Writer’s block…. ugh!
Being an author/writer has its challenges.
There’s this misconception that authors have it easy. That writing a book is easy. Writing a blog is easy. Any writing is easy. Um… I don’t think so.
Writing is a very mental game. In order to tap into creativity and connect with the “muse” an author’s mind has to be open, clear, and ready to receive. Different authors have different styles. Some are very methodical. They structure their story ahead of time, plot it out, the highs and lows of the story is determined and placed in the precise moments. Then there are those (such as myself) who write by the seat of our pants. There are no plans and we’re being guided by our gut and allowing the story to evolve on its own. Both styles of plotting and pantsing have pros and cons. But both require that the writer be ready to write.
What happens when nothing comes and the only mark on the page is the blinking line of the curser?
Aargh! Writer’s block has stepped in.
Writer’s block is bound to plague a writer sooner or later. As for yours truly, I have been in the grips of writer’s block for many moons now. I hate it. I know hate is a strong word, but in this case, it’s true and to minimize the angst I feel would do a disservice to the feelings that have had me trapped for months. (Hahaha! Drama, right?)
Every writer goes through different emotions when writer’s block hits them. For me, it’s sheer frustration, worry, feelings of uselessness and self doubt. Then I spiral and I start thinking about being a hack cause I can’t even write. The hole I dig my mental state into grows deeper and wider at every moment, and soon I’m in a pit. And the pit is a sucky place to be.
Writers are creative and sensitive souls and we pour our hearts into every literary work we produce. Writing becomes a part of who we are. The more we write, the more we become. Whether the writing is private or for the public, writers release by writing. Words are our creative medium and how we express our ideas. Now imagine when that outpouring is stoppered. All this juice builds inside with no where to go. It goes flat and evaporates, much like the writer’s spirit.
But, writers/authors are also some of the most persistent people I know. Because when you love something, you don’t give up on it. You force 
the pen to paper and sit butt in chair until something squeaks out. Even if the something is the nonsensical ramblings of a tired brain.
But writers go on, they keep at it and soon the muse wakes. She’s rested and eagerly shares all the dreams she’s dreamed during her slumber. Words begin to flow, ideas become clear, and the writer is back — happy, smiling, determined, and ready to conquer the world. Yes, she feels like a freakin’ superhero!
Feeling triumphant, the writer pushes up from her desk, ready for another cup of coffee. With squared shoulders and chin held high, she waddles to the kitchen, pink pig slippers scraping on the tile floor and pours another cup-of-joe. “Ah,” she sighs with satisfaction as scenes for the next chapter begin to dance in her mind.
Okay… yes! Can you tell? I’m FINALLY climbing out of my pit-of-despair. Writer’s block is going away and I feel so much better. Yay!
How did I do it? How did I beat writer’s Kryptonite?
Here’s some of the things I did:
- I forced myself to write. Mostly it was in my journals. Random thoughts. Broken sentences. Doodles and scribbles. It didn’t matter. That was my way of chipping away and trying to jostle my brain.
- I listened to guided meditations. There are free apps I found on i-Tunes. I don’t usually meditate because I have the worst mind chatter. But, during writer’s block there wasn’t much going on up there. LOL! I thought meditation may open up my brain to the muse.
- I watched tv shows — documentaries and ‘fiction.’ This seems counterproductive, I know. But I was hoping something in the show would spark an idea.
- I talked about vague ideas with a trusted friend. We would hash out the thoughts with the hopes that the discussion would solidify a plot.
- I wrote in quick bursts. Like 5 minute chunks. I would find a random picture on the web, set a timer, and just start typing whatever came to mind. Sometimes it wasn’t even about the picture. This was another way I forced myself to write. (This is actually fun!)
- I spent time outside and got some fresh air. (I don’t hardly ever do this. I like being inside.) I thought a change in scenery would help fire up the brain.
- I picked a character from one of my books and I would brain storm about that one character.
- I set a goal to get my blogs up and active again. Even though I knew there would be hardly anything on the blogs. This was hard and I cringed when I hit publish on the blogs. Having an ’empty’ blog does not sit well with me. It gives me the bad feels. Ech! But I figure, filling it back up with content would again get me to write. Another way to force the issue.
- I started looking at book covers. It was a motivator to get the current book finished and have a completed product with a pretty cover. (Picking covers is my favorite thing about book writing.)
What helped me the most? Hands down, it has to be reactivating the blogs.
Maybe it was this sense of discomfort of having an ’empty’ blog, but once the blogs were live, I had this need to fill them. I wanted the blogs like they used to be. All the work I had put into the blogs from before was gone. I had nothing to show for it. Again, cringe… I felt a driving need to rebuild and that got me writing again. And I think that’s the secret. I reconnected with what was important to me. It wasn’t just about getting the brain to wake up and produce ideas again, but it was also about the heart! I write because I love it.
Somewhere along the way, I disconnected from that and writing became a robotic thing for me.
So, if you are a writer/author and writer’s block gets ya. Don’t give up. Find that thing that makes your heart skip a beat when you think about writing. Find that thing that lights up your whole being when you think about writing. Find that thing that brought you joy when you first started to writing.
Writing is a mental game, but it is also about the heart and being in love with your work. Writing is about sharing your words, your thoughts, and your awesome, fantastic stories. Writers entertain, educate, and share. Those are the things we do best! Let go of the need for perfection. There’s no such thing. Even the best writers are perfectly flawed. That’s why they’re so great.
There are super authors/writers out there who are impervious to the dreaded writer’s block. Do you know what they do? They write everyday.
Simple? No. It takes dedication and discipline. They force the issue everyday. But you know what? Through this disciplined practice they’ve become the masters of their minds and hearts. They push through. They conquer and they LOVE. Super-freakin-heroes of the pen. Yes, indeedy.
Butt in chair. Fingers on keyboard. Happy writing!
