Writer's Relief's video: Writer s Relief Caf Q A Event: Virtual Connections Coping Strategies For Writers

At Writer’s Relief (www.writersrelief.com) we know these have been very strange times! And you may find that the new normal has chipped away at your writing time as you work from home or deal with your child’s remote learning schedule. Or being socially isolated may have left you feeling anxious and alone—and uninspired to write anything. Writing is definitely a solitary activity. You might think being alone all the time would be great for introverts, but even introverts eventually need to make contact with other people! So how do we reach out and connect with other writers? Online writing groups: meeting with other writers can help kick-start your inspiration, give you new insights into your work, and put you in touch with kindred souls. Many writing groups have temporarily moved online, and there are also writing groups that exist solely online: List Of Writing Groups By State Or Region: https://writersrelief.com/writing-groups-for-writers/ We also have an article with a list writing groups that exist completely online, so you can join from anywhere: Connect With Other Writers Through These Online Writing Groups: https://writersrelief.com/2020/06/17/connect-with-other-writers-through-these-online-writing-groups-writers-relief/ There’s also very active community of writers in our Facebook group, the Writer’s Relief Café: https://www.facebook.com/groups/writersreliefcafe/ Another way writers are being affected is that the stress of just trying to function in this new normal is wiping out any inspiration or desire to write. But there are ways to jump-start your creativity and get back to writing: Keep a journal! Journaling can help you get rid of negative thoughts and feelings by writing them down. Seeing your concerns written in front of you offers you some self-knowledge and can help you brainstorm ways to deal with what’s bothering you. You might even come up with some inspiration for your writing based on what you’re journaling. Go outside! Getting out in the fresh air is an excellent way to boost your energy and attitude. Observing the outside world boosts your creativity because it engages your attention. And when you feel calm and less anxious, it’s easier to focus on your writing. Stop Doom Scrolling! Doom scrolling is when you continue to surf your news apps or scroll through your social media feed to read bad news, even though that news makes you feel sad, upset, or depressed. Limit the amount of time you’re on social media or checking your news feed to once or twice a day. Try writing prompts and freewriting! Writing prompts are a great way to overcome writer’s block. Writing prompts are posted weekly in our Facebook group, Writer’s Relief Café. And you can also find some on our blog. We have prompts based on images for each season, and even 125 just for poetry! Freewriting is also a good way to reenergize your writing skills. In this stream of consciousness technique, you set a timer for 5 or ten minutes, and you just write whatever comes into your head—you don’t stop writing for the entire time. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation. Some of it might be useless, but a word or phrase might stand out and inspire an idea worth pursuing: Free Your Mind: Make the Most of Freewriting https://writersrelief.com/2015/08/19/freewriting-tips/ Be Kind to Yourself! Too much anxiety isn’t healthy and will interfere with what can actually make you feel better—writing! You’re probably already doing your best under the current stressful conditions, so give yourself a pat on the back! Remember to use positive, encouraging words when possible with yourself and others. Meditation is also helpful for getting your head in a better place. That’s just one of the practical tips we suggest in our article: 7 Non-Writing Activities That Boost A Writer’s Creativity https://writersrelief.com/2020/05/28/7-non-writing-activities-that-boost-a-writers-creativity-writers-relief/ . Visit the Writer’s Relief website for many free writer resources. Writer’s Relief helps writers of short stories, poems, and personal essays submit to literary magazines. Writer’s Relief also helps novelists, memoirists, and other book authors submit to literary agencies for representation. Submit to our Review Board http://writersrelief.com/review_board/ . We also help writers self-publish their books. Self-Publishing Relief can help guide you from completed manuscript to finished book. Self-Publishing Relief also offers marketing support for writers. Learn more here: http://selfpublishingrelief.com/ Call Writer's Relief today! (866) 405-3003 (toll-free)