Over the last few weeks I’ve been struggling to find the enthusiasm and energy to write anything for this blog, but in my efforts to overcome this problem I’ve come across two potential cures for what bedevils most authors from time to time, namely, writer’s block.
The first is Wordlube, an interactive e-book by Tom Evans (aka the Bookwright) in which he claims that you can remove writer’s block in five days or less. In this book Tom recommends the use of meditation and mind-mapping techniques to clear away any obstructions that are preventing you from putting pen to writing pad or keyboard to screen. The e-book is designed to be read very quickly and it is recommended that first you should go through the whole book in one sitting to get a feel for the principles and exercises that are contained in it.
However, these exercises are meant to be completed over a period of five days and are claimed to have a cumulative effect, so by the end of the fifth day you should be thinking and working differently if you follow all of them as prescribed. Most of the exercises only take about 30 minutes each to complete, with the final one only taking you a maximum of 45 minutes.
So, after about three hours of work spread over less than a week your creative juices should be flowing in abundance. If not, then I suggest you tell Tom Evans because I’m sure he would appreciate your feedback. In fact, he encourages it.
Wordlube includes several embedded videos and audio clips, together with a weblink to Tony Buzan’s mind-mapping website so that you can download a trial version of the software used by Tom Evans to create the mind maps featured in the exercises.
The second cure, called Coffee Break, can be found on the Webook website. It is an interactive project that aims to provide a friendly and supportive environment where writers can try out new ideas and techniques, and refresh any skills that they may have but not use often enough. The project is led by a close friend of mine, Vanessa Cobb, whose pen name is Winterjazz.
The rules of the project are simple. You choose any one of fourteen exercises, follow the instructions and start writing. The exercises cover such topics as “Developing Characters”, “Creating Settings”, “Engaging Dialogue”, “Story Ideas” and “Imagery”. Vanessa invites users to suggest topics that they would like help with, and several new topics have been added since the project began.
Coffee Break provides you with plenty of great ideas that help you think about what you are writing and is something that is probably best used when you are trying to improve your writing skills but don’t know how, whereas Wordlube is probably best if you are struggling even to find a decent idea to start with. Each has its place in the writer’s toolbox and both of them are completely free to use. So, take your pick and give them a go!
