Tip for Writer's Block

Writers: here's one of many ways to tackle writer's block: Sit down with a notebook and list every single person you can think of from your past. Start with your parents, siblings, relatives, move on to teachers, friends, fellow students in elementary school, then middle school, then high school, counselors, doctors, neighbors, grocery clerks, your mailman, the guy in the funny-looking hat who always stood near the entry to the drugstore and you didn't know his name but you remember what he looked like, etc. etc. I can guarantee that before you get very far in your list, you will have a strong memory about someone you'd forgotten about, and that memory will spark the beginning of a poem, short story, memoir, essay, or novel - whatever your preferred form. This is not my original idea - I read it recently and can't remember to whom credit is due, but it's a wonderful idea!!!