Ah, the dreaded writers block.
As much as writers like to think they will never be a victim of the impertinent beast, there may very well be a time when it captures you too. I will be the first to admit, there has been a time or two I have spent in it's claws, completely void of any ideas. The yearning was there, the capabilities, the time gently set aside to create... but I would find myself at my desk, pen in hand, totally lost. There was nothing.
Writers are inherent thinkers, our minds are constantly churning, developing stories and lives from a single thought. So, what happens when our brains just stop? When, despite how much we want to come up with a poem, story or even an blog post, we can not?
Fret no longer my fellow creatives, for I have compiled a list of my Top 5 preferred weapons to use in the battle against the big bad wolf- writer's block.
Go people watching
At first, this idea may come off as a bit creepy, but hear me out!
At the core of any notable piece of writing is the deep complexities of our humanity. As awful as people can be to one another, they also have this inspiring peculiar beauty.
My recommendation? Grab a pen and a journal and head to your nearest park, café, library or mall. Find a comfortable place to sit and set up, put the phone away and observe. Watch and listen to people, being themselves- imagine these people going about their day, imagine the lives they lead. Be patient, you could very well find the inspiration for the protagonist-or antagonist of your next novel!
2. Spend some time in nature
This one may seem like a no brainer, but in our technological society it's easy to forget that there is an entire world from beyond our screens.
Nature in all it's varying glory is something I personally hold very close to my heart- it is prevalent in my work and has seeped itself through most of my poetry collection, "Searching for Solace". It is a wonder to behold, changing rapidly and even the darkest, most dangerous happenings in nature can be taken as something awe worthy.
So, get out of your house! Go for a walk, touch grass, cloud watch. Describe the smells around you at the turn of the weather, imagine what it is like for the ant that hiked up and over your shoe. Listen to the different sounds the wind makes against the trees. Be observant- it may just be the thing that shakes you from the stillness.
3. Keep a journal
I should have placed this one at the top of the list being that is my absolute favorite thing to do when writer's block strikes! Not only is it fun, but it works!
I am aware it seems a tad counterintuitive to say writing when you can't write will help you with your writing, but it is by far the easiest thing to get you out of a slump. The key here, is not about the content of your writing but the fact that you are actually writing.
I am not sure scientifically why it works but it does. Write the same word down 150 times, write about what you ate for breakfast that morning or the outfit you're wearing. Write about the weather or your doctor's appointments that are coming up. Write about your current mood or what you are looking forward to on the weekend (yes, even if it's just laying in bed) By doing this, you will take all the pressure off of writing the perfect piece. You want to develop a habit and journaling is the best way to do so. Try and mix it up, throw in a metaphor or two in. Write about nothing, write about everything. Soon enough, you'll have something!
4. Read
This is one may remind you of something an English teacher may have told you back in High School! Go and pick up a damn book for goodness sakes!
How could we possibly expect to be excellent writers when we don't expand our knowledge of various writing styles and stories. If you have a genre that you prefer, that's great, but don't limit yourself to just that one genre.
The whole point is to steer yourself away from stagnancy. The longer you do the exact same things, read the same things, the less you are going to be inspired! Not every writer can go on an "Eat, Pray, Love" adventure to find themselves and be motivated to create. Take small steps to broadening your world view, read. Read, everything you can, as much as you can.
5. Use Prompts
As story tellers it is within our nature to use ideas straight from the mind for our pieces, however when one has exhausted all of their own it is okay to use a prompt! Don't be afraid of them, they can be an amazing tool.
I have used prompts numerus times to combat writers block. There's quite a few poems in my collection that were inspired by prompts given to me in my creative writing class way back in High School. Some have come from family or friends, some straight from the internet. It doesn't really matter where you got the idea, it is what you do with it that really matters. I have a board on my Pinterest that is dedicated entirely to prompts that I find give me that spark of inspiration! You are more than welcome to check that out @thewriteral (which also linked everywhere on this site)
There you have it, my 5 strong and sturdy weapons to wield in the battle with the tormentor that is writer's block. They seem simple enough, simple enough that even you could of come up with these things...but I know all too well it is far to easy to get lost in the nothingness when the block strikes. It is a pit of doom that is difficult and exhausting to try and get out of. You can't think, you can only wallow and plead for an idea or two.
Well, plead no longer, put the power back in your own hands. Pick up a journal, a pen and a new book. Get out of your house, escape stagnancy and pay attention to the world around you. When in doubt, look for stories in the ideas of others and make it your own masterpiece. Write mindlessly and carelessly- write even if the contents reads like hot garbage- keep the habit and good things will come from it.
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