Guest post by James Adams

The best cure for writer’s block is relaxation. Let your brain work on the problem of finding a subject for your article or a plot for your story on its own time while you are doing something else. Here are some short ways that you can escape to refill your well of creativity.

1. Play a video game – Video games often get a bad reputation because they waste time and are not productive. While this may be true for the gamer who sits for hours in front of a monitor, the video game can be quite beneficial in small doses. Casual games where you are matching the stones or finding the objects are perfect because the plots are not engrossing and you can mindlessly move your hands for several minutes.

2. Exercise – Walk around the room, do some push ups, do some jumping jacks, run down the stairs. Physical exertion is essential for your body’s well being. When your body is moving, your brain is allowed to stew and eventually answer important questions like, ‘what will I write about?’ On a longer scale, the exercise will also make your body more efficient in pumping oxygen to your brain.

3. Change of scenery – You have the freedom to do your work in any location. Head down to the local library or set up your computer in a coffee shop. You are not limited to the desktop with the same old walls around you. You can get some great ideas by going to a buffet and watching the people. You are also getting some cheap food, killing two birds with one stone.

4. Listen – This is especially effective in public places. Listen to the conversations that are being held. Think about the departures and arrivals at the airport. Watch the people who surround you and envision their problems. Call a friend and talk about their interests, which may give you a spark to fulfill your own needs.

5. Listen to Music – Music can call us to action or put us to sleep. The worlds which are created to music are often impressive and grandiose. Listen to a different genre, listen to music which unnerves you, soothes you, makes you bounce in your seat. Let your mind travel with the notes, and it will often bring back ideas.

6. Look at magazine covers – For those article writers out there, look at the articles that your colleagues have written. Examine the magazine covers for inspiration and ideas. See how the professionals do it, see how they entice you. If you have traveled to a bookstore, you have a variety of resources at your fingertips.

7. Read – Reading is essential. When you are not writing, you should be reading other people’s work and honing your craft. When you are stuck for inspiration, read something from your favorite author or pick up the advertising copy on your favorite cereal. Read some fiction if you don’t want something heavy. Read a technical manual if it suits you.

Your inspiration is always there, but sometimes it wants to hide away from the world. Let it rest and it will soon come out to join the world once more. Don’t let writer’s block get you down.

Currently working as a full time writer, James Adams contributes posts about art and design on the Creative Cloud, a blog run by an online ink cartridges store where he also reviews products such as the HP 350XL.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Make Money From Home – Real Jobs You Can Do by Telecommuting
• Create Multiple Articles from Just One
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs