Doodle Mayhem - a clear case of writer's block?

Doodle Mayhem:

Inspiration... it can sometimes pop up in the form of a daydream, and the trick is to catch that daydream, and craft it into words on a page...

Meet Iver No-Idea - the proof that Eric had a good imagination, even though he couldn't think of anything to write. Maybe this was a clear case of writer's block, where the words wouldn't come, but when Eric started to doodle he unwittingly created a character who then took on a life of his own.

 Iver No-Idea (and you'll have to read the book to find out how he got his name) is a mischievous character with nothing on his mind except play...

The letters on the page are the only thing he has to play with, so he starts to knock them around with his foot, and even pick them up to throw at Eric to get his attention.

Eric attempts to keep Iver No-Idea a secret, but his teacher, Miss Roper, is on to him...



Intrigued...  why not read a free except of Doodle Mayhem on my website.

How to beat writer's block

Every time I try to write something positive and useful about writers block, it seems to waken up and come at me like a demon who hadn't noticed that I was happily writing away, until I called its name and drew its attention my way...

So maybe today will be different and I'll manage to write some useful tips down before it notices... so here goes:

How to avoid writers block:

• Try not to think about writers block - just get on with it.
• Think about what you're going to write before you sit down at a blank screen or piece of paper.
• Allow yourself time to daydream - it's actually very productive and lets your imagination wander about and come up with things you didn't even know you had in your head.
• Don't be too worried about the first sentence, you can always go back and change it later, in fact you probably will, but at least you will have made a start.
• Let your imagination run wild without a care for what anyone else might think of what you've written - right now you're the only one who can see it, and you might just surprise yourself with what an unrestricted imagination in an come up with...
• If writer's block does strike, go and do something else: go for a walk, or a swim - I often come up with ideas in a swimming pool: or just sit in the sun and let your mind wander - you'll free your mind and sneak up on new ideas.
• Write something else - it's more productive than sitting staring at a blank screen, and come back to it later.
• Read something.
• Try writing with music playing. Music is a powerful thing and can change your mood in an instant.
• Visualise writer's block as a monster that you will either ignore or beat - but you will not allow it to beat you! 

Please leave a comment or add your own tips...