Artist/Writer's Block, How do you all beat it?

exactly what the title says ^
when you are stuck drawing or writing, how do you all get around it so you can continue? I've tried a lot of things but I've been stuck drawing and writing.. tried alot of things, tried some things I've found on googled on how to.. but I havnt been able to go back into so easily

a reply to: saiyankev

Wait for it, hopefully it isn't your trade. You really can't stimulate creativity, much less genius.



This is not a popular attitude and I don't say it lightly. It isn't a cop-out either, it's just an unconscious fountainhead.

Like relentlessly searching for a lost item, your time is better spent elsewhere and it will find you.

The other side of the coin is that when it erupts, it is best to run with it rather than try to manage it.

originally posted by: saiyankev
exactly what the title says ^
when you are stuck drawing or writing, how do you all get around it so you can continue? I've tried a lot of things but I've been stuck drawing and writing.. tried alot of things, tried some things I've found on googled on how to.. but I havnt been able to go back into so easily

Stop trying.

Realise that your annoyance at having a block is causing an imbalance.

Try not doing it for a week, tell yourself that you are taking a break. Go for a walk, do some housework, visit an elderly neighbour.

Do anything that does not involve the task you are stuck on.

Just wait and see how quickly the idea's start flying when you can't put them on paper.

As a writer, ...I find writers block is never anything more than procrastination. As many people have said, writing is a muscle, you have to work it out to retain it and build it.

Carve out your writing time, unplug your internet, and write...anything, eventually it will funnel towards your current project,and you'll be left with ideas for other projects.

Drugs... orgasm...meditate...sleep deprivation... go sit out in the woods/meadow/by the sea for a good 8 hours or so.

a reply to: saiyankev

Keep a notebook with you. You'll find creativity strikes at the most inopportune moments.

As for the block, move on to someone else for a while.

originally posted by: saiyankev
exactly what the title says ^
when you are stuck drawing or writing, how do you all get around it so you can continue?

Write about the fact that you can't find anything to write about.

originally posted by: Atsbhct
As a writer, ...I find writers block is never anything more than procrastination. As many people have said, writing is a muscle, you have to work it out to retain it and build it.

Carve out your writing time, unplug your internet, and write...anything, eventually it will funnel towards your current project,and you'll be left with ideas for other projects.

This is not a quick clip. This is a UK comedian who wrote a stand up show and book about how procrastination when writing can lead to trouble.

Worth a watch but nearly 2 hours. Very funny and very truthful

a reply to: saiyankev

Oh that really is a tough one. When I write or am involved in trying to turn out something I'm painting or even wooodburning and I'm stuck I do believe my muse is off partying with someone else! Or snickering in a corner if my brain just out of reach. Maddening, isn't it?!

This will probably sound silly, but I will keep what I'm working on within reach and where I can analyze it off and on anytime. Something will catch my attention about it and I work on whatever it is, no matter how minor, and usually a tendril of creation creeps into my mind and I tend to keep at it till the project is done. That or my mighty muse flaunts off to the netherworld again, and the process starts all over.

I do find that the more I push it the less gets done. This is especially true as I get older. When even the smallest urge comes on you, JUMP on it! I even carry a small notebook with me when I go on errands to jot down ideas that may come to me. If it has to do with artwork the camera on my phone comes in handy.

I feel for you though...especially if the results of your creativity is your bread and butter. Maybe the blocks develop for a reason...the mind needs a rest perhaps. I don't know, but it is frustrating! I'm in the middle of an epic artistic one right now. I've been working on a couple of wooden trinket boxes for my granddaughters with minute designs ( have to use a magnifying glass at times) using metallic acrylics and gold and silver leaf. If I make a mistake, and I have, it can't just be erased. I have to figure a way to incorporate it into the design...am I late for Christmas?!

All I can say is...lighten up, walk away and it WILL come to you. Throw some "chum" out there, work on another project. Ideas for the project you really need them for usually occur when you least expect them!! Good luck!

originally posted by: saiyankev
exactly what the title says ^
when you are stuck drawing or writing, how do you all get around it so you can continue? I've tried a lot of things but I've been stuck drawing and writing.. tried alot of things, tried some things I've found on googled on how to.. but I havnt been able to go back into so easily

No such thing,the answer is in your art or story, re-read, re-visit and you will find the answer, study it ...... its missing something, its not block

a reply to: saiyankev

I always have 4 or 5 projects in the works at the same time. Perhaps screenplays and mostly dialog falls under a different classification.
My characters actually write the scrips for me; I just set the stage so to speak. It's very odd to have one of my characters in my screenplay wake me from a sound sleep and force me to log on to celtx and get to work.

Celtx....www.celtx.com...

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: saiyankev

Keep a notebook with you. You'll find creativity strikes at the most inopportune moments.

As for the block, move on to someone else for a while.

actually for those moments when i get an idea at random times, I write it on the Memo app on my phone, I've written alot.. different story ideas, 1 brand new story, but most my stuff is small ideas, so ya.. thanks for the idea not sarcasm.. it's a good idea even if I didn't already do it

originally posted by: nonspecific

originally posted by: Atsbhct
As a writer, ...I find writers block is never anything more than procrastination. As many people have said, writing is a muscle, you have to work it out to retain it and build it.

Carve out your writing time, unplug your internet, and write...anything, eventually it will funnel towards your current project,and you'll be left with ideas for other projects.

This is not a quick clip. This is a UK comedian who wrote a stand up show and book about how procrastination when writing can lead to trouble.

Worth a watch but nearly 2 hours. Very funny and very truthful

I've bookmarked it, thanks, I'll check it out I hope it helps.. or atleast entertain me

originally posted by: olaru12
a reply to: saiyankev

I always have 4 or 5 projects in the works at the same time. Perhaps screenplays and mostly dialog falls under a different classification.
My characters actually write the scrips for me; I just set the stage so to speak. It's very odd to have one of my characters in my screenplay wake me from a sound sleep and force me to log on to celtx and get to work.

Celtx....www.celtx.com...

ya actually I have alot of stories too, idk how many.. alot.. maybe 7 or 8... but 2 or 3 big ones that's I've written alot for.
I'm mixed alot of good ideas for the stories. universe and characters, but sometimes the ideas don't connect to other ideas but I try to connect em for later...

Usually before a song, I just play random stuff to release the tension and ease my mind. I sometimes find those random notes playable and would make it a song.
You could draw random stuff over and over or write anything repeatedly to release this "block".

I usually change over to another project until I get inspired to work on the other project again. And when I'm stumped on specific projects with specific deadlines, I'll just go out into nature for a while (it gives me inner peace, which helps tremendously).

A fun thing I like to do is come up with ridiculous imaginary conditions to stimulate myself. I might pretend I'll get $1 million if I finish by a set time, or pretend that a specific project is the key piece in a business proposal to an emperor. I'll go as far as to pretend I'll become homeless if I don't finish, or pretend that my latest completed work will stop a raging monster (or save all of humankind).

a reply to: saiyankev

when you are stuck drawing or writing, how do you all get around it so you can continue?

The more you try to get beyond it, the further you fall into it...
... been there, done that.

Find a distraction... something to dive into that's not related to whatever you're trying for.

Best of luck

Well, not very PC but chemicals and slumming with the downtrodden will ALWAYS stir the creative juices... even better, visit a mental ward, hospice or hospital emergency room.

But then that there is for the specific unpleasant flavor I personally find interesting and there is the real danger of making "slumming" permanent. Guilty.

But that's my take...

a reply to: Baddogma

Perhaps HST wasn't being facetious when he said....

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."

a reply to: olaru12

and see most of today's music/art and wonder "hmm what's missing that was there in the 60's thru 80's?"

But that concept of give/take (or getting dirty to find a beautiful gem) has validity...

eta: and want to clarify the chems still exist, sorta, but what's really missing is a huge population that's completely deranged (as opposed to completely stupid).