Have you
heard the one about the writer who sat down to write a piece about how to
overcome writer’s block but had to give up because she couldn’t think of
anything to say?
I’m guessing
we’ve all been there. One minute, the ideas are coming so thick and fast that
you can barely get them all out on the paper. The next, you find yourself staring
at a blank page, wondering if you are really cut out for all this ‘being a
writer’ lark?
The problem
about so-called writer’s block is that it’s almost impossible to define. Some
writers question whether it really exists at all? But as someone who has spent far
too many hours staring at the blank pages of an existential crisis, all I can say
that it’s all too real to me!
I thought of
writing a series of friendly bullet points about how to overcome writer’s
block, but it seemed somehow, too simplistic a response to a complex problem.
So here’s the best I could come up with…
It’s not writer’s block, it’s a
thinker’s block
One of my
favourite quotes about writer’s block is from John Rogers: ‘You can’t think
yourself out of a writer’s block, but you can write your way out of a thinker’s
block.’ Writing is difficult. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. But
giving up was never in my nature. We’re in it for the long haul, right? Most of
the time when I struggle to write, it’s either because I’m tired, or lacking in
confidence, or need to spend more time planning. All of these are problems that
can be fixed. If all else fails, put down the pen (or iPad or mobile), take a
break, have a coffee or two, or even an early night…and then start again. And
again. And again, until it works.
Go easy on yourself
The thing
about the creative process is that it doesn’t happen all at once, or even
predictably. Usually, I begin in a blaze of enthusiasm, with a great idea,
start writing it down…and then it tails off. Perhaps I haven’t planned far
enough ahead, or maybe the critical editing part of my brain takes over. But
sometimes ideas just need some more time to germinate. On a couple of
occasions, it has taken me over a year to write a poem! So if it doesn’t happen
all at once, don’t worry. Take a break, have a bath, get out into nature, feed
the pigeons (for some reason, I always find feeding pigeons inspiring) and come
back to it later, once your creative seed has had a chance to take root.
Switch off your inner critic
You know the
one. You’re midway through writing something and all of a sudden you hear a
voice inside your head telling you ‘This is no good; that’s rubbish; who would
want to read that?’ or ‘Call yourself a writer? Why don’t you get a proper
job?’ One of my favourite books, a children’s book by Laurie Fisher Huck called
Magic Happens Inside of You refers to
our inner critic as the Yackety Yak. Every time I hear mine, I imagine a big,
hairy yak spouting lots of nonsense, and the image is so funny I find it hard
to take it seriously any more. I also remind myself that no author ever wrote a
perfect first draft, and that even a rubbish first draft is better than writing
no words at all. And I carry on.
Create a habit
I know, I
know, routine and habit aren’t the most exciting of things, but creating a good
writing routine can help overcome those feelings of panic and not knowing how
to start. A lot of writers swear by getting up at five or six in the morning and
getting all your writing done before lunch (my good friend Rita has written two
excellent books that way). That wouldn’t work for a night owl like me, so choose
a routine that fits your lifestyle. I tend to write in the day while my
daughter is at school, and then pick up any loose threads in the evening. Others
find time at the weekend. Pick a time and stick with it. Writing is like
training for a marathon. The more you do, the better you’ll get at it – and the
easier and more natural it becomes.
Silence can be golden
Is your
brain constantly crammed full of thoughts, worries, fears and ideas? Modern
life is crazy busy! It’s not unusual to find me simultaneously writing a poem,
cooking the dinner and sorting the washing – all the while trying to respond to
my daughter’s constant demands for cheese strings, gluepots or cuddles! Our
minds are stuffed to bursting. Did you know, the average person has around 50,000
to 70,000 thoughts a day?! With all that going on, it’s no wonder that
sometimes our creative flow gets dammed out by all the debris blocking our
minds! So stop…look…listen to the sounds around you. Take some time out. Even
if you don’t practice daily meditation (and by the way, I’d highly recommend
it) you can benefit by getting out into nature and spending time just ‘being’.
If all else fails…just keep writing
It’s simple,
really. If you are struggling to find the right words, just write any words.
Internationally acclaimed author Maya Angelou described her writing process
like this: ‘What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘The cat sat
on the mat, that is that, not a rat. And it might be just the most boring and
awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse
is convinced that I’m serious and says ‘Okay. Okay, I’ll come.”
Do you suffer from writer’s block? What
tried and tested methods do you have for overcoming it? Share your ideas and experiences
in the comments below.
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