Stuck Writing? Why Writer’s Block Is Actually a Creative Breakthrough
What is Writer’s Block Anyway and How does it affect my writing?
Writer’s block, in my words, is literally the reason you cannot think of what to write and how to make whatever you are writing better. It is the frustration and upsetting feeling you get when you are making no progress or are unhappy with what you are doing in the first place.
The scary things that people feel when they realize they are probably getting close to writer’s block or are knee-deep in it already, is a real thing.
However, Writer’s block isn’t just something writers go through, it also happens to anyone who is creating something they have never done before.
The crazy thing is that it’s just coined Writer’s block because Dr. Edmund Bergler, an Austrian Psychiatrist, named it that. He saw people going through the same thing and it was so much more noticed in writers because it showed in their work over and over and it’s what they complained about!
But looking at what ANY CREATIVE Person goes through, they all get stumped one time or another. They all notice when something isn’t going right, and something doesn’t make them happy.
The goal is to create something that makes you feel proud, confident and happy!
You want to show it off and let others see what you’ve created! So, if you’re not satisfied with it at all, you don’t want to show anyone at all, and that can be disheartening.
But as they say, after the storm there’s always a rainbow. Meaning, as I take it, after the bad part comes the good part.
After the Writer’s block, a lightbulb will go off… and there you have it! The pivot! The shift! The Spark! The NEW IDEA! What you needed to create and make this project of yours even that more amazing! You just needed to take a step back and find your inspiration and realize what you actually wanted all along.
The only reason you are probably dreading it, is because so many people before you who are doing what you want to do, expressed their dislike, distraught, and what they experienced as their fear about it.
You’ve built the fear because everyone you’ve looked up to had the fear and you thought, “If they fear it, then I must to.” It’s instinct. In order to stay alive, you have to stay away from what can hurt you.
But in this case, Writer’s block is something to look forward to.
It’s gonna be your “Ah-Ha!” Moment for A LOT of things.
However! You don’t just learn to love something that you fear from just realizing it can be good for you.
Who did? I’m sorry I didn’t hear anyone say they did. Yeah, my mistake. No one does and if you’re the few that do, good on you! But I am not one of them.
So, instead of just sitting down slumped in your chair with your laptop or paper and pen laying on your table while you stare at the ceiling waiting for that idea to get you back to doing what you love, I’ll give you a few strategies to help you along.
By the end of this, I guarantee you’ll definitely have something to look forward to while you wait to write in this block of time. See what I did there!
Anyway, let’s get straight to it!
Strategies to Work Through Writer’s Block
1.Brainstorming
Of course, this is the first strategy recommended, because it’s been recommended by almost EVERY published author and established writer out there! So why wouldn’t it work, right? Right, why wouldn’t it work?
If you have no idea how to brainstorm, which is unlikely because you’ve done it a thousand times or more, then I can see why you are stuck.
However, the beauty in this is brainstorming with the right tools and in the right place of inspiration.
You have to know what gets your brain going. What inspires you and stimulates your ideas and senses? For me, it’s music reading, and watching AMV.
Yeah, that’s when I am most inspired.
Music really gets the idea flow in my brain going! Listening to Music, no matter the genre creates imagery in our head, building emotions in our hearts, and creates stories in our minds.
It’s one the best ways I’ve stuck to, and it delivers me consistent results!
But if that’ too loud for you, then quiet time with a book delivers the same results.
By reading something you truly enjoy, you find yourself engaging in the lives of other characters, going on journeys with them that you haven’t with you own. That can encourage creativity and aid in expanding your vocabulary, as well. Huge, plus!
By the way, if you don’t know what the abbreviation AMV means it stands for Animated Music Videos. I love Anime! But I love an anime music video WAY More! The quick and flawless transitions, the build up of a scene and the dramatic DROP brings me alive!
I have so much appreciation for the time these creators put into delivering these amazing pieces of content. It makes me think of my own story and what it would look like with all the climaxes of the plots and moments that my characters struggled to evolve who they were meant to be.
AMV is amazing and if you create AMV’s, I thank you personally for gifting us the chance to see what truly goes on in that unique mind of yours.
2. Freewriting
Write what you feel! Write what you think! Write anything, and everything going on inside your mind! The way I see it, what’s up there is trying to get out here, and putting the energy to acknowledge its presence and write it down, helps either get it out of the way or add to your current writing.
Every Idea you have is important and trying to tell you something or point you in a certain direction. Your mind is always trying to help you. Think of it like that. No idea is a bad idea. Every idea is always needed to make the best idea!
3. Taking a Break
Maybe you’ve just been at it for far much longer than you should have and need a break. Too much stimulation can lead to overstimulation. Too much thinking can lead to overthinking to paraphrase.
You have an amazing mind and sometimes just rewarding it with a little down time or doing something else that you like can give it the care that it needs to consistently deliver the results that YOU need.
Be kind to your mind, it’s the home where all those ideas you have live and to care them, you have to care for you.
4. Set a Time
Quite literally what it means.
If you are the kind of person who finds yourself lost in the writing then finally picks up your head to see that it’s 2am the next day when you last saw 5pm the day before, you need to set a time.
In all things, I don’t just mean a timer of 30 minutes then done, I mean also find an absolute time in the day where you do your most creative thinking and block that off every day!
Where one person sees one solution or answer, I want to help you see multiple!
We read a sentence and can interpret it meaning more than one thing, because we leave those easter eggs in or stories. Why can’t it be like that for everything?
Reading “Set a Time” could mean make an alarm clock, set a timer, set a moment aside, or find a time in the day that works best.
This is what you want when it comes to thinking like a creator and in case you forgot, that’s what you are! So, let’s start doing that today!
5. Set Small Goals
When you find yourself getting close to the block, do yourself a favor and make a plan. Make it so this is what you go to when it’s getting close and fill it with small goals to make it realistic to get through.
We usually put a lot on ourselves; deadline, goals, and achievements we want to claim by a certain timeframe.
But doing this, especially in such a short timeframe when we haven’t even learned to build the consistent habits to do so, is self-sabotage.
Set. Small. Goals.
Every time you get hit with Writer’s block, take a step back and see why you got here, is it lack of inspiration? Perfectionism? Too distracted with other things you need to get done? Or fear of failure?
Whatever it be, all are very scary to admit. But when you admit it, you’ve given it less power than it had. You take your power back! Setting small, realistic goals ensures smooth sailing and consistent results.
Nothing’s wrong with you. You’re great! Just give yourself a moment. You deserve it.
Benefits of Writers Block
Benefits? Benefits? What benefits could come from Writer’s block?
Hard to see the good that can come from something so bad, isn’t it? Well, after you’ve finished reading this, that’s not gonna be a problem for you.
Confidence is not something you get your first try. It’s what you earn after so many times of trying.
The benefits come in the form of increased creativity, improved productivity, and overall satisfaction.
The hardships we endure are often the lessons we need to learn. That’s why it’s hard, but always look at it this way. What can I learn from this, and what will I gain from this?
Benefits are just that. They are there to benefit you. They help you. Out of writer’s block, the benefits you gain are what I said before, increased creativity, improved productivity, and overall satisfaction with what you have in front of you and how you handled yourself through it all.
Resources
I’ve mentioned a few resources to you during the duration of this post: Music, books, AMVs They are certainly among what I would recommend you seek to help you make your time in the block more exciting!
However, if you can’t get into the mood of any of those and want to express more than talking to a mentor or someone who finds equal or more excitement in what you are doing is just as effective.
When you can talk with someone and they relate and hype you up just as much as you can with yourself while you’re writing, this can help you add clarity to an otherwise fuzzy picture.
Talking with someone not only helps relieve you of pressure but encourages feedback and perspective you wouldn’t have known just talking to yourself.
So, if you have someone who supports you in everything that you do and is an awesome listener, share your thanks and appreciation, they have done so much for you. More than you might think.
Lastly, a resource I have come and learned to love is listening to a podcast.
We have busy lives, jobs, children, and driving. Listening to a podcast is so darn flexible! It’s why I decided to create my own and listen to a few I love!
I won’t lie I never saw reason in it at first, but after hearing Mel Robbins and absolutely loving how relatable she is, you better believe she’s in my top five every week and every time I’m in the block.
So, in conclusion, I just want to express my gratitude for Writer’s block and the amazing impact it has had on me and my writing! From changing my perspective to taking advantage of what freedom it allowed me to experience.
Writer’s block taught me that, instead of being scared of the subject, object, or situation, I should look at the opportunities it might open lead to and remind us why we love writing in the first place!
Much love, Always, Angela.
