How To Get Past Writer's Block

UNM: This post has been understandably delayed. I have had writer's block on and off for the last few years. Why on and off? Well, I have started using my phone's voice recognition to dictate notes or stories that I can speak but I can't write. This has helped me write school papers and lyrics and more. Also, I just start writing as I do now. Since the dawn of computers, nothing you write is permanent unless you want it to be. You can always go back and change things so just start writing. It can't hurt. I also keep changing the kind of writing that I'm doing. It helps tremendously. I write lyrics, then I go and write an article, then I go and write a status update. Different writing wakes up different parts of your brain.

MORE: Writer's block is a terrible name. It's not actually a block of thoughts. It's just not knowing how to sort your thoughts out. If you change the way you think about writer's "block", you can get past it easier. Look at it as a speed bump and not a stop sign. Even if you can't think of anything to write, just start writing. Right now, open up a Word document or the notes on your phone or tablet and start typing.

Get something down on paper? Good. Didn't get anything down on paper? Good. Keep trying! As the Mythbusters say, "Failure is always an option." This means that you are going to fail. It is just part of life, but failure doesn't mean you should give up. Our society is too strung up on failing meaning that you are a failure. Failure actually means that you are trying hard enough to be able to fail. You can't fail without putting effort in, so the fact that you're failing means that you're putting effort in.

Keep going. Keep trying. Don't get discouraged. Get discouraged. Then keep going. Write about what you love. Write about what you hate. Don't limit yourself to one subject. Jump around to different subjects. Write about what you're passionate about. I'm passionate about news and that's how this blog came about.

How To Get Free Starbucks.

UNM: Starbucks may seem expensive to some, but if you know how to use the system, you can get free coffee again and again. First of all, join the Starbucks Rewards club. You can join by registering your Starbucks gift card at http://www.starbucks.com/register, buying a bag of coffee with a Star sticker at the grocery store, or by downloading the free Starbucks app for your smartphone. After you join, use the card every time that you shop at Starbucks. With each purchase, you get a star added to your card. Eventually you will get a Gold card. A gold card is not only shiny, but provides many awesome benefits. Below you will find Starbucks' secrets unlocked.

MORE: Buy each item at Starbucks separately, whether you have a normal Starbucks card or a Gold card. If you buy 2 or more things at one time, you only get one star on your card. Buying them separately gets you a star for each item. When you finally reach 30 stars on your card, you get a Gold card. The gold card will be sent to you in the mail, with the address you provide. Once you get your gold card, you can add money to it and use it instead of a credit card or cash.

 If you want to get even more stars, buy your Starbucks ground or whole bean coffee in the grocery store. Most, if not all, of the grocery Starbucks have Star Code stickers on them. Each code, when you type it in on Starbucks.com, gives you a star. Every 12 stars you get on your Gold card earns you a free, no strings attached, drink. Anything you can think of. Any amount of shots. It doesn't stop there. You also get free refills on brewed/iced coffee or tea when you finish your drink while at Starbucks.

Even after all these free drinks, you still get another one for your birthday! One last way to get free Starbucks is Star Dashes. Sometimes when you sign in to the Starbucks website, you can sometimes find what are called, “Star Dashes”. These are challenges to get a certain amount of Stars by a certain date.

One that Starbucks just had was get 5 stars by December 3^rd, and then you get a $5 Starbucks eGift card. If you got 10 stars, you got a $10 eGift card for free. The only catch is that you have to opt in to the challenge on the Starbucks desktop or mobile website to participate.

Go out there and get free Starbucks!