Got writer’s block? Here’s the bulldozer

All writers run aground from time to time. It’s a scourge we call “writer’s block.”

In most cases, it’s a fleeting state of non-productivity. In rare cases, it’s a seemingly intractable affliction.

Enter Mr. Gallagher, an English literature teacher from my high school days. One day he told the class the story of a blocked and frustrated writer who came to him desperately seeking help to break out his slump.

“You don’t need my help,” Gallagher told him. “All you need to do is spend a couple of hours at the library reading half-a-dozen books or so.”

It worked. And it’s worked for me. It will work for you, too.

In most instances all we need are some fresh literary voices to slay writer’s block. Some new inspiration. Some melodious tracts of copy to get us back in the flow. Nothing works better than some well chosen books to read – especially when we pick material similar to the type of project we’re working on.

If you haven’t already put this technique to use, try it. I guarantee results. So does Mr. Gallagher.

And you don’t have to have writer’s block for this technique to pay big dividends. After all, there’s a far more common issue than writer’s block. It’s plain, old uninspired writing. We’re able to produce copy but it’s flat, vapid and inert.

Hit the library. Hit the books. You will find your groove again.

There are many other stratagems for overcoming writer’s block or uninspired prose. Next week I’ll write about a simple technique advocated by novelist and writing expert Anne Lamott.

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