Writer's Block

Post the what is giving you writer's block and how you've gotten over it in the past.

• Personally, I don't have a lot of time to write right now. But when I do sit down to write, and it's like my characters aren't talking to me anymore, I'll watch a movie or show that I like (or have never seen before). I'll look for scenes or conflicts that I like an I'll rewrite them with my characters. Maybe its just the emotion that the same, or its the entire scenario. But either way my characters always take it in different directions than the characters on the screen. By that point, usually an idea comes to me!

Something that I haven't realized that I use is journalism. Even the slightest moment could pull my mind in all different directions. Writing down thoughts I have can lead me to uncover a brilliant idea I never realized I had. Additionally, I also use these methods:

1. Listening to new music, reading the lyrics and taking your own interpretation from them.
2. Taking something I'm mildly curious about and doing major research on it. (Research is super fun when I'm not doing it for a grade. Did you know there's no documentation of Adolf Hitler drinking a refreshing bottle of Coca Cola?)
3. Trying a new movie/TV show. This is separate from books because it's a different experience. Books help with the writing aspect and movies/tv shows help with the idea aspect, at least for me. With cinematography, (something i've also researched with little intention of pursuing) I've noticed certain body language and visual details that I might miss in books, even if I did read it. I learn what the face does when certain emotions are being felt, I learn the initial external response to something drastic happening to a character, it's like taking inspiration from real people, except they're playing characters.
4. Back to reading books. This gets me into the head of another person. In a way, it gets me into two heads; the author and the narrator. I've read books because I'm curious about how the author executed a certain idea. I also like the different writing styles.
5. Taking a walk! Something crazy could happen just outside and boy you wouldn't wanna miss it, would you? Write down even the smallest things you see and hear. Close your eyes and imagine yourself describing the walk without using visual aid. Plus, taking a walk could clear your mind of any barriers going on in your head.