Stuck? Feel like you can’t even get the next word, let alone a paragraph? That’s how I feel writing this article. Sometimes writing just doesn’t flow like you want. You feel like you don’t have anything important to say. You feel like no matter what you write, people won’t listen. Someone very important to me once said, “You are not here to ‘write to impress.’ Write about ‘your hearts desires.’” And she is completely right. You don’t want to write about something just so that people will read it. If you write about something you feel, people will feel it too. And sometimes when you don’t want to dig that deep, writer’s block sneaks it’s way in and stops you right in the middle of a sentence. No matter your reason for writer’s block, there are some fool proof methods I use to get “un-stuck” every time.
When I feel writer’s block coming on, I try to fight it first by fixing any distractions. I try to turn my phone on silent or leave it in another room. If you’re writing a school paper or writing for work, people will understand if you don’t respond right away. And even if you’re writing just for the joy of it, people don’t need an immediate response. Everyone needs some time to themselves to do something they love without the outside world butting its way in. Sometimes I also notice that poor lighting aids in my struggle to write. I usually like to lay in bed and write and I have a small desk lamp on, but if it it’s too dim, it just makes me tired. Make sure you’re not in a compromising position and make sure you have nice, bright lights.
If you feel like having fixed those distractions isn’t enough, maybe look at the bigger picture. Do you have any bigger tasks that need finishing and are floating around in the back of your mind? If you have the time, do those first. Go fold the laundry and do the dishes, maybe clean up around the house. This one is usually the one that helps me the most, because then I can focus all my attention on my writing. For some of us, writing isn’t a full-time gig. So, if you’re doing it just for the enjoyment of it, getting things done that really need to be done can help.
If you’re finding that you’re still struggling to finish that sentence, try working on a previous piece you’ve started. Maybe edit that and try to get something flowing with that piece. Maybe even editing other parts of your current piece can get juices flowing enough to get you moving. If I’m not connecting with any of my other pieces, I like to write lists. I write lists about things I love, things I hate, things I think are pretty, places I want to go. Lots and lots of lists. When you make lists, you give yourself ideas of new settings, characters, plot lines, dialogue and actions to incorporate into your piece.
If you don’t like lists, I suggest writing just to write. Just throw down a sentence and go. Don’t think, just write. Describe objects in great detail. Go adjective crazy when you’re talking about characters. Just scribble sentences. They might spark an idea that grows into a great piece. Now, I don’t want you to write full pieces to just to write them. You still need to have a connection to your piece. Just try to use the gibberish you’re stringing together to get your juices flowing to write better pieces.
This next suggestion I have is my personal favorite. When I’m almost to my last resort, I pop in my favorite movie. Dead Poets Society is a great movie for writers. Yes, it focuses mainly on poetry, but that’s still writing and Robin Williams, God rest his soul, gives some great advice. That movie is very emotional and can stir up feelings that make writing explode out of my pen. It’s also just a nice to relax after staring blankly at a white page for almost two hours. If you think watching a movie might not get your creative mind into gear, read your favorite book. Stephen King once said, “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” You must read to keep those tools sharp, or else you’re going to struggle.
If I’m down to the last straw and all of those things haven’t helped, I pack it up. My notebook and pen go in my bag I go find a nice coffee shop. There’s a reason that a writer in a coffee shop is a cliché, it works. Watch people, listen to conversations. Describe the ambient sound around you. See how people interact, figure out who they are. Listen, watch, record. Listen to some music in the car on the there, observe the things around you. You can find inspiration in anything if you look at it the right way.
Hemingway said, “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Dig deep, write what makes you vulnerable. Write what makes you feel deeply. Those are the pieces that your readers will appreciate, because they will see a little of themselves in you. Write often, read often and always have a pen a paper with you. You never know when inspiration is going to strike, and you don’t want to miss out on an idea that may be the beginnings of the next bestseller. Writing isn’t easy and I wish you the best of luck. I know you’ve got the rest of that sentence in you.
