So here we are again. Back at the old writing of helpful insights…

So what do I write now? I had an idea eariler but it was for a different topic or story. Should I go develop that? I am getting no where here on this project…

Hey everyone,

If those starting sentences sounded familiar you might have some experience with “writer’s block”. That old foe that plagues even the most successful of authors. Can we slay him? Maybe not, but we can seal him away again.

So first things first, what is writers block?

Well as the name implies it is a mental block that seems to have wedged itself between your mind, creativity, and your physical action of writing. This subconscious mental state can be as frustrating as it is perverse. The mental block can even affect and effect other parts of your day to day life.

In short, you desire to push your creativity and capabilities in one direction, and you receive unexpected resistance.

So what do you do to get rid of it?

Thank you for asking!

Well to get rid of it, stop pushing against it…

Not super helpful huh?

Okay, let me help by explaining more.

Your mind, my mind, and The mind, all tend to wonder.

Your mind is drifting from thinking about your project, to the conversation earlier with that one person, to the sale at the store, to how you needed more sleep, the conversation you overheard, that person that annoys you, why is there so much of that color of paint these days, how you need more sleep, what your going to eat next meal…

You see my point? You can’t focus on all that at once, so the mind is fluid and drifts around.

Step one. Take a deep breath. Let’s begin.

So first try to identify why you can’t focus. This is almost always internal (no matter how much that person clicking the pen 10 feet from you grates on your nerves). What is worrying you? Little tasks that need done? Make a short plan to deal with it, and stick to that plan.

Feel better? No? Yeah me either, so lets continue.

Next if you’re fixated on another idea, write a quick overview of it. Maybe it really is your next great idea that will change your life… Probably not, but an overview should spark the idea back up if it really is a good idea to start with.

After that doesn’t work, change your environment. A short walk, and think about the things you see or encounter (not about the project, or deadline). 10 min later, go back to the project. But instead, reread some of it, or the reread the assignment, or both.

Next, remember that thing that inspired this story? Try to. Was it a conversation, situation, or something else? If the details are fuzzy, try and reexperince it (as best you can).

Now write something. Build something in the story. Set a scene, describe a landmark, or introduce a character. Like Chris, the unhelpful troll who doesn’t understand your problems. What’s he look like? What does he sound like?

HEY! What are you doing? Is that writing you’re doing? How’d that happen?

No more writers block if you follow steps like those. All of them, and don’t skip, it’s a process. It really does work, hasn’t failed me yet.

Was this helpful? Yes or No, and let me know if you have your own process down in the comments.

Until next time. May God bless you and keep you.