Sometimes a challenge is what overcomes writer’s block.
Here is what I mean. This year, for conference I decided to enter two competitions. The first could be about nearly anything, as long as it involved a storyteller.
The second had more difficult rules, as the story needed to be fantasy, and involve the words unforeseen, kite, ruby, and pulverize. The moment I read the rules for the second story, ideas began jumping into my mind. What are some different ways the words could be used? How can I tie them all together? It wasn’t long before I had a story.
But for the first contest, I could think of nothing. After painfully dredging up a few weak ideas, I still couldn’t make any headway. Finally, I decided to only enter the other contest.
Perhaps all of us have stared at a blank page, trying to push past writer’s block and put something down. So here is a suggestion for getting started. Pick a book off your shelf, or a dictionary if you’re feeling daring. Flip to a couple different pages, and point two to four words at random, then try to weave them into a story.
Perhaps that extra challenge will stimulate some creativity and get your story moving.
- Overcoming Writer’s Block - June 27, 2025