Presently, I am afflicted with one of the most aggravating conditions to befall any creative person: writer’s block. The more I fight it, the longer I struggle to wrench an idea from the corners of my mind, the worse it becomes, as though my imagination is mocking me. No matter how long I look at the page, nor how many times I walk away with the intention of finding inspiration, no idea stays in my head for long. When finally an idea comes to me, I brush it away within minutes because it is silly or better for another day. Yet, I must write, and therefore, I will write about the exact situation which is causing me stress at the moment: writer’s block, and how to overcome it. Of course, who knows if my advice is worth taking, since it hasn’t even worked for me yet.
1. Go for a walk (and maybe bring some music with you)
No, I don’t mean walk down the hall and back. Instead, go outside to a park or the sidewalk and take a five to ten minute walk. As you do, focus on your surroundings and your experiences: notice street names and smells, the person searching the Internet while trying to jaywalk, or the lyrics to the music in your ears, if you chose to bring your music along. Music may not be everyone’s antidote, but when paired with interesting street names or a puppy proudly fetching a stick for its human, it can massage the mind and allow for new ideas to sneak their way into your head.
2. Get some exercise
Perhaps you are like me, and you really aren’t a fan of too much physical activity. So what? Yes, it might hurt a little, but in the long run, exercise will not only boost your endorphins and allow more blood to flow to your head, but will also increase your long-term health. If you don’t care for running, try something new, such as rock climbing or kayaking. Such sports are by no means easier than others, but you may have more fun or more adventures while participating in them.
3. Create your own brainstorming exercise
Often when I have writer’s block, I need a little more energy to get my mind’s engine running, so immediately trying to begin a major piece is not possible. Instead, I put my laptop aside, pull out some paper and a number 2 pencil (but you can use whatever you like), and I do a couple individual writing exercises. Occasionally, I just write lists of words or I pick a random word in the dictionary to be the first word in a poem. Even if the product of my writing exercise is nonsense, at least my creativity is running so I can return to that terrifying essay.
4. Take a nap
I love naps. I swear, my mother thinks there is something wrong with me because I love to nap so much. There is something wonderful about having even thirty minutes to close my eyes and rest during the day, appreciating the comfort of my blankets and eye mask. Resting on your ideas, even for a short time, gives your subconscious mind time to process your thoughts. When you awaken your ideas will be more deeply ingrained in your head and your brain will be rejuvenated for a few more hours of work.
5. Stop putting down your ideas
This tip fits well into my own problem as a writer: perfectionism. I have written pages and pages of papers or stories, sometimes close to fifty pages, before deciding that my writing is poor or that my idea is silly. I then close the document, and rarely look at it ever again, discrediting both my time and effort and my capabilities. No draft of any writing is perfect, especially not the first draft. Turning off the perfectionist in you for a moment, however, and pushing through your paper no matter how awful it seems will pay off in the long run. It is less frustrating to revise or even rewrite parts of your piece once you know where you are going, than to constantly doubt the unknown path.
Perhaps my few tips for overcoming writer’s block will help you the next time you are stuck on a short story or on that 10-page English essay, or perhaps it will simply help me the next time I am stuck on an article. Regardless, as frustrating as writer’s block is, you can overcome it, just as you can overcome other hardships. The more obstacles you overcome and the more confidence you build in yourself, the stronger you will be. Small steps such as an essay, and big steps such as preventing a mental illness from ruining your life, will mold you into a person you will really admire and who will be admired by everyone around you. For now, I wish you luck on your written endeavors.
