Writer’s block; an author’s nightmare. It's often absent when you need to rest, flooding your mind with ideas that keep you awake; yet it haunts you most when you actually need to write, blocking all creativity. How do you battle this nemesis in moments when you have a deadline to meet, or if you have an urge to express yourself on the page? Honestly, the answer varies from person to person. Sometimes, the block wins, other times we win. Let’s explore some options.
Is it Block, or is it Fatigue?
If you’re like me, sometimes the block occurs when you’re exhausted; when you have been writing long and hard for days on end, and your brain finally says, “That’s it, I’m done. I need a break!” In this case, is it really writer's block, or is it simply writer’s fatigue? Often, one leads directly to the other. Recommendation: rest. Take some time to step away from your work and breathe. It can be a day, a week, a few hours, it is up to you. Relax. You’ll be more productive when you get back after clearing your head.
Pivot to Another Project
There is a variation to this fatigue problem. Sometimes when your mind is fatigued, it is not necessarily tired with writing on the whole, but with focusing intensely on one project for long. It could be that the rest your mind needs comes from pivoting to another project, and letting your current one sit.
Pick Up a Book and Read
Another way to tackle writer’s block is simply putting down your pen and paper, and picking up a book to READ. A lot of rest and inspiration can come from reading a good book. Not to mention, enjoyment. A good reader may not write, but a good writer reads.
Utilize Low-Stress Writing Exercises
Writing exercises are a great way to get your creative juices flowing. And the best part is, they are minimal stress and fun. The pressure to craft the perfect sentence, or create the most impactful scenario leaves the room, allowing you to simply write without inhibition. Prompts are great with this, and come in various formats: random word prompts, single sentence prompts, starter paragraphs, scenarios, etc.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend using prompts with the sole purpose of starting your own project. While I have gotten various novel ideas from writing exercises, two of which I have successfully turned into full stories, the truth of the matter is, more often than not, the prompts themselves are so random to begin with that whatever you come up with may not be projects you will want to invest in for the long haul. The point is this: use writing exercises for what they are - modes of practice to build skill, discipline, and flow. If a good story comes out of it, well and good, but don’t try to force one.
Unlock Ideas with ‘What Ifs’
‘What ifs’ are great if you want to come up with story ideas, but your mind comes up blank. You can ask yourself questions like, ‘what if I walked in on a robbery by mistake?’ or ‘what if it suddenly began snowing in Mombasa continuously for the next year; how would life be affected?’ It can be any scenario under the sun. The best part with using ‘what ifs’ is that it gives you the general story idea, and hints at conflict options from the get-go. Either way, it's a good way to clear your mind.
Try them out and see…
So, are these sure-fire methods for battling writer’s block? Try them out and see. Everyone handles it their own way. Ultimately, writers block or not, these methods are a good practice to have, as they are great means of helping you grow as a writer, and improve your productivity, discipline, and workflow.
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