So I’m writing a story about a man who was buried alive in the ground.
He wakes up and doesn’t realize where he is, then it all sort of comes
rushing to his brain as to what his surroundings are.
What are some vocabulary words I can use to explain what
he is feeling?
Suffocated, deranged, smothered, trapped.
What else? Thanks in advance!
- Lara

At some point or another every writer experiences writers block. It could be because of tiredness, life’s stresses and strains, or it could be for absolutely no reason at all. There is no one type or reason, but there are many ways in beating writer’s block that you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Write all the time

Writing every day in little bursts will help combat the serious bout of writers block. Where ever you go keep a notebook handy so if a great idea comes to mind you can write it down there and then. If you can’t get past it, the best way I find to help unlock your thoughts on to paper is to go for a short walk, to clear your head before returning to the computer screen.

Meditation

I find that meditation helps quite considerably. It helps you to relax and allows you to find a peaceful place in order to gather your thought. After meditating I find I am at my most creative and relaxed. Most meditation courses can be found by private teachers, but if you are lucky to have a Buddhist center near by, they offer regular classes which run at different times during the day to suit you.

Don’t try too hard- take a break

Sometimes it can feel like you have to squeeze the words out, and in the end you are just not happy with what you have created. Don’t push yourself, even if you have a deadline as this will only stress you out further. Give yourself a break even if it’s to recharge to return to it an hour later or the next day. The best way to beat writers block is to come back to your writing when you are refreshed and relaxed. I find first thing in the morning is when I am at my most creative and fluid.

Change your scenery

Changing your surroundings can be a great way to alleviate writers block. Take yourself to a quiet café, or if it’s a nice day go outside. New things could give you inspiration and I find this helps when I get the worst of writers block.

Refresh your skills

It is always a good to refresh your skills once and a while to beat writers block. There are many inexpensive short day workshops for creative writers of all levels that you can use to your advantage.

A few years ago I went on a creative writing holiday in Scotland. The scenery among other factors was a great inspiration and being able to write with others meant I could learn new skills and techniques. These courses don’t happen all the time so snap it up when you get the chance.

Listen to how you write

One of the best bits of advice when beating writers block is to write with your talking voice. It is always obvious when a writer is not expressing themselves naturally and in the end, is more frustrating to write and uncomfortable to read.

I find the best way to combat this is to read what you have written or your problem passage and record yourself. Play back the tape and what you have written will sound completely different. This will help you to find the right words and will help get rid of writers block.

No matter what method you use to rid yourself of the dreaded writers block, it is always important to remember that really, writers block does not exist. It is a name we have given to the inability to make decisions when writing. Look at where you are having problems in coming to making your choice, whether its wording that paragraph or chapter. Sit and then figure out what decision you are not making and make it.


- Patricia A. Jones

Nothing quite says “I love you” like love letters. Write to a boyfriend a beautiful love letter – and you just might make him fall more deeply in love with you than he already is! Think love letters are too mushy (and therefore unappreciated) by most men? Think again: in my experience, even some of the toughest-acting guys I have known melted like butter after receiving love letters that follow my simple recipe.

If you are interested in writing love letters to your boyfriend, you might be feeling a bit intimidated by the whole thing. After all, writing is hard, right? Well, not necessarily. If you follow these 5 simple steps you can’t go wrong, and your boyfriend will like putty in your hands:

1. Get into the right mood:

As any writer will tell you, what we write is greatly affected by our mood and our surroundings. To write a successful love letter to your boyfriend, start by getting your head and heart in the right place. Do whatever it takes to get yourself into a mellow, giving mood. Some of the things I do to get into the romantic writing mood include: putting on soft music, lighting incense, taking a warm bath, or even dressing in my favorite lingerie or negligee before sitting down to write. By doing these things, a subtle transformation comes over me and I am in the right place, mentally and physically, to write a love letter to my boyfriend.

2. Use beautiful stationery:

A few words about the writing medium you choose. First -and hopefully this goes without saying – be sure to refrain from e-mailing or texting your love letter to your boyfriend! For some things in life, the formal path is the better option – and writing love letters is one of those things. Nothing says “I didn’t care enough to send the very best” than does an e-mailed love letter!

Second, make sure you choose beautiful stationery for your romantic literary creation. Soft whites are my favorite. Be sure to avoid flashy or gaudy colors. And, I suggest using black ink (brown ink is a close second). Since good stationery can be pricey, be sure to practice writing out your letter on scrap paper until you are satisfied with the words you have chosen. Then, write it out onto your good stationery when you think you are ready to create the final draft.

3. Make it substantive with good content:

Okay, now the tough part – the content. What should you write about? I suggest choosing a specific, simple theme and then sticking to it throughout your letter. Example themes include: recalling how you felt when the two of you first met, and, colorfully recounting a special dinner you had together.

Unless you truly excel at poetry, I suggest avoiding writing your own poems. Feel free to include part of a favorite love poem, but don’t make that the main substance of your love letter to your boyfriend. Rather, stick to your main theme (see above) and write just a few paragraphs. Focus primarily on how you feel and how he makes you feel. Tell him how romantic he makes you feel, and relate those feelings back to your theme.

4. Use flowery language:

Even you are likely not a poet or a professional romance writer, this doesn’t mean you should avoid poetic-sounding language. Have a little fun with your letter. Sprinkle flowery-sounding phrases like “our love,” “your scent,” “deep feelings,” and “true to you” here and there in your letter. He will be impressed, and these words will add to the overall ambience of your letter.

5. Re-write your letter a few times before sending:

Your love letter will not be perfect on the first try. In fact, you may end up writing your letter five or more times before it sounds right (see my suggestion above about using scrap paper). Hint: between each version, let your letter sit for a few hours or days and then re-read it. When you do, any particularly awkward phrases will jump out at you – those phrases should be the first to go. After a few re-writes, your letter should improve significantly.

Once you have completed your love letter to your boyfriend, it is time to send it off. If he already loves you, he will love you even more for the gesture. If he had been doubting the depth of your feelings for him, your letter should help remove that doubt. A well-written, thoughtful love letter can help strengthen any relationship, and it can bring the two of you closer than ever.


- Marie-Claire Smith