Take that, Writer's Block!

Homer: Marge, I'm confused. Is this a happy ending or a sad ending?
Marge: It's an ending, that's enough.

Whenever I think of Writer's Block, I’m always reminded of this exchange at the end of one of my favorite episodes of The Simpsons.

I'd love to tell you that I wake every morning, fresh as a petunia, and the words just pour out onto the page with no problem. No way. We’ve all suffered from a case of W.B. You reach that point where you can't, for the life of you, think of anything to write down. Whether it's an email to a friend, a blog (wink, wink), or your continuation of The Peril of Persephone. You've got Max and Jane alone in a room together and then... BLANK. The Creativity Gods pull the rug out from under you.

So, though I'm not expert, I thought I'd pass along my Top Four Ways to Whip Writer's Block.

1) Napping – Seriously, who doesn't love a good nap? Sometimes the best thing to do when you can't go on is to lie down and let your subconscious take care of the rest. You may just wake up with that great idea at your fingertips.

2) Vomit on the Page/Screen – Don't worry, I'm speaking figuratively here. If you take me literarily, it'll be very messy and you'll probably end up with a malfunctioning computer. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to just write whatever comes to mind. Get it down, even if it feels like you're just vomiting on the page, and revise later.

3) Do Jumping Jacks – If you get out of your writer's chair and begin doing this, make sure you're all alone. You don't want to be labeled the "freak" of the household. But there's nothing that clears the head like cardio. So pick your poison: pilates, yoga, jumping jacks, or Tae Bo.

4) Chatter with Best Friends – Go to coffee. Or lunch. A little giggling goes a long way. Maybe someone will say something that strikes a chord or gives you an idea or maybe you'll see someone at Starbucks who looks exactly like the character that's going to move your story along to its fantastic finish.

Anybody else have any tips?

Anyway, keep writing. And when you're finished, pat yourself on the back. Because Marge is right. Writing is hard. Just getting to the end is enough of an accomplishment.

Jennifer Anne Kogler
Author of Ruby Tuesday