Story Cubes for Writer's Block?

Perhaps this would work best for picture book authors, but I think it'd be fun to try for plain old novel-length writer's block, don't you?

Rory's Story Cubes are a game of dice that you can play alone or with friends. It's pretty hilarious with a group of adults, and equally funny with little kids because of the completely unique ways they interpret the images on the dice.

It's even better if you have a time limit or someone you must pitch your story idea to immediately after rolling. But if you're alone, you can still have fun filling the blanks in your novel with flying sheep with golden keys, pyramids that were used anciently as washing boards, and mobile phones from the 1980s. *wink, wink* There are several sets of dice, and I admit to only having one set myself (the Action cubes). You can also get the Voyages, Original, and special dice for space, medicine, and sports. I'm still waiting for the Adverbs dice set to be invented. Until then, I'll roll with the punches, or other Action cubes.

How do you get yourself out of a writing funk?

Happy writing this weekend!

Getting Out of the Pool of Writing Funk

Have you ever been stuck in a pool of writing funk? You know the feeling...where the universe seems to be conspiring against you and you just get a little down in the dumps when it comes to writing?

I am currently trying to hose off the gunk of the funk as we speak. Now, first of all, I need to point out that it is not my writing that gets me funky. I love writing and most of the time, I really WANT to do it. Only sometimes the funk mires me down so much I just can't.

And sure, when I’m querying and the rejections pour in, it dampens my mood a bit. And mostly because I tend to get those “good” rejections; the ones that say “you are a great writer and this is a great story, it’s just not quite right for us right now.” It’s harder to be that close and not quite make it. My favorite was when one of my dream agents told me “it’s not you, it’s me.” Had me rolling on the ground. Just too funny/depressing. If I ever need to query again, I hope I have a project she loves, because she is just too awesome.

Anyhow, my writing funks tend to happen as a side effect to what is going on in my Real Life. Writer’s block never lasts for long. I just work on something else, or go do a load of dishes. I always get GREAT ideas when I’m doing dishes (which sucks because I HATE doing the dishes) :D But if I’ve been cooped in the house with the kids for months on end with no break, or if I’m stressed over anything else going on in my life, or just not feeling well…..my Real Life funk spills over into writing territory and becomes (dunh dunh duuuunh) WRITING FUNK.

How do I get out of it? I take a writing break. I read…a LOT. I also load up on romantic and British comedies. Two of my favorite British comedies are the shows Vicar of Dibley and Absolutely Fabulous. I love watching movies like Fools Gold and The Holiday and Pure Luck. When I get in a funk, I want to laugh.

And of course, my wonderful friends are great at pulling me out when I’m about to go under. I start sending out hoards of desperate emails and IM’s. And when things are really bad, I tend to shut down a bit, stay away from everything and everyone, and that is when the hoards of emails and IM’s start coming my way. I don’t know how I ever got through the day without my writing family. They are a true God-send.

I always reach a point where I just tell myself to snap out of it. The break has gone on long enough...time to suck it up and push through :) Time to write :)

How do you get out of the pool of writing funk?