Three Cures for Writer's Block

Writer's block happens to the best of authors. Stephen King experienced it during The Stand, so don't feel like a fake or an idiot if you suffer from it; if you regularly write fiction, it's going to happen. If I feel a little stuck, here are some things I do:

Free write. That's right, just open up a blank document and start typing. You can type about anything you want; in fact, it's best to write about the first things that come to mind. Don't think about it, just keep those fingers flying. Soon enough, you'll find that you aren't a blank canvas, after all, and that you have good ideas.

Read a book. There is nothing in the world that gets my creative juices flowing like reading a good story. The language used by great authors is enough to get me fired up, but the stories themselves can also kick our imaginations into overdrive. Sometimes, when I'm short on ideas, I'll pick up a Glimmer Train or a Weird Tales and read a short story; it's amazing how inspiring they can be.

Watch a movie. Movies are just stories that you can see. Honestly, it doesn't matter which kind you watch, although I think that some of the deeper, more plot-oriented ones would work better than an action flick. Many movies stream on the Internet for free, so you don't even have to pay any extra to see one. Try it, you never know. I can guarantee that a good movie is more inspiring than wasting two hours on Facebook.