Writers Block: Throw the pen away

If you are having trouble starting a project - and lets face it, sometimes we all struggle when faced with that very large, empty blank sheet of paper - so put down your pen - that's right, put down the pen and pick up a nice big fat pencil.

Pen and therefore ink has a sense of permanency associated with it. Whereas pencil can be erased. You can doodle, you can make nice big arrows and link bits and pieces together. Your mind has been set free from the bounds of ink and permanency and I have found I am able to get started much more quickly because I know that if I stuff up I can screw up the piece of paper and start all over again.

As adults we have forgotten the art of being able to fail. We feel failure is not an option so we cling tightly to the pen in the vain hope the blood, sweat and tears will get us over the line. So throw the pen away and give yourself permission to "fail", doodle, draw, scribble and generally have a good time. By the time your mind has gotten over the shock you can be well on your way to having completed a major part of whatever written task you had set for yourself.

Oh and if you really want to get creative, get some coloured pencils and really go to town.