Word Count Boosting, Writer's Block Blasting

If you're a writer then you surely know what writer's block feels like. It's suffocating, debilitating and frustrating as hell. It can stop even the best story in its tracks. When I participate in NaNoWriMo I typically experience this around the 20,000 word mark. This takes place partway through the second week and 1,667 words a day suddenly feels insurmountable.

Here are a few ways I break down the walls of writer's block:

1. Follow NaNoWriMo's word sprints on Twitter. There are challenges and, when you only have to commit to 10, 15 or 30 minutes at a time, it is much easier to pound out some words and report back to the team member who's tweeting. They typically provide sprints all day and night during NaNo since writers participate from all over the world.

2.Select writing prompts. NaNo provides tons of prompts as do members of local and regional NaNo writing communities. I also seek writing prompts from places like Figment. I can usually use the prompt or part of the prompt to eek out a scene or chapter that fits with the plot of my story. Even prompts for poems and short stories can help develop bits and pieces of your novel.

3. Use Sex Scenes. This works especially well when I have to find a lot of words for my daily writing during NaNoWriMo. It may sound unconventional, and it's not for everyone...but it works surprisingly well to get out of a writing funk. They are easier to write than you think...even though I find them awkward to read later. I generally go back and remove a lot of these scenes after the fact but they get my story moving again when nothing else works. This is an especially good method when writing in November, but if you're working on a novel you intend to sellC make sure the scene is appropriate for the genre and general plot of your book. These scenes are great because you're forced to use description and create potential conflict between two characters in your story. They can also just be really fun to write, especially if a romance scene is completely ridiculous at that moment in your story.

What are your tested and true ways to bust out of a writer's funk or increase your word counts for daily writing goals?