Triumphing Over Writer's Block: Writer's Exhaustion

So, it has been a week since I posted. That is kind of lame, I am well aware, but it illustrates an interesting point.

One of the most difficult aspects of writing regularly is the tendency to get worn out. Now, I am not using that as my excuse for failing write the posts I said I would write. My reason for not writing would most accurately be identified as laziness. Its sad, but true. However, for the purpose of this post, let us assume that I have suffered from writer's exhaustion.

How does one combat writer's exhaustion? What tools exist in the toolbox that would aid us in writing even when it seems inconvenient? Obviously, I need as much help with this as anyone.

Let's break down what writer's exhaustion is, first. So, writer's exhaustion is strikingly similar to writer's block in that it acts as a sort of buffer keeping a writer from doing what he or she does. Where writer's exhaustion differs from writer's block (in my approximation) is that writer's exhaustion does not stem from a lack of ideas or material to pull from. Ideas may be constantly taunting you from behind the corners of your brain, some might beg you to be written down, but they remain off the page and uncomfortably crammed inside your cranium.

So, what do we do?

If I was forced to guess (and I am an excellent guesser), I would wager that the best method of conquering writer's exhaustion would be to A.) force yourself to sit down and write until the passion overtakes, and B.) proceed with part A and write about something that interests you whether or not what you are writing accomplishes the goal you have set for yourself about what you are writing.

In short, get the creative juices flowing onto a page or screen. It is important to note that these juices must flow onto the page. (Yes, I am aware of the bodily humor inherent in my metaphor.) The importance of getting ideas on paper cannot be stated enough. I find myself awake at night crafting scenes from a story I have in my mind, ever painstaking detail planned, every leaf of every fictitious tree imagined, yet; these ideas never see the light of day. They never reach paper. They never reach an audience. I take full responsibility for that. However, this all could be avoided by establishing the habits that not only combat writer's block and exhaustion, but make you a more fluent writer.

As I said, this is one of my greatest struggles as a writer. So, my method of overcoming writer's exhaustion may ring false with some of you. I welcome any insights you might offer, any tools that you believe would aid our collective toolbox. I know I would benefit from your help.

I love you. I will write to you tomorrow.

Next Week: Blog Poaching.