Ever had one of those days? You know, you sit there, staring at the screen, fingers on the keyboard, and…
It’s. Just. Not. Happening.
Yeah, you have. All writers hit those days from time to time. I’ve learned, when that happens to me, that the best thing I can do is take a break. Now, I realize we can’t always just shut off the computer and walk away for awhile, so how about the next best thing? How about taking an online break?
Of course, I have a number of things to suggest, but first, I want to hear from you. What have you found online as a break when you need it? It can be writing focused or not. Just share with us the best way you’ve found to step away, focus on something else, and get your creative juices flowing again.
And though I’m saving my full list for next week, I’ll get us started with one suggestion:
Storybird (click here). If you haven’t discovered this wonderful site, go there now! Okay, I take that back. First, share your preferred online break, and THEN go there. You’ll love it.
Is Your Writing Controlled by Fate?
As cheesy as it sounds, the Word of God is great place for a break.
Moving my writing space (if at least temporarily) helps me as well.
I also love reading what others have written. Careful not to plagerizes, but allowing something they said to plant something new in me.
Writing something simple like a well known story, or a description of my surroundings.
That’s my online break ideas.
Hope they help!
My number one online break is to go surf Amazon and see if I can resist not buying a new book. 🙂
…..sigh……I’ve never done that.
But now I feel this overwhelming temptation to do exactly this.
Thanks, Jon. What did I ever do to YOU?
🙂
Crosswalk.com and browse the articles.
Or, step away from the computer and read a good book.
But I also find it helpful to have multiple writing projects going at once. If the words aren’t flowing on the novel I’ll go do some editing and polishing on the nonfiction manuscript or write a blog post.
My online breaks both involve my Roman history site. I run both my Christian blog website and my Roman site with WordPress. My quick break is checking to see if any international visitors have come to the Roman site, which pages they visited, and whether anybody clicked thru to my Amazon sales page. Looking at the American visitors’ page choices is fun, too. People buy less than half the time, but I still get a thrill when I see a click-thru.
The break that takes more time is looking for European museums with Roman-era exhibits or paintings of Roman scenes. I love it when I find one that allows the use of its images as either public domain or Creative Commons that allows commercial use. Because you can click to Amazon and buy my book, my Roman site is considered “commercial” for using images.
Actually, any blog or website that advertises an author’s books where you can click to a sales page is considered commercial, and many images are only free for non-commercial use.
I e-mail writer friends or visit discussion blogs on writing (like now). Thank you for suggesting ways to step away.
I research areas of my writing that I feel I need to work on or read a book. To be honest, my most beneficial breaks are taking a shower, playing with my kids, watching a movie with ny husband, or cleaning. Basically getting away from the computer.
Since I write book reviews on my blog, I also check out other bloggers.
HI Karen:
I take an online break by listening to a Pentatonix Christmas song…..or an episode of Flip or Flop…..
Best,
Sheri
I like to visit the Upper Room for a good devotional or I will take my tablet to the treadmill and watch a cooking show while I get in a quick walk.
Do something where I can’t get to paper, pen or device. Driving and showering always seem to give me new ideas, thus causing me to rock back and forth and repeat them seven times like a whacko so I don’t forget.