As a writer, I often suffer from the dreaded, but all too common "writer's block." Anyone who has ever written anything ever has experienced it. My brain ruminates on how fast my deadline is approaching and my fingers fail to move across the keyboard. I tell myself, "just think of an idea, literally any idea, and start brainstorming."
Somehow, after submitting such a simple request to my brain, I forget how words work entirely and my only ideas float so far in outer space that I can't ground them back to earth.
But after contemplating my reoccurring struggle with writer's block, I realize that this phenomenon is common in other areas of life. I can create extravagant bucket lists when I should be studying, yet I can never seem to think of a single thing to do when asked what I would like to do.
Just when I need inspiration, be it for my guitar hobby, my adventure planning or, most commonly, my writing, inspiration runs swiftly away from me.
Although it strikes each and every one of us, this so-called creativity block can be combatted. I have come to understand that only one remedy works for me. That remedy is simply to live.
To trust such a remedy, one has to lose the habit of procrastination. Living cultivates inspiration, but not at routine moments. Documenting the random bouts of innovation is equally as important. Forgetting our greatest ideas due to lack of documentation is tragic, yet extremely avoidable.
With these two key points in mind, choosing adventure will yield creative results. Instead of writing about a life worth living, live a life worth writing about and let your pieces display your trials and triumphs. Inspiration comes from within, sparked by the outside world around us. Sometimes you must stop blankly staring at a laptop screen, close the computer and forget about your agenda.
Come back after a long run, a hiking excursion or a trip to the pet store to look at dogs. Start noticing when you feel motivated and jot down the circumstances. If ever a bright light-bulb idea smacks you in the face, don't trust your flaky memory to value that over the lyrics to a song you loved in sixth grade. Your brain will always choose the lyrics.
To live a little bigger will cultivate your imagination and benefit you not only with writing. You will feel more compelled to pursue your passions. Don't dwell on whatever creative block you are experiencing. Stop crossing your fingers and hoping your brain will reboot as you sit there in silence. Go charge your mind with adrenaline and excitement.
We are all culprits of the "I have to turn this in tomorrow, and all I've done is put my name on the paper." Start the process earlier, capture ideas as they come, develop them and see your best work come to life. We can't portray events we haven't experienced as beautifully as if we've gone through them. Live the life you would want to read about.
