Don't Struggle

"I don't know what to write, I just can't think of anything," said the struggling writer.

There are times when working through writers block is akin to pounding through a granite slab. Sometimes the end product will be as beautiful as Greek sculpture, or will end up a pile of dust and rocks.

If you want to avoid the latter, here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Don't write about something you aren't interested in. If you don't care about your subject matter, it will usually show in your writing. If you aren't interested, move on to something else. Not only will it ease your pain from writing about the subject, but it will also ease the pain of anyone who has to read the bi-product.

2. Narrow your focus. Although it may seem a good idea to have a broad perspective on a topic, it usually lends to bland and shallow writing. Instead of trying to include the whole world into your writing, focus on something smaller. You will have less material to pull from, but you will usually find your writing to be sharper, and you won't have to worry about fitting the whole world onto one page.

3. Ask yourself some questions. If you are having trouble writing about a certain subject, then step out of your role as a writer and become a critic. Ask yourself what the important issues are in the subject matter and which ones are worth pursuing or if the subject matter is worth writing at all. Finally, always be sure to ask yourself if you are writing about the real issues at hand. Sometimes the real issues might be completely different than what you had previously suspected.

4. Step away from your computer/paper and pen. If it seems that you just don't have the energy to write, then simply don't do it. Go take a walk in the park or clean the house. Taking a break from writing is a good thing, and you may just find an inspiration to write when you are doing something else.