Everyone has the ability to be creative. Our brain is equipped with creative imagery that allows us to produce great art. Writers have the ability to translate their creativity into the written word. The trouble is when writer’s block gets in the way and things inside a writer’s head become murky. Many writers, however, don’t believe in writers' block. They believe that it’s all a matter of mental conditioning. This is good news because it’s something that other writers can condition themselves into doing. If you find yourself stuck at staring at a blank piece of paper or screen, here are some helpful reminders to unblock your creative juices.

1) Branch out possible angles to end a scene when you are stuck. Have you ever had that feeling that you write a scene and it doesn’t work? Listen to your gut and see if you can find a different angle to make the scene more engaging. Sometimes, laziness gets in the way and we settle for what we think is convenient rather than going the extra mile to explore further. If you resort to a deus ex machina technique, you should have a very good reason for doing so. Otherwise, your story will fall flat. Remember that you should never make it easy for your protagonist to solve problems? Try working on that idea for starters. This will allow you to come up with other more convincing angles.

2) Consider a different point of view. You don’t occupy the creative high ground when it comes to perspective. A writer, to better explore his subject, must be willing to get out of his comfort zone and see things from the point of view of others. Other POVs can give you a fresh perspective and you’ll be surprised at startling revelations you’ll discover. In the Nicolas Cage film Snake Eyes, director Brian De Palma effectively delivers a film through different character POVs using long tracking shots and split screens in order to trace the roots of a murder conspiracy. The plot would have never worked if it focused solely on the POV of Nicolas Cage’s character. In the same manner, think of how you would approach a situation in your story by getting into the shoes of your character. For example, how would a homeless man react to riding a limo? How would a beauty queen react to losing an international beauty pageant? You can even think of two people in a situation made complicated by their contrasting values. Think of a sheriff and an outlaw in a gun duel.

3) Relax and avoid shifting moods. You keep yourself either in a positive or neutral mood. If you say that negative emotions are part of the creative process, that’s fine. Our emotions contribute to our creative process. The point is if you keep shifting from a positive to a negative mood in your writing process, it has a tendency to override your judgment. To avoid shifting from one mood to another, consider your character’s temperament. Stick to your character’s mood to keep you in the zone. Think of it as “method writing.” You don’t have to be an actor to employ the Method.