End Writer's Block in Just 85 Words

An exercise through which I conquer writer's block.

Writer's Block. It hurts. Well, not literally, usually. But, it affects all of us.

My biggest complaint with writer's block is the time it sucks out of my schedule. I have precious few moments to write. Writer's Block is like a tax on that.

So, in the interest of saving your time (and mine), here's an exercise I try often to break out of Writer's Block.

It produces short pieces - 85 words, to be exact, with a rhythm that reads a little like poetry. What I like best is that it forces me to be succinct, economical with words, and tell an entire story - beginning, middle, and end, in 85 words. No wordiness allowed.

Here's how it works:

The entire piece follows a simple equation; each line has a set number of words, usually the sum or the difference of the two lines preceding it. Here's how it breaks out:

First Line - One Word
Second Line - Two Words
Third Line - Three Words
Fourth Line - Five Words
Fifth Line - Eight Words
Sixth Line - 13 Words
Seventh Line - 21 Words
Eighth Line - 13 Words
Ninth Line - Eight Words
Tenth Line - Five Words
Eleventh Line - Three Words
Twelfth Line - Two Words
Thirteenth Line - One Word

It's not as complex as it sounds, really! Here's my example:

(1 Word) Writing.
(2 Words) Just her.
(3 Words) At her desk.
(5 Words) As the afternoon lazes by.
(8 Words) He presses her to hurry, from the parlor.
(13 Words) Pen in hand, she shuts out the world, one more word, or sentence.
(21 Words) "When is dinner?" "Where is my shirt?", They ask. 'Maybe I should touch up that nail' she thinks, pen in hand.
(13 Words) 'No', she resolves. The pen moves. Words flow, the paper fills, though haltingly.
(8 Words) A story emerges - of a woman, free, creative.
(5 Words) She writes books, lives fully.
(3 Words) No man downstairs
(2 Words) pulls her
(1 Word) away.

That's it. Each time I complete this exercise, I have a full 85-word story (or scene, at least) that, with a little editing, can be a good start for a much lengthier piece.

Good luck with your writing! I hope this helps you.