain knowledge from them. i remember an srticle that i read that you don't need motivation to write, all you need is think of a good topic, read about the topic, or share some experiences that is realted to that topic. another thing is have always a small notebook with you, sometimes out of nowhere, we see some good quotes, we sometimes think of good ideas, and we need to write it down so not to forget it, so if there will be a time that you're already had full ideas then you can write an article.
1 person likes this
@artistry (4152)
• United States
16 May 10
...Hi pinkberry, I like to call myself a writer. I like to create things on paper. Sometimes the things I write come easy. I write poetry and short stories mostly. I suggest to others who want to write, to always have some sort of tablet nearby, to write down your thoughts or words that come to you. It doesn't matter what the words are, just write them down. After a while go back, read the thoughts and words and see if there is a workable subject that can be developed. Writing is something that has to be done, your creative ability has to be nurtured. Each day you should try to write something, if only a sentence or two. Write. If you do this, if only in little spurts the desire to write will increase and the flow will improve. There will be days that there is nothing there, as you say, but if you try to water your talent by writing something, anything each day, the process should come easier for you. Good luck to you, keep writing. "o) One other thing about your articles, begin maybe to write an outline first and then build from that outline. That way you have the skeleton and you can put the rest of it together. TIE
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 May 10
I do have the same situation as you are. I often got mental blocked everytime i try to write. I tried to research about the problem and found that the key to write good articles or compositions is to READ, READ, READ, Analyze, READ, SPEAK and everything. I always try to read to gain some knowledge. The more knowledge you have about a certain topic, the more you will be able to write.
1 person likes this