The challenges of being a writer are many and complex but one of the most common, and the one that will kick off the Conflict series, is writer’s block. Simply put, writer’s block, to me, is the phenomenon of sitting down to write a concept but not being about to comprehend how or even what to write. This idea can pair with the thought of being unmotivated in writing because sometimes when a writer is sitting at their desk, unable to formulate in their mind what to write, they begin to lose motivation for the one thing that once brought them life.
Reading and writing are fundamental skills that most people are taught as children, and yet, for some, the thought of writing is an internal struggle. I didn’t know how to explain this occurrence but I recently heard a quote by world-renown author, Neil Gaiman, that sums some of it up. He remarks “This is how you do it: you sit down in front of a keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy and it’s that hard.”
As a writer, I was stunned because this ties together some of the difficulties that I face when I go through a writing slump. How hard could it possibly be to arrange basic words, of which you have said and heard since birth, into a series of paragraphs, or stanzas, to share with the world? I think many will agree with me when I say that, sometimes, it is not as easy as it may seem.
Although I have heard it countless times in the past, I dislike hearing the phrase “I would love to write a book but…” and it usually finishes with something along the lines of “I just can’t get past my writer’s block,” or “I quit every time I try to start.”
I have to admit that writer’s block has kept me from starting and/or finishing a book several times in the past and, while it is a little comforting to know, I think that it is upsetting that so many people have a story inside of them that they just can’t seem to get out.
Here are some tips that I use to overcome writer’s block and being unmotivated:
Have a plan
When you outline what you’re going to be working on it can help give you cues on where to take your story. When I first began writing I was partial to the “word-vomit” technique in which I would literally write what was on my mind at the time and pull it together to make some kind of story. While this does work for writing something on the page, if you feel like you just have absolutely nothing on your mind, it can be hard to put something down. In this case, it could be better to take things slow. This doesn’t have to be for your entire story but just trying to outline the next chapter, paragraph, or stanza could prove to be extremely helpful in stimulating your mind. Think and ask yourself the questions to get you started: What am I trying to accomplish in my story? What do I want my characters to do? How do I want them to feel or think? What theme am I trying to portray? How will this influence the story?
Go back to the source
Sometimes when I write and I find that nothing seems to be working the way that I want it to, the problem is actually about three to four paragraphs back. Consider re-reading your work to see if you are getting off track or hitting the points that you wrote out in your outline.
Change the weather
“If a scene isn’t working, change the weather.” This simple quote is something that I’ve been hearing since I began writing. I must confess, this usually is the thing that worlds for me. Going back to the beginning of a scene and changing (or adding in for my writers that struggle with “white room syndrome”) the weather (or any part of the setting) can be instrumental in starting your writing journey. We are creating worlds, we are making something out of a white sheet of paper. One of the first things that need to be done is to transform that sheet and set the mood for something that lays the foundation for your entire story. Once you change your mood, you open the door to words with new connotations that fit your piece and you may find the writer’s block to be a distant memory.
Create a schedule
Try to designate a time specifically for writing. Just like other things in your life, you can program your brain as a natural alarm to get to work. Even if you only write a sentence, try to sit down in the same place every day, open your laptop, and write something. Eventually, you may find yourself unconsciously going back to that place to write and spending lots of time there getting your ideas onto paper. This can be a good way to simply stimulate your brain into believing “oh hey, this is writing time and this is where I go to write, maybe I should think of a few ideas to continue my story.”
Do something
My final piece of advice for this subject is my failsafe, to simply do something. Even if you only write one word, getting something on the page is crucial to being a writer. I have found that you can’t wait for inspiration to strike for you to suddenly finish an 80.000-word novel in two days with perfect editing. Completing your WIP takes disciple but it also takes the initiative to begin. You have to force yourself to realize how much you want to write and actually start doing something. As spoken by the Greek Philosopher Epictetus, “If you wish to be a writer, write.”
The Light Box 