Book Review: The Writer's Block

There's no doubt writer's block is real, even if it is elusive and difficult to talk about, even if it stems from a deeply psychological place, as most of the books I've found about the treatment of writer's block suggest.   Since writer's block has been on my mind this week, I've been looking for books that might prove helpful in overcoming the affliction. I've mostly found, as I just mentioned, psychology books, but I did come across this book called The Writer's Block which is actually a little block, a possibly handy 3x3x3 inch cube of thoughts and prompts for someone who feels stuck.  Here's a sampling of some of the prompts the author, an editor by the name of Jason Rekulak, thinks will be helpful for you.

• Describe the worst time you've ever put your foot in your mouth. 
• Describe your most embarrassing on-the-job experience.
• More than 25,000 Americans seek help every year for compulsive gambling. Write about one of them. 
• Write about the most important meeting or even that you've ever been late to. 
• Write about the worst driving you've ever done.
• Flip to any three photographs in this book at random. Write a story that incorporates all of them. 
• Chronicle the longest amount of time you've ever gone without sleeping.

Rekulak also disperses short author biographies, quotes and suggestions throughout the book that basically amount to the three points that Haley made yesterday: relax, don't stop writing, and introduce something new to your life.  

It's a nice little book.  Granted, if your writer's block does stem from a deeper psychological issue, this 3x3x3inch cube will probably not get to the heart of the matter and provide a cure, but if you're stuck or just need something to prime the pump and get the thoughts flowing, The Writer's Block could be a helpful start.

Images thanks to dolmansaxlil on Flickr.com