Writer’s Block: Myth or Reality
Sometimes, when I sit down to write, I find myself staring at the screen— or notebook if I am writing longhand— and it is as if my brain has just become unplugged! Most professional writers will say writer’s block is a myth, but that doesn’t help my creative process much. It is real to me at the time.
If you have ever started to write but keep getting stuck, you know what I mean. You might be able to write a few paragraphs, but then you can’t seem to keep going. Whatever the problem, there is usually a solution. Here are some tips for overcoming writer’s block that have helped me.
Understand Why
First, I ask myself why I’m feeling blocked. Perhaps the topic is not interesting enough. For example, how to dress for a formal affair is an idea that I will never write about. It’s not even on my list. I could sit and stare at the screen forever without penning a word.
Throughout the course of the day, while I am engaged in other things, some random idea will cross my mind, and I take note of it immediately so I can add it to a list file on my computer.
Most of these ideas will never be written about, and that is OK. Stockpiling ideas is like having a large wood pile for heating. I used to cook with a cast iron cookstove, and I only needed one stick at a time to keep a fire going.
Although you might be experiencing writer’s block because you don’t have enough wood in your woodpile, you may instead be having trouble finding the right words to express what you want to say. Or you may not know where to begin. To use the woodpile analogy again, you may be trying to start a fire by lighting a log with a match instead of beginning with paper and kindling.
Sometimes, I am stuck in my process because I don’t have a clear idea of what I want to say. Leaving my keyboard and picking up an old notebook and pen for ten minutes of freewriting or list-making sometimes breaks through that barrier.
Like today. I decided to write about not being able to write! You will never see the drivel (kindling) that I burned through on the path to producing what you are now reading.
Oftentimes, I begin an essay or short story and don’t have any specific goals in mind. This means that I don’t know what I should include or exclude from my project. Without a general idea of what I want to talk about, it becomes very difficult to begin, let alone continue, writing. What about you?
What’s Your Goal?
Knowing your goal is the next step to breaking writer’s block. I keep running lists of goals like a woodpile on my computer. If I show up to my desk with the wide eyes of writer’s block, I can look at my goals and be reminded of why and what I am writing. If I start with a tiny idea, it doesn’t take long to get a fire going.
If I am writing in a journal for myself, my goal could be to unload what’s on my mind so I can get on with other things in my day. I may rant about some injustice, make lists of everything I am grateful for, or reflect on last night’s sleep.
My goals may include writing for others, so I might pen a love letter to my granddaughter, outline an idea for a short story, or teach an unknown reader how to make lasagna. (Not likely! I’m not a gourmet cook, but you get the idea.)
Getting thoughts down on paper
The next step after identifying a goal is to get some thoughts down on paper. Sometimes, I start with a rough outline and other times, my writing is more like spilling ink on the page.
What usually blocks me the most is trying to get it to sound right– to use good grammar and sentence structure.
It’s all those rules I was taught as a kid!
If this sounds like you, then give yourself permission to spread words on the page as if they were paint. Let them run together. Have fun!
Revision, editing, and getting feedback from others is a separate task.
Let it happen on another day.
Specific Techniques
I may need to take a more in-depth approach, focusing on specific techniques or methods in order to overcome feeling stuck. Ultimately, the key is to find what works best and to stick with it.
Another tactic is to use prompts to jumpstart my creativity. Many online writing communities offer free or premium prompts to help you develop a specific writing project.
Or you could join the Reflective Collective—a free group on FaceBook with daily prompts and people to share with.
Sometimes, I find that writing in short bursts of 5 to 20 minutes, called sprints, helps me overcome my difficulty.
Others find that they need to sit down and write for an extended period of time in order to complete an essay.
Whatever technique I choose, it is only a tool. If it isn’t working for me, I try a different tool.
There is no ‘one right way’.
Some people listen to music or read aloud to get their creative juices flowing. Others work in a specific creative space, such as a park or a nature reserve.
Still, others take a break and come back to the writing later.
The goal of these techniques is to help build confidence as a writer, not to complicate life. They are only tools!
Whatever works for you is the key to overcoming writer’s block. Just be patient and keep trying different methods until you find your own path.
Once you have several techniques that work, be sure to use them.
Consistency is the secret sauce for success!
A short summary of tips to overcome writer’s block
- Ask why. Does your topic interest you?
- Keep a list of ideas you can draw from like a woodpile
- Are you unclear about your goal?
- Dump your thoughts on paper with no regard to rules of grammar or structure. They can be fixed later
- Take a break – let your mind rest
- Write in a creative space
- Use prompts
- Write in short sprints
- Listen to music while writing.
- Don’t give up!
If you have any tips that work for you, share them in the comments below. Or, if there is a way I could help, write to me at Ardis@thereflectivepen.com.
Let me know where to send TheReflectivePen
so you can read it every Sunday morning.
