" Writer's block is an illusion. There is no such thing as writer's block," said an author in one of my classes, and when I heard this I was in absolute dismay. I thought, this man has not attempted to write a single word in his life because to make such a grand statement he must not be aware of the painstaking process of writing. Obviously, I later on understood what he meant by this (writing is sitting down and working at it) but nevertheless there are some of us who still have a different way of writing and it does include the ever fearful writer's block.
I must interject at this moment to clarify the following: I love to write but as most writers can attest to this, it can be the most painful thing to do at times. It can be even more difficult when you go back and read what you have written. Proof reading your work is like watching yourself fall down a flight of stairs.
I thought it would be appropriate to write this particular article considering how much trouble I've had coming up with a topic to write about coming back from winter break. I know all of us go through this at one point in our writing career; even when we do have something to write about there is the off chance that we don't know how to express it.
Now, that being said there are few little hacks that can combat said writer's block. I can't guarantee that these techniques will help you write the next great American novel but they will help you sooth your writer's anxiety.
WALK WALK WALK
Take a brisk walk or stroll. Walking helps me clear my head of all things that might be clogging my thought process. Anything that keeps you moving for a while will help you stimulate your mind and clear it of useless facts like how many times Meryl Streep has been nominated for an Academy Away (which is 18).
ADELE 25
A personal favorite of mine is music. I like to think that music is in fact, the cure to all the problems of the world; one of them being writer's block. Listen to your favorite song on repeat or if the situation is as dire as it can be when writing academic papers, listen to their entire album (and sob as you listen Adele's album 25 as you lament the relationship you've never had yet relate to in every song).
NOT ANOTHER CAT VIDEO
YouTube can either be you best friend or your worst enemy. In this case, YouTube is the source of all things cats throwing themselves at inanimate objects and John Cena vines. These can serve the purpose of rejuvenating the mind; after you watch several obscene videos on memes of the year your writing capabilities pick up again.
I do realize some of these methods of easing the writer's block might seem borderline ridiculous, they are quite helpful. Don't knock til you try it someone once said. After all, the only thing you have to lose if your sanity as you attempt to write that ten-page paper the night before it is due.
And remember, the last piece of consolation I can offer to all of you aspiring writers out there: at one point in their drunk-filled lives both Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald dealt with some form of writer's block and still managed to write something relatively coherent.
