FIGHTING WRITER’S BLOCK THE SHANE FILAN WAY

WRITER’S BLOCK spares no one!Partial loss of ability to kick-off or go on writing that’s often attributed to lack of creativity or inspiration hits all writers—newbie, professional and great ones alike. There are many factors why this phenomenon occurs: some people are too scared to write, while others have too many ideas in mind that they don’t already know what to write or when to start. As the cliché goes, there’s an antidote for every ailment.

Below is an acronym of WESTLIFE lad SHANE FILAN’s name that simply suggests steps to fight writer’s block. Hope you’ll have a great time reading and hopefully following it:
S – STRETCH
H – HAVE FIVE WORDS
A – AVOID USING COMPUTER
N – NEW PLACE
E – ESTABLISH YOUR TITLE

F – FRESH BODY
I – IMAGINE
L – LISTEN TO MUSIC
A – ACCEPT CRAP
N – NEVER QUIT

Adding a physical structure to your writing task is healthy. And a little bit of warm up such as stretching, doing push-ups or walking may help perk up your writing brain.Having five random words on just about anything closely related or even irrelevant to your subject might help you go on with your writing activity.

Develop sentences for every word and before you knew it, you’ve already written paragraphs and essays. If you have been looking at your computer screen for half an hour already and nothing is coming out of your mind, then avoid using your PC for the meantime.
Turn it off, grab a ball pen and paper and do free writing.Writing in a new place may mean going out of your room and transferring to your living room or garden; or totally traveling to a tranquil place which will help you think deeper.

Skilled writers establish or work on the title of their piece of writing first. They usually reflect on set of words or sentence thoroughly before they go on with their introductory part.

Fresh body revitalizes the mind which enables it to come up with new ideas, so before you start writing, try to take a bath! Imagine and visualize that you’d be able to finish whatever it is that you are writing and you will!

Bear in mind that recognizing your strength requires a conscious effort, so believe in the power of your imagination!Accept that your maiden draft is some sort of a trash. Just go on with what you are writing and sooner or later, you’ll be able to finish something. Even the greatest writers and authors in history did mistakes in their first drafts—write, write and write.

One thing that will guarantee your failure as a writer is quitting. The road to becoming a brilliant writer is rock-strewn. You’ll face a lot of troubles and rejections. But don’t feel discouraged. Motivate yourself to keep working hard.

FOREWORD

I NEVER aspired to be the best writer, I only dreamed of becoming a good writer—good enough so that my readers would easily understand the ideas or messages I convey to them.

One thing I realized, I cannot become an exceptional writer in just a wink of an eye. Whatever my writing style is at the moment, I owe it from my good reading habits which my mom instilled in me since I was four, my choice of books, my personality and most especially my past experiences in life.

But how I became a better writer? I am simply indebted to the following songs of Westlife:

"Close Your Eyes." Whether your mind runs out or overflows with ideas, it's important to reflect on what you want to write. If you cannot concentrate, close your eyes so you could focus with your ideas.

"Don't Say It's Too Late." One can never be too young or too old to be a writer. Talent is timeless, and so is one's passion for writing!

"Dreams Come True." Dare to dream of becoming a writer beyond compare, but do something about it to come true--and be a living proof of that.

"Easy." Writing is easy. What makes it difficult is how some people perceive it to be. People who say they don't know how to write are telling lies: They're written a lot of things in the past--letters of the alphabet, more so, their names!

"Hey Whatever!" 'Let your beauty come alive/Let your color fill the sky/And say whatever/Why don't you liberate your mind/Let your colour fill the sky...' these are just some lines in one of Westlife's no. 1 songs which simply tell us to extract our creative juices and add spice in our writing style.

"If Tomorrow Never Comes." Have this mindset that you are only as good as your last piece of writing. And so every time you get an opportunity to convey what is in your heart and mind in black and white, grab and make the most out of it: You'll never know when will be or if there's still a next time!

"Open Your Heart." Change is always good, so keep an open mind and heart with regard to the writing trends. Read a lot of books, mingle with other writers, join writing clubs and forums to keep yourself abreast on what's hot and what's not in the writing arena.

"Thank You!" Do not forget to thank God Almighty for the unique gift--passion for writing--that he just lent to you, so use it in a positive way by touching the lives of your readers.

"Try Again." When your works get rejected or not appreciated by other people, do not quit, as it is when writing style seems worst that you must not quit. Believe in the tired-old adage "Try and try until you succeed." The rejections or frustrations you get to experience today will become praises tomorrow!

"Written in the Stars." It's actually your choice to become one--not just the opportunities that knock--that determines your destiny to become a writer!