Writer's Block and other Writing Problems

If you are looking for something to help you with character development, I highly recommend the book "Building Believable Characters" by Mark McCutcheon. Not only does it have names listed by ethnic category, it has lists for everything from different kinds of shoes, houses, coats, facial expressions, body and vocal language, a few key words in different languages, different professions, etc. The list is endless. It is my bible for writing. As for writer's block, just write down what you are feeling and thinking. Worry about editing it later. The key is to get it on paper then you can change it around to sound better if you need to. If you need prompts for ideas there are websites with creative writing prompts as well as books. Judy Reeves' "A Writer's Book of Days" is a great one because it has a prompt for every day of the year, and then some. Try http://www.creativewritingprompts.com. It has a great list of prompts. Julia Cameron suggests writing 3 pages every morning when you get up. Three pages of anything. It can be like journaling. It clears your head of what may be on your mind that could be preventing you from being creative. In that writing you may come up with a story. Another key is to "write what you know". Use your own past experiences to come up with fictional stories. Good luck!

no, i dont often have a problem with writers block because if i do, i generally go off and work on another project. if you get writers block, go off and take a break, dont be so hard on yourself.

I write mostly poetry, but this doesn't happen often. If it does, I don't try to force the issue. I know from my own experience that sometimes I'll go literally weeks without writing a single thing -- and then all of a sudden I'll just start writing for hours on end! It's just how it is for me. I've learned to accept it & embrace it! :)