How I Overcame my Writer’s Block Just Now
You have writer’s block, I have it too. Now let’s solve it together.
As I write this, I’m currently experiencing writer’s block. The problem though, with most writers who are caught up with writer’s block (including myself), is that they stay there. They look at the keyboard, scowl in front of the computer screen and keep repeating to themselves, “Geez, I’m having those moments again”. On the contrary, if you stay long enough in a writing mood and juice your brain for all it’s worth, you might just come up with the most impressively written piece in the history of mankind.
Whenever I experience writer’s block (like today), I keep reminding myself of my objectives for that particular piece. Am I writing to inform, to entertain, to raise awareness, to persuade, to mess up, to be a jerk, to annoy, or to simply aim at nothing? (Ironically, my objective today is to share tips on how to overcome writer’s block, and who is more qualified than someone who’s also plagued with it? Talk about absurdities). It is helpful to keep the end in mind, because if you know the ideal ending that you’re pursuing after, you won’t have trouble researching, creating and inventing the “means”.
There, I can’t believe I just finished two paragraphs!
Forget about overemphasized cliches that say, “you have to get some inspiration and you’ll be back on writing mode”. Others will tell you to listen to Beethoven or go to a lake (which will probably not work when you’re depressed or something). I’m not disparaging the importance of inspiration before, during and after the writing process. However, there are times when you don’t have to wait for inspiration before you can write. Inspiration comes in doses, not pails. More often, it doesn’t appear as a bonfire, but in the form of little sparks. As you brainstorm, focus on your objective, and continue the writing process despite the odds, you are in essence lighting the inspiration matchstick.
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Tags: books, Literature, tips, writer's block, Writing
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September 19th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Of much help to writers.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Well done. you are right. I get writer’s block alot. I try to wait for a feeling though. Maybe I will take your advice.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:08 am
interesting tips,for me i prefer going out on a crowded place, it stimulates my mind,thanks
September 19th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Thanks…I needed to see I wasn’t alone…good stuff.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:12 am
My favorite block-breakers are: drop what you’re doing and write something else. Do some free-writing — no topic, no goal, just scribble, scribble, until the words start making sense.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:29 am
you made me smile
Good advice.
To your comment readers:
Verniel has been supporting me as I had a block and now I have drained his brain!!
September 19th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Hi Verniel,
I like your take on the whole writer’s block thing. Would you consider adding a link to my recent post at tumblemoose.com that addresses the same topic from my perspective?
Thanks in advance.
George
September 19th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I just walk away and wait for the inspiration. If I try to force it, it never turns out very well!
September 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Very helpful article. I always experience writer’s block, that’s why I am a slow writer.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Wrong, wrong.
So-called “writers block” happens when you don’t really care about things you’re writing. Basically, “writer’s block” happens when you’re trying to dream about stuff you don’t want to dream about at all. Blindly writing like an idiot to overcome “writers block” results in you either writing something really mediocre; stumbling at stuff you like happens, too, but chances of it are relatively small. The only senseful thing to do is step back and think over whatever you’re writing, and how to make it more to your liking and up to your standards of fun. Perhaps it would be better to change the concept around quite a bit. Was it bleak? Make it funny. Was it realistic? Make it fantastic, or the other way around.
If you’re writing fiction, I recommend writing only things you’d personally very much want to read about. When writing non-fiction, you have to have a solid, appealing purpose that really excites you. Thus, if you’re writing a book you personally wouldn’t be absolutely dying to read, to be honest; or if you’re writing an article about stuff that even you don’t care about; get ready for this dreaded “writer’s block” – just don’t be surprised.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I’m not a full time writer. But, I sometimes experience this you say “writer’s block” when I concentrate on writing something. It’s frustrating but I get around this by taking a break. Thanks for sharing, Verniel. Another nice article of yours!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
The muses inspiring, abandoning you,nothing to do, just wait.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
thanks for the comments, guys! I appreciate the input.
Tumblemoose, I’ll make sure I’ll visit your site and add a link when I have the chance. Good day!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
P.S: Josey, thanks for the comment. I wasn’t implying that writers should force themselves to write when they don’t have the inspiration.
The idea is to just start writing and brainstorming new ideas because that stimulates the writing mood (the inspiration), as opposed to staring at the keyboard and doing nothing. If you have a topic that you have a strong passion about, and you believe has a huge potential for readership, then I’d say go for it!
Cheers!
September 19th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Anyone who writes suffers from writers block. You may also try a
word association game think of a word then go from there writing them down. eventually you may have enough to base a story.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I usually cut off all the lights and still close my eyes and after a few minutes of meditation the ideas usually pour in. ~G
September 19th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Think of what you see in your mind, and write. Thats imagination at work.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hi Verniel,
It’s another interesting simple topic from you. Usually I set the goal I want to tell the readers then I look for some references about the topic before writing. But I still experience some writer’s blocks. And then I leave the writing unfinished. I’ll try your suggestion.
By the way, I don’t have SU toolbar anymore. Should you want me to thumb up your writing, just send me an email.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I tend to agree somewhat with Uncle Lober Verniel. I think that you have to be writing something that you are passionate about and really want to write. If you are trying to think things up to write, then writers block becomes a problem. For me, an idea just springs to mind and I write about it. I guess if its a full time job to write articles with no specific genre required, then writers block could be more of a problem. Have a good one.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I don’t disagree with Lober, RJ. But there’s a loophole in the “write about something you love” reasoning. Even if you write about something you’re passionate about, there are days when you’ll face empty bond papers, believe me. I’ve had many days like that during my 12 years of writing. During my editorial days, I would have topics that I feel strongly about, but suddenly I’d find myself with NOTHING and the deadline’s just 24 hours away. The idea of being “inspired” as a writer has become so overrated, and the technicalities of the writing process set aside. The main point of my article is that when you have a solid purpose for writing your stuff, and if you have a clear idea of the end you have in mind, that should keep you going until you finish your piece. It’s like football. You may not have 25 yard touchdowns all the time, but when the going gets tough, you fight for every inch. Persistence is implied here.
Nice discussion, guys. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and allowing me to share mine.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:10 am
When I have writer’s block, I force myself to write out the events of my day. It’s not creative, but it’s words on paper and I count it!
September 20th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Just don’t force yourself to write if you don’t feel like writing. That’s what I usually do and it helps in a way.
September 20th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Verniel,
your “The idea of being ‘inspired’ as a writer has become so overrated” sound decidedly evil, you know.
Anyway; if you can’t write a single word about something you’re, in your own words, really passionate about, then you’re just lying to yourself. That’s not passionate at all, doesn’t look like, doesn’t sound like it. I say, inventing methods for overcoming “writer’s block” is like inventing methods of loving a person whom you absolutely despise. It’s not impossible, but it’s incredibly impractical and doesn’t wield particularly rich results anyway.
Generally, in my opinion, one experiences “writer’s block” and is oblivious as to it’s actual causes mostly when end result of application matters more than the object of creation – for example, when you write because of a deadline, not because you really need to communicate something to your readers. “Writer’s block” might be everyone’s psychological lock against graphomania, you know; as in: what I’m writing really looks silly and pointless in the long run to myself, so my imagination doesn’t even start, like, at all.
September 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
WEll said! When I have writers block, I just stop and write something else. When the block is over, I return and finish it off. This works well for me.
September 20th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
“Generally, in my opinion”..yes, Unco that’s what you’re doing, you’re generalizing. You’re restricting the cause of writer’s block to one particular cause, and that is lack of passion to a certain topic. But the truth is, all writers are different, and there may be different factors that contribute to writer’s block. On the other hand, I don’t stop writing when I feel like Im losing the inspiration. I don’t wait for sparks of brilliance to finish a piece, because that would be a lack of initiative. I just write because that’s what a writer does. And Im not talking about writing silly and pointless stuff and merely meeting deadlines (you’re putting words in my mouth), because if I didn’t feel strongly about a particular topic, I wouldn’t have started writing it in the first place.
Also, Im not against taking breaks and relaxing a little. Im also not saying that people should force themselves. I’m saying that a true writer must be persistent enough to finish a piece even when the brooks are running dry. Don’t just rely and hide behind your inspiration (which, like any other feeling, is always galvanizing and subject to constant change), but depend on your gut and your knowledge of the writing process.
September 21st, 2008 at 6:03 pm
great info
September 24th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Verniel,
I hope never was a “take a break, relax a little” proponent, verbally or otherwise. All I said was “change your writing subject/style to better suit your own personal tastes to overcome the so-called writer’s block.” Taking a break wouldn’t fix anything.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I dont usually get Writters block, just lack of time and dial up connection.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I enjoy having many distractions, and find that helps release me from witters block, as well I paint, and find I get stuck, again, lots of distractions is a help and source of inspiration.
September 26th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Good advise. I often just go into a dark space and think… things just start to flow.
September 28th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
This is really true. I personally believe that as a wrtier you need not wait to be inspired before penning something. You have to write to inspire and be inspired in the process.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I like B Nelson’s comment
Thanks for more interesting thoughts appealing to writers; your literary article comments as well as these have been as intersting as the articles.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
very well said!