UNBLOCK!

Unleash your creativity and start writing with no inspiration.

Copyright ©2017 SMART MEGWAI.

All rights reserved.

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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to people like you, Angela Komolafe, and the million
writers who struggle daily on their “writing desks”, trying to fight that demon
called the writer's block. I wrote this book to help you crush it by tapping into
your creative energy.
I know your struggle. I feel the pain and daily frustration of you trying to write
and develop content to creatively express yourself.

You see others bare their thoughts on Facebook and Twitter. You read their blog
posts, success stories, articles, and you're passionate about creating your own
eBooks, books, blog, journals, etc.

But you struggle with this issue faced by every writer, and want to feel
UNBLOCK.

You want to be free from your limiting beliefs and negative thoughts patterns
about writing. You want to express your thoughts creatively and hone your skills
as a writer.

There is a message inside of you and you're scared, “If I don't start sharing it or
blogging about it, I won't get the satisfaction I want out of life. My whole life
will have no meaning, and my heart will keep pointing to that all important part
of me – ‘my voice’.

You want to write. That’s the reason you want this book.

Go ahead. Turn the pages.

This book will help you burst through your fears so you can start writing
immediately.
 ANGELA’S STORY
When I started writing, I wasn’t consistent. I wrote only when I had inspiration.

Later I started to take my writing seriously. I discovered, to be a good writer, I

have to write more often.

This implies writing whether or not I feel inspired. But somehow, I began to
experience the writer's block.

Unlike when I write, and words flow effortless, I didn’t have that ‘magic’ going
on for me. I struggled to aptly express myself.

Sometimes, when I want to write, I won't know what to write about. Other
times, I'll have the idea, but struggle with how to put it into writing.

There are also times when I'll get stuck in the process, not knowing how to
continue.

When any of these happen, I just quit. I'll stop writing for that moment, and
begin to wait until ‘anointing’ falls on me, then my creative juices starts to flow
again.

As a result, I wasn’t able to accomplish my writing goal. I knew this would not
help me become better at writing.

So, I decided to learn from others who had mastered the craft. I started
following some writers through their blogs and social media platforms, and
learning from them.

I discovered some of them had Facebook groups dedicated to helping writers,

and I joined the groups. One of them is The Productive Writer's Club by Smart
Megwai.

I joined the group at the right time because he was about to begin a series he
titled, “UNBLOCK! 7 days to your breakthrough writing.” It was a 7 days series
where he taught the practical tips to overcoming the writer's block.
What I loved most about the series was that, at the end of each day, he gave us -
members of the group - exercises that helped draw from the creative part of our
beings. He also made sure to follow it up. He commended, corrected and
offered suggestions to everybody that attempted the exercise.

I attempted all the exercises, and I can say that they were really helpful.

The series helped me overcome the writer's block. I learnt different creative
writing techniques which I never knew existed. I also learnt how to easily come
up with ideas on different topics which I can write on. Not only that, I learnt
how to aptly articulate any idea I generate into a great writing piece.

Now, I write regularly and with ease. I also plan writing my first book soon.

With all that I learnt from the series, I can confidently say goodbye to the
writer's block. If I should get ‘stuck’ while writing, I know how to get back into
my flow.

Thanks to Mr. Smart Megwai, and to a leader with a large heart who is
interested in helping others rise. God bless you.

- Angela Komolafe.
 NOTE TO THE WRITER
Dear writer,

We have been blessed with the beautiful gift of self-awareness. It’s a great
quality of the human spirit that helps us find out who we are and what we are
capable of.

When you suddenly become aware, you understand. You’ve now become a
master of your circumstances.

Let me share a story I read from a book titled “The Power of Now” by Eckatt
Tolle.

A beggar had been sitting by the side of a road for over thirty years. One day a
stranger walked by.

“Spare some change?” mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old
baseball cap.

“I have nothing to give you,” said the stranger. Then he asked: “What’s that you
are sitting on?”

“Nothing,” replied the beggar. “Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as
long as I can remember.”

“Ever looked inside?” asked the stranger.

“No,” said the beggar. “What’s the point? There’s nothing in there.”

“Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger.

The beggar managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and
elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.

Tolle’s story is synonymous with the experience we had during those seven days
in the series mentioned by Angela’s in her story.
When I taught the series, we were just fifty-six members. Only about fifteen of
them participated in the exercises. Others read.

To those who read and didn’t participate, they were like the beggar who sat on
the box and didn’t know what was in it.

But out of the fifteen who practised, only few have a discovery.

It’s one thing to open the box. It’s another to discover the gold inside.

One of the people who didn’t show up to do the exercises, told me he had a
passion for writing but didn’t know what to write about.

After coaching him for two days, he had gotten clarity on what his topic was.
Then I asked him to write a 300-word article and post it on Facebook. He did,
and was happy with himself.

He tried to write the next day but couldn’t. He came back telling me, “I am
stuck. I don’t know what to write about.”

I replied, “Try any of the seventeen strategies I taught during the series.”

He left, came back, and said, “I tried but it’s not working. I’m still not able to
write.”

Then I knew he was not one of those who practised.

This book is a guide, and as such it contains exercises for you to practise. If you
just read, and don’t challenge yourself to do the exercises, it becomes ‘the box’
in Tolle’s story.

If you’re patient enough to practise, then it means you are about to discover
something about yourself as a writer.

However, when practising as attempt the when you use your

But apart from overcoming the writer’s block,

Thought the goal of this book is to guide you on how to write creatively so that
you tame the writer’s block, I also want you discover something about yourself

And that can only happen as you allow your allow gift of self-awareness
you will experience ‘Ahas’ in your writing.

you will notice ‘sparks’ as you carry out the exercises.

As I read the writings of Angela Komolafe, Ifeanyi Ogwuike, Peter Eromosele,

Abel Zani, Theresa Maume, Michael Alosho, Miracle Yahka, Ebiama Destiny,
Beddoes Bangura Jr., etc., I saw perspectives, ideas, insights and brilliance.

I laughed a lot as I read their sentences. I could see how they creatively
presented their ideas.

When Angela and a few others shared their success stories with me, I knew
they’ve discovered writer in them.

What are you noticing as you pen your thoughts in those sentences?

There were ‘sparks’, ‘lightbulb moments’ and moments of clarity.

If they had those experiences, you too can.

As you read this book, and most especially, as you practise the exercises, I want
you to be present. Be in the now!

You need this skill to become a legendary writer.

- Smart Megwai
 PROLOGUE
Let’s face it. Writers write. That's what we do. However, this is not the same for
most writers, especially beginners.

I assume you're a writer, and that's why you are reading this book. But do you
write consistently? Do you publish books, articles that convert into money? Do
you attract readers with your blog posts or content on social media?

Or do you procrastinate, balk at the required tasks that go with getting

published? Have started writing projects but didn’t finish them?

Lastly, do you allow the writer's block to get in the way of achieving your goals
as a writer?

I hear a lot of people talk about writing a book, starting a blog, posting on social
media for others to read and be inspired. These people don't get around taking
action on their desires.

Real writers, successful writers, write. They are who I call “The Productive
Writers”.

Some writers were once asked at an event, “What's your greatest fear to writing
and publishing a book?”

Many had issues with clarity, confidence, time, audience, procrastination, or

how to outline a book.

Only few mentioned challenges like lack of creativity or inspiration while

writing, inability to generate book ideas, or even the so called “writer's block”. I
asked myself, “Why?”

It's almost like no one wants to talk about being block (in the head) while trying
to produce content. People attribute this issue to needing a therapist.

I remember when I was writing my first book. I wanted to write a book that
would teach the essentials of achieving a worthwhile vision.
To you that would seem like clarity for the book, but as I wrote the introductory
part, I started to experience some internal resistance.

I was clear what the book was about but had a problem expressing myself.

I read an article on how to write an introductory part of a book, and in it the

author wrote, “The Introduction shouldn't necessarily be written before the other
chapters.”

I took the ‘advice’, left the introduction and moved on to write the first chapter.
There still wasn't progress.

I jumped into the second chapter, scribbled a few words, and by this time I was
more frustrated.

In the process I read Karen E. Peterson’s book, “Write: 10 days to overcome

writer's block. Period”!

It was then I knew I hadn't developed competency as a writer. I assumed that

once I had the idea in mind and a desire to write a book, that the scripts would
flow naturally.

I read Karen’s book and took a course on creative writing; and in less than three
months of consistent practice I wrote the first draft of START THAT DREAM
& SUCCEED AT IT.

Are you one of those struggling writers who open up your Notepad, Evernote,
MS Word; and keep staring at the blank screen?

Sometimes you feel you should be writing but instead of sitting down to write,
you pretend to be busy, doing mundane activities like browsing Facebook or
Twitter, checking emails, reading when you ought to be writing, jumping from
this link to that.

Does writing seem like an overwhelming task for you?

After reading this book, you will get your creative juices flowing. You will
throw away all your excuses for not writing. (Well, except your hands got
removed. Lol. Just kidding).

You will stop believing the following lies;

“I'm not in my writing mood today.”

“I don't feel inspired right now.”

“I was not in my zone last week.”

“Ideas are not flowing into my head.”

You will write whether you feel inspired or not. You will no longer have to wait
till you get into flow before you start writing.

Instead you will create flow inside your room, office, the library, coffee shop,
outside the woods, beside the pool, or anywhere you feel like going to write.

You will achieve this once you're able to complete all the exercises inside this
book.

I shared in the first chapter, how to participate in the 7-day Creative Writing
Challenge and turn in your exercise so I can evaluate your progress and offer
support.

It’s only by doing these activities that you'll create the habit of writing every day
and grow into becoming a BADASS WRITER.

Like I’ve said before, I share these exercises with fifteen of my online
community members, and it worked. Some of them have shared their success
stories inside this book. So I’m confident they will work for you.

After I wrote my first book, I went ahead to produce this one in eight days. I
have shared consistently with the group I’m leading on Facebook.

I have also written contents for other bloggers and contributed to writing
projects for businesses. My blog - smartmegwai.com - had to undergo a
rebranding process, and so I don't write there presently.

And I did all of this while keeping a 9 to 5 job (Though I hope to resign
someday).

At the end of this book and after participating in the challenges, you will write,
whether or not you’re in the zone. Your fears will be long gone, and you’d have
written a story that you can go ahead and publish.

Ready?
 SETTING THE STAGE
First of all, you're a creator. If you're a Christian, I don't need to prove this to
you. But that's not the angle I'm coming from.

You are a creator because of the organ inside your head. Some people like to
call the brain a goal-seeking organ. I like to consider it to be more than that.

Your brain is the organ for creative expression, especially as a writer. It is where
our creative juices originate.

I have always consider myself a creative person. But I never tapped into the
creative energy of my brain.

I remember when I started using canva.com to produce graphics with texts to

share my message.

I would create and share these graphics on my Facebook timeline, display them
on my BlackBerry messenger and Whatsapp status. People would like them on
Facebook but won’t comment.

As a writer, soliciting feedback is good for you to improve your writing. It’s the
reason authors ask those who have purchased and read their books to write
reviews for them on Amazon, Scribd, Barnes and Nobbles, etc.

So one day, for the first time, after updating my BBM status with a particular
graphic design, a very phenomenal guy - John Obidi, founder of SmartBCamp
Academy - sent me a message saying, “You've got creatives.”

As Nigeria’s thought leader in the Social Media space, John rarely had the time
to read chat messages, except when it’s very necessary. But when I read his
opinion about my work, I had an ecstatic feeling backed with confidence in my
creative ability.

All through this book I will be cheering you on. I will also challenge you to
think creatively and bring out the “juice” in you.
Our goal as writers is to tap into our creative energies, and bring forth
something new, fresh, novel, and that has the label “creative” on it.

I don't know how long, but I struggled with the myth that creativity is about
creating something out of nothing.

In science, we were taught that new discoveries, inventions, scientific

breakthroughs, were products of geniuses.

And so this notion, that a genius is someone with exceptional abilities and a
Nobel price winner, made us think that “a creative endeavour is supposed to
exist without the effort of someone else.”

Hence a flawed definition for the word, “creativity”.

To creatively express yourself in writing requires you to be authentic and

contribute your unique ideas or perspectives.

But those ideas/perspectives come from your experience with the world in
which you are a part of.

Hear this, “An idea or product that deserves the label ‘creative’ arise from the
synergy of many sources and not only from the mind of a single person.” Quote
by MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI (Author of Creativity: Flow and the
psychology of discovery and invention)

What is Creative Writing?

It is the writer's ability to generate or recognise ideas, alternatives, or

possibilities that may be useful in communicating with others.

Creativity does not necessarily mean you have to create something out of
nothing.

In fact, you can come up with fresh ideas by combining, changing or reapplying
existing ideas. I have seen professional writers do this several times.

You are a writer. Most of your work is done in solitude, and so you imagine
yourself to be the hero. The sudden magician with the “literary piece” that will
set people's soul on fire.
You want your poem, article, blog post, or book to do what no man can do.
“Ogbeni” relax! (Translation: “Calm down Mister.”) Stay connected to
humanity.

You need to learn creative collaboration skills so that you don't “get lost in the
blues”.

You hit the writer's block every time with this attitude.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
Below are different perspectives by authors who wrote on “Creativity”. I want
you to look at each of them, and try to come up with at least 2 definitions of
your own.

1. Creativity does not happen inside people’s heads, but in the interaction
between a person’s thoughts and a sociocultural context. - MIHALY
CSIKSZENTMIHALYI

2. Creativity is not magic, it’s a skill. - CHIP HEATH

3. It turns out that creativity isn’t some rare gift to be enjoyed by the lucky
few—it’s a natural part of human thinking and behaviour. In too many of us it
gets blocked. But it can be unblocked. - DAVID KELLY

4. Ideas aren't cheap. They are free. Creativity is an endless renewable

resource, and we can tap into it at any time. Without creativity we are not just
condemned to a life of repetition, but to a life that slips backward. - TINA
SEELIG

I’ll like to add two more definitions from Angela Komolafe and Miracle Yahka
who also participated in this challenge.

Angela said,
1. Creativity is not exclusively reserved for some selected lucky few. Everybody
is creative. We all have the innate ability/potential for creativity. But this doesn't
mean the expression of our creative ability is automatic. It requires
intentionality and mastery to allow that creativity to shine.

2. Creativity is doing something that has been done before in a new way.
3. Creativity comes by exposure - exposing yourself to different situations to get
new ideas and then marrying those ideas with your personal experiences to
birth something different.

Miracle defined creativity by saying,

1. The well of creativity comes naturally with our bowels of thoughts
positioned by our social interactions and calibrated by our cultures.

2. People that freely fetch from creativity are not magical but their skill is
honed with frequent exercise through which their tree of ideas are watered.

Now it’s your turn.

What does it mean to be creative? How do you describe an article, a blog post, a
poem, as a creative endeavour?

I have created a private Facebook community where you can post your answers
as comments.

Join here 7-day Creative Writing Challenge or copy and paste

http://bit.ly/7daycreativewriting into your browser.

By writing posts with different hash tags, I’ve made it easy to locate the areas in
the group where you can submit the exercises for every chapter in the book.

For this chapter, you can search (or scroll down) for #7daysCWC1. Read the
short post, and submit as comment.

I will be there to work with you. See you in the group.

 POSSIBILE OUTCOMES
Now that you have an understanding of what it means to be creative, let’s talk
about the different tools and techniques that you can apply to your writing.

By learning and applying creative writing techniques you become a better

writer, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction.

It’s easy for you to switch into these methods whenever possible and add some
spice to your article, blog post or book content, without being limited in
anyway. And the more you use them, the more you see your writing skills
improve.

The creative technique in this chapter is about the use of possible outcomes.

As a writer, your ability to craft words meaningfully for the reader's pleasure is
a skill that must be developed.

This writing technique has to do with the writer's imagination. It helps the writer
to use the mind to explore ideas, generate possibilities and to have many right
answers or options, instead of just one.

With this tool you can express yourself creatively in writing by presenting a
particular topic, sentence or idea in different variations for the reader's pleasure.

The activity at the end of this topic will help stimulate your mind so you can
break out of a fixed mindset while creating content.

While applying this technique, you are at liberty to think of the object in the
sentence you’re trying to construct. You can express it in different ways without
you thinking logically, whether or not it is correct.

First of all, the right hemisphere of the brain is where our creative writing
originates from. Here, you are at liberty to write without paying attention to
spellings, grammatical errors, or the logical presentation of ideas.

All that work is done by the left side of the brain which likes to argue with you
whether or not your ideas are logical or you used the correct choice of words.
Switching between both sides while writing is a good strategy for keeping you
in a bad mood all through the writing session.

As a word of advice; “All through the time that you’re writing, make sure you
silent your left brain from suggesting thoughts to you.

Hibernate it, till you’re ready to re-write or publish your book, article, or blog
post.”

So in practicing today’s technique, I want you engage the right side of your
brain.

For example, when you consider the possible uses of Whatsapp on your
smartphone, it can help you;

1. Communicate with your friends and families.

2. Transact businesses by uploading your products or services as display

pictures for people to see and buy from you.

3. Create an awareness in the minds of prospects who need those products

and services.

4. Market those products by sending broadcast messages.

5. Set up an online environment where you can teach people what your
product can do for them.

6. Reduce the cost of recharging your phone to make calls.

7. Join quality groups where you network with individuals who share
similar interests with you.

8. Build a relationship with someone that can help you with an idea for a
project that you’re working on.
 9. Create a list (just like an email list), and write articles, poems, reports,
etc., for others to read and provide feedback.

10. Write a book. You can decide to create an outline, take each subtitle and
then send broadcasts to your list. You write and broadcast for 30 days
until your manuscript is ready. You can also get feedback for additions or
corrections to your book, from those who read your broadcasts.

Even though these are 10 possible uses of Whatsapp on your smartphone, do

you do 90% of these things?

Now let’s apply this technique in writing.

The sentence, "This is my dream book", can be written in more than 1000 ways.
Let me share 10.

1. This book is all I've ever dreamed of.

2. My dream book has finally arrived.

3. When it comes to books, this one beats my imagination.

4. I'd never have wished for any book, except this one.

5. Books! Oh, the world of Literature! This one fascinates me the most.

6. Finally, I have my dream book.

7. I've finally found the book of my dreams.

8. What else could I have asked for, but this book which I have ever
dreamed of!

9. Is this the book of my dreams?

10. In five words, I'd say, "This is my dream book."

So do you see how a 5-word sentence can be written in ten ways.

Possibility thinking is a problem solving technique that helps you (with the use
of your imagination) explore ideas, generate possibilities and to have many right
answers instead of just one.

In business, it is referred to as "Divergent Thinking".

When next you start writing and you get to that point where words fail you to
express an idea, look for possible ways to write it.

Avoid being narrow-minded and think creatively. Don’t forget to suspend

judgement.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
Write 10 different sentences for "This is the book of my dreams." Do this in 10
minutes.

Look for the hash tag #7daysCWC2. Read the short post, then submit your
exercise in the comment section.

Again, the link is 7-day Creative Writing Challenge or you copy and paste
http://bit.ly/7daycreativewriting into your browser.
 SCENARIOS
Before I talk about the second writing technique, I want to first of all celebrate
you for taking the time to do the first and second exercise. I do hope you’re
paying attention as you practise so you develop insight into your writing style.

When I asked Angela how she felt after coming up with ten different ways to
write, “This is my dream book." (actually she wrote fifteen), she said,

“I observed that initially I found it difficult to come up with those ideas. But I
didn't give up. I went back to look at your examples and asked myself how I can
write each word in different ways. And I tried. It was a struggle at the
beginning, but AT A POINT, the ideas began to flow and I wasn't even looking
at your examples again. I just kept on writing until I crossed the limit you gave.
Thanks for this challenge. I will keep on practicing it.”

I think that was a moment of clarity for her. I didn’t inform her of what the
experience would look like when she started. But she was able to break through
into that point where the ideas started to flow, and then she felt unstoppable.

So I ask you, “Did you find your ‘Aha!’ as you wrote those ten new sentences.”

Remember the story I shared at the beginning of this book. Just like insight,
creativity is something that is hidden inside the box. You’ll need to open it so
that you find the treasure locked within.

So I do hope you are carrying out the exercises, and not just reading to get
information.

This chapter is about “forecasting the future” in your writing, by creating

scenarios.

Scenarios are imaginative pictures of potential futures. It is used by writers (and

also speakers), to serve as a means to an end.

In the business world, scenario planners help company leaders to see past their
own blind spots. They use futuristic thinking to help CEOs solve problems by
creating and applying scenarios.
I read in a book that, “Futuristic thinking is especially important for innovators
and entrepreneurs.” But I'll like to add writers (or writerpreneurs) to that
author’s statement.

As a writer, you can create scenarios and apply them to create contents for your
book, blog post, articles, Facebook posts, etc., to help your audience understand
new concepts and also to enjoy your writing.

Scenarios, when used correctly, can create “curiosity moments” in the mind of
readers. They make your writing more interesting and create surprising
possibilities.

It is mostly used by fiction writers. However, due to invention of creative

storytelling skills, non-fiction authors can apply this technique as well.

To buttress my point, let me give an example.

In education, there's a part in the educator’s lesson plan called the Introduction.
This helps to create an awareness in the mind of students about a new concept
or topic to be taught.

So let's say I want to teach “Simple Machines” to a primary school pupil in

Basic 5. Because this is a new concept and can sound bizarre when I start
ranting in theory, I can take him into the future or his imagination.

I can go ahead and create a scenario (in his mind) by inviting him (emotionally)
into his 8th birthday.

He's standing in front of his birthday cake and a knife is there waiting to cut the
cake.

He holds the plastic handle where the EFFORT will be applied. There are three
little star-screws that holds or fastens the sharp metal end to this handle. This is
where the FULCRUM is located. The cake represents the LOAD to be
overcome.

The moment he cuts the cake, he has used a simple machine to do work (that is,
overcome a load by applying effort on the machine).

Before I begin sharing the content inside my lesson note, the child already has a
definition for a machine and can explain it to his classmate who was not in the
class.
Make sense? I hope so.

This method is called Scenario Planning in Business Strategy. It is slightly

different from storytelling. As a writer, you can apply it by doing two things;

1. Envision alternative scenarios, and

2. Create a plan for applying them in your book, blog posts, articles, etc.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
Do a scenario planning to teach your friend a topic in your field or area of
expertise.

Write the topic name and develop a content for it. Make sure you use bold
letters for areas in your writing where you used scenario.

Your article should be 200 words or less.

For example, I can decide to use an event in the life of Mark Zuckerberg to
teach my employer, how to structure and schedule recovery time into his daily
routine.

Yeah! You guess right. I love to talk about productivity.

So pick your topic. Create your scenario(s). Write. Best of luck.

Don’t forget to post your answers in the group.

The hash tag for this chapter is #7daysCWC3. Read the short post, and then
submit your exercise.

The link is 7-day Creative Writing Challenge, or you can copy and paste
http://bit.ly/7daycreativewriting into your browser.
 REVERSALS
Reversal or reverse thinking method is good for improving the quality of your
writing. It forces you to think in a way that you normally would not, because of
routine.

It is another way of looking at your writing whenever you feel stuck and can't
seem to make progress.

Have you ever done a Facebook post, and people neither like nor share it? This
used to happen to me in the past.

I would look at the content a friend or colleague posted that had more likes and
comments, and wondered, “What am I not doing right?”

The painful part was that, what this person shared, to me, look like a mundane
topic, yet people liked and commented.

So one day, I decided to reverse things a little.

I asked, “How can I increase the number of likes and make readers click the
“Share” button after reading my post?”

Then I took that question and turned it around this way - “How can I decrease
engagements or stop my readers from liking, sharing and commenting whenever
I post?”

Immediately, ideas started to pop into my head.

1. By sharing topics they are not interested in.
2. By sharing something that they don’t need.
3. By showing that I know what I’m saying, and not concerned whether
or not the principles or strategies help improve their career or
business.
4. By posting once in a while, or whenever it catches my fancy.
5. By presenting boring facts without sharing real life examples.
 6. By always focusing on educating people and forgetting that Facebook
is a social platform.
7. By not telling stories that connect them with reality.
8. By using derogatory words which pull them away from what I’m
trying to say.

As I wrote down my answers, I discovered there were certain truths I knew

about audience engagement on Facebook, but wasn’t practising. I also noticed I
wasn’t intentional when sharing my posts, and so I wasn’t connecting with
people.

As I looked at these reverse solutions and started making corrections, things

changed, and I saw results.

Reverse thinking is a good technique for creative problem solving. It helps you
come up with new ideas by taking a premise as it is and ‘turning it around' -
inside out, backwards or upside down.

It involves asking the opposite of the question at hand, taking those results and
reversing them so that they suit the original problem you’re trying to solve.

With this kind of thinking, you can look at a writing situation, reverse it in
several ways so as to draw out even more creative write-ups. The idea is to
write in the exact opposite way by rearranging the words to look differently, but
not out of context.

Consider the sentence following sentence;

"A writer writing his dream book."

Again, I came up with 10 different ways of writing this same sentence, without
losing the real emphasis, i.e. writing.

1. A book writing the writer.

2. A writer writing several books.
3. The writer writing in a dream book.
4. The writer writing the writer.
5. The writer writing books.
 6. The writer writing a book.
7. The writer writing dreams.
8. The book the writer is writing.
9. A writer writing his book.
10. A writer writing a book on dreams.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
1. Write at least 10 reverse statements for this situation:
"Patience selling drugs to customers."

2. Choose one reversal, and describe what happened in that new situation (in
not less than 100 words).

NOTE: If after coming up with 4/5 sentences, and you get stuck, walk away
for five minutes. Now come back. Take 3 deep breaths, and complete the
exercise.

Feel free to play around with the words in the sentence, but stay within the
context with which it was written.

Search for hash tag #7daysCWC4. Read the short post, and then submit the
exercise.

The link to the group is 7-day Creative Writing Challenge, or you copy and
paste http://bit.ly/7daycreativewriting into your browser.
 BUGS
I get disturbed by a lot of things in life generally. However, what frustrates me
the most is when an individual doesn't show self-mastery, at even the smallest
issue.

For example, when I want to collect money from an ATM machine and see a
young man in front of it, wasting precious time. Men!, I can be a lion waiting to
attack a prey.

It bothers me (or should I say, ‘bugs’ me) whenever a person can't tap into his
strengths or unique abilities to create the life he desires.

Whenever I write, I’m always focused on helping others maximise their

potentials, and to develop self-mastery.

No matter what I do in life, I'm always drawn (in one way or the other) towards
fulfilling this mission.

It's the same for us writers. We feel disturbed by issues, problems, ‘bugs’. We
feel perturbed when matters linger on, or they are not properly solved; and want
to proffer solutions through our writing.

They can be general issues, or those found within a specific context.

Another example is in the area of writing. I feel irritated when lazy and selfish
writers in this digital age, copy and paste the ideas of others.

That is why, at the beginning, I started by saying, "You are a creator." And so
far, I hope you’ve been able to appreciate that as you interacted with the
previous exercises in this book.

So what disturbs you as a writer? What's in your bug list?

“Buglisting” is a creative method for identifying interesting and promising

problems.

If done properly, your bug list should spark ideas for contents you can create.
This should be a great place to start for any beginner who has a problem
defining his/her topic.

For example, I've seen writers talk about;

1. People who spend 2-3 minutes trying to collect money from an ATM
machine.

2. The annoying queue they find whenever they get to a BRT bus station in
Lagos (part of Nigeria).

3. How senseless others have become, by sharing photos of themselves and

their boyfriends kissing each other on Facebook.

4. How critics attacked the general overseer of a particular church.

Criticising him for building universities that only accommodates the rich,
while other members are suffering, and yet they pay their tithes.

5. How two males can be in a sexual relationship that is leading to marriage.

I can go on and on. However, these are not written in my bug list.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
1. I want you to create a bug list. It should consist of all the problems you've
been trying to solve but are still on your mind. Spend 10 minutes doing
this activity, and write as much as you can.

2. Pick one bug in your list, and write about it - between 200 and 300 words.

The hash tag #7daysCWC5. Read the short post, and then submit the exercise.

If you’re yet to join community, do so here 7-day Creative Writing Challenge,

or you can copy and paste http://bit.ly/7daycreativewriting into your browser.
 EXCURSIONS
A group of specialists were seeking new ideas to modify missiles - weapons
used by their country’s navy soldiers.

They kept brainstorming, writing down their thoughts, until finally they got
stuck, and ideas were no longer flowing.

Then the leader came up with a suggestion. He asked the group to take an
imaginary excursion into a desert.

For 10 minutes, they imagined being in a desert and listed what they saw, the
sounds they heard, the sensations they felt.

One of them said he could see a rattlesnake. Another person added that this
particular snake could sense its prey was coming close by the heat it felt in the
environment.

Immediately, three people in the group had an epiphany (‘Aha!’ moment).

They asked, almost simultaneously, “Why don't we create a weapon (air

missile) that strikes the enemy's jet immediately it detects the heat emitted by
the plane?”

And that was it! They had gotten the right idea.

They went ahead to name the missile according to the dessert rattlesnake - the
Sidewinder missile.

By taking them on an imaginary excursion, the leader was able to help the
group establish a connection between seemingly unrelated subjects – air missile
and rattlesnake.

As writers, excursions are good. They are rich sources for inspiration, ideas and
solutions to issues you wish to write about.
Some writers might not have the opportunity other have, to visit the zoo, a
museum, watch a movie, attend a fashion show, tend a garden, travel to a far
country, etc.

So with the Internet and by taking an imaginary excursion inside your room,
you can write something that you can see, hear or feel while your mind is in the
location you choose.

You then create a connection between what you touched, saw or heard, and the
topic you want to write about. You do this by constructing analogies.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
In this exercise, you are going on an imaginary excursion. You will list the
things you associated with it - sight, sound, smell, touch. Do this for 10 minutes,
and make sure you're in a quiet and undisturbed place.

Think of a problem you are trying to solve. This might be in your bug list in last
chapter.

Think of a new experience you've just had, new place you've just been to, new
movie you've just seen, etc.

Play back those experiences, the movie play, the sights or sounds of that new
place you went to. Allow your imagination to roam.

Now write down all those stimuli - sight, sound, smell, and feeling that you got
from the brief excursion.

See if there are any connections to the problem you want to solve. Write an
article – 100 words or less - outlining steps to achieve this.

Share in the comment section. The hash tag is #7daysCWC6.

 PROVOCATIONS
Have you ever made a callous statement in public – an utterance that almost got
you into trouble or made people call you an unrealistic person?

Imagine you’re scrolling down your list of unread emails, and you saw, “Earn 3
million bucks doing this one thing.” I bet you’ll look at that subject line again,
and probably open the mail to find out what this ‘one thing’ is.

That’s the power in the use of provocations in writing.

Provocative statements have the power to enter into the brain and get your
audience hooked.

Some authors or bloggers may call it magnetic titles or attention – grabbing

headlines; the intent is usually to trigger specific emotions in the reader, then
make him read the blog post or buy a book.

When I use the word, ‘provocations’, I do not mean provoking someone to rage,
as in instigating a quarrel.

However, you’re at liberty to do that in your writing, as long as the fight is

within a person’s soul.

I’m talking about the ability to evoke emotions, such that they drive curiosity in
the minds of your audience or make them ask disturbing questions or take
certain action.

That’s the principle behind this technique – writing in a way that provoke
thoughts and emotions using deliberate statements.

Such short sentences either needs to be stupid or unrealistic, to ‘electrocute’ the

minds of your readers.

It needs to take them out of what’s currently in their minds to what they’ve just
read or heard.
Honestly, I’m still at the discovery stage when it comes to using this technique
in my writing.

I used to see other writers use it, but didn’t know the principle behind it.

Now I plan to test the following provocative sentences in my next book and
Facebook posts.

1. How To Make a Living Writing Books Without Quitting Your Job.

2. 7 Beliefs You Must Have Before New year Begins.
3. The Laziness Approach to Getting Superior Results.
4. Increase your productivity by 30% each week with just 5 habits.
5. 10 Best strategies for becoming an amazing success everyone wants to
meet.

Provocations are helpful in writing, not just headlines, but also sentences that
can be used as quotes.

But let me sound this warning. You are at the risk of applying provocations in
your writing; if you do not consider the following;

1. The consequences of your statement.

2. What the benefits are, and to make sure you provide them – all of them.
3. What special circumstances must be in place to make it suitable to apply
the statement.

TOPIC’S CHALLENGE
Write 5 provocative statements in any topic in your field.
If you’ve not discovered your area of interest, just pick one that you’re
passionate about, or I suggest you look at the bug list you created.
Write an article of 200 – 300 words for a blog or Facebook post.
Look for the hash tag #7daysCWC7. Read the short post, and then submit the
exercise in the comment section.
Again, the link is 7-day Creative Writing Challenge or you copy and paste
http://bit.ly/7daycreativewriting into your browser.
 EPILOGUE
7 chapters! 7 exercises!

Now I'll share 17 tricks I have used to tame the writer's block whenever it shows
its ugly face.

But before I list them, let me share this important truth with you.

A book, workshop or seminar really can't help you overcome the writer's block.
The only solution is to write, even if it means writing your name.

You are not going to wake up one day and find out it's totally gone.

Professional writers sometimes struggle with the enemy. I have my own way of
dealing with it. In fact, everyone does.

Unlike the introduction and six chapters of this book, it took me two days to
complete the last chapter – Provocations.

At the time, I was battling to stay focused on the project. I had a serious family
crisis that wanted to take away my peace.

There will be days when the words will flow from your fingertips, almost
without conscious thought.

Some days will be different. You will try to get started, but feel like quitting
along the way. You feel almost sick at the idea of writing.

The day this happens, know that this is normal. And according to Jeff Goins,
author of Art of Work, it is what you do with the writer’s block that really
matters.
That's why the techniques in this book are so important. Apply them in your
writing and watch your skills jump.

When you're trying to create content, and can't express your thoughts because of
the writer's block, try the following solutions;

1. Write. Writer’s block becomes a thing of the past when you write daily.

2. Focus your mind. Writing takes focus, energy and dedication.

3. Exercise your body. After sitting for hours, get up and walk round. Stand
if you can, and write. The idea is to oxygenate the brain.

4. Play. Practice a hobby, engage in sports or do something exciting.

According to neuroscience, it is in moments of play that our brains tend
to be flexible and we can think in more creative ways.

5. Do some research before you start writing.

6. Listen to music. Good music keeps you in a high and positive emotional
state. Psychologists say that we are more creative and resourceful when
we are in a positive mood. It’s the opposite when we are sad, worried or
depressed.

7. Write in a suitable environment to write. Apart from music, the right

physical environment puts you in the right frame of mind, and you’re able
to find inspiration when it seems lacking.

8. Use maps, guides or writing prompts. They give you a head start when
you need to develop content for your book, write an article or create a
blog post.

9. Write what you know.

10. Write for an audience. Most times we are worried that people might not
accept what we are writing. As you continue to worry the writer’s block
strikes, and you feel paralysed. But when you write what audience wants
to read, instead of your own idea, you’ll experience a breakthrough.

11. Take a break from writing. This is good as it helps you come back to your
work with a clear head and fresh eyes.

12. Write with intent. If your writing isn’t going in a particular direction, no
productivity tip or trick that will help you.

13. Find your ‘voice’ or writing style, and stick with it.

14. Be creative. Write outside the box.

15. Take 3 deep breaths to refresh yourself. The breath is a powerful tool for
self-regulation. Deep breathing is a source of energy, alertness and focus.

16. Write with a clear mind. Worries block the words from coming out.

17. Don’t write with your ‘perfectionist cap’ on. Remember, there’s writing
and also editing. Your first draft will always look like crap.

I hope these strategies work for you.

 SUCCESS STORIES
My name is Peter Odianosen Eromosele. I'm accountant by profession, and I
love writing.

My mission in life is to give people a better hope. To help them rise above their
life's struggles into a higher level of success.

I joined The Productive Writer's club (Facebook group) as an amateur, but today
I write daily whether or not I feel inspired.

I have kissed the writer's block goodbye. I no longer struggle while writing.

When I sit down with my phone/laptop, ideas keep gushing like spring waters.

When I get stuck at the middle, I apply any of the six creative writing
techniques or seventeen strategies I gleaned at the 7-days series in the group.

I thank Mr. Smart Megwai for accepting me into the group.

I joined just at the exact time the series was about to start.

The seven exercises helped me think creatively.

I now know how to think outside the box and unleash my creativity whenever
I’m writing.

Long story short, I feel UNBLOCK. I now write "at the snap of a finger". I don't
wait for inspiration.

Some much value is being shared inside the group. I'm sure other members can
testify to it.

If you get stuck whenever you write, and want to unblock I recommend the
book - UNBLOCK! to you.

Many thanks to the author for writing this book.

Long live the productive writer's club! Let us spread the good news with our
pen.

- Peter Odianosen Eromosele (Benin)

******

Thank you so much. I can't thank you enough for setting up this platform to
encourage and build new breeds of writers.

Ever since I started following the series and carrying out the exercises, the
writer's block is gradually becoming a thing of the past for me.

My creativity use to lie dormant, now it's back up - whatever the level, I cannot
tell. But the exercise is really working for me.

I no longer find it disturbing to express myself in writing. I may get stuck

sometimes, but I don't feel burdened by it.

I now write daily, though not on a large scale. May be 300 words. This is to
allow me stay consistent and also for me to have time to do some other things
am handling right now.

I'll need a writing schedule. I don’t have one right now, but I’m sure going to
need one to help me scale up my writing career.

In all, I want to say a big thanks to you. May God continue to inspire you with
more and more wisdom.

- Ebiama Oboratarhe-Bibobra Destiny

(Delta)
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Smart Megwai is a creative writer, content creator and founder of The
Productive Academy. He helps writers write.
He is the creator of the course “MAKE A
LIVING WRITING EBOOKS.”

He has facilitated at many events and

workshops – online and offline. He has spoken
to students and teachers at different schools,
and for NGOs.

He is a published author on Amazon, and his

first book is titled 'Start that Dream and
Succeed at It'.

You can connect with him both on Facebook

and Instagram at Smart Megwai.

If you're interested in connecting with other writers in a Facebook group to help

you access the support, network and resources you need to become a more
productive writer, turn published materials into money, become more influential
with your words and blast through your writing projects; then The Productive
Writer's Club is just the place for you.

You can join us, here PWC or copy and paste the link below into your browser
http://bit.ly/theproductivewritersclub
 OTHER BOOKS BY SMART MEGWAI

This book is an unapologetic assault to a life of mediocrity, boredom, and

pettiness. It is a call to those who refuse to engage their gifts and natural talents.
To draw them back to what makes them 'tick', which is, their individuality,
hidden inside the creative part of their being. There's so much inside you that is
calling for an extraordinary life. Would you allow that creative part of you to
manifest itself to the world, or shut it off because the 'teachers' of your life says
you shouldn't break the rules?
If you want to make a difference and an income by starting a business around
your passion, START THAT DREAM & SUCCEED AT IT will show you how,
by implementing the Six Essentials for achieving any dream. It will help you
remove whatever obstacles are stopping you from achieving your dreams, and
also increase your chances of succeeding. Unlike many other books that you
might have read, this one contains practical steps or strategies that can help you
crush whatever habit you might have for choosing a life of average instead of
high performance. If you've lost the imagination to dream just because you were
discouraged by others, suffered past disappointments or delays, this book will
stir-up a hunger in you to reach for a higher quality of life, and also help you
develop the confidence you need to chase your dreams.

ORDER THE BOOK, CALL OR TEXT 07061535104 or 07068586392