Tis the Season For Writer's Block
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2008
by Mike Fak
http://mikefak.com
I thought it was interesting while I was typing this that the Searchwarp tip of the day was how to overcome writer's block. I have a couple clients going through this right now and I recently received a private e-mail from a warpie asking for advice on the subject. Definitely the tip mentioned in Searchwarp to walk away for a while is a good one. Sometimes just raiding the fridge or watching a little television can help me.
There are those times, however, when you sit down at the desk and you just look at the keys, and then the screen, and then the keys again and wonder when something, anything will start popping out of your subconscious into the realm of words in type.
Welcome to writer's block or as some prefer, bloc.
There are a few points I have found over the years that work well for me so I thought I would share them with you.
I like to use analogies when explaining writing so I will use one here. Let's say your writing is the same as driving down a country road and there is a blockade in the road up ahead. Perhaps it is a small problem like a pothole and with a little carefulness you can drive around the problem. In writing when I get hung up on a paragraph or idea, I too go around it. In other words I pop in a few Red X's to keep a mark where I am struggling and go past it to the next thought.
Later I come back to finish the section and often find I now have a rhythm or in fact the part I was struggling with didn't need to be in the article at all.
That brings up my second analogy. Sometimes the road is blocked and you can't go around the blockade. In real life, you have to turn around, go back and start over. You need to do that in your writing as well.
Often the real reason for writer's block is you have hung yourself up on a road that really won't go anywhere. Maybe you have become fond of an opening paragraph or a line that you really like but these favorites won't let you tell the entire story.
When I see I am heading for a dead end, I simply turn around, and start the entire article over from a different perspective, (road), which seems to allow me to move on without running into another blockade.
A real cause of writer's block is also distraction and this is the season for that. Televisions or radios on in the background can be distracting but there are mental distractions this time of year that have nothing to do with sound. Holiday events, gift giving, planning parties or going to them all can get a person thinking of something else rather than what they sat down at the keyboard to write about.
The best way to circumnavigate these distractions is to remove them. If I have something I know I need to do today, that's what I do. Then when I know I have nothing else hanging for the day, I can get into writing or checking someone else's writing without my subconscious going down a jewelry counter trying to find a gift for my wife.
Writing should always be enjoyable. If it isn't and you are struggling find out why and either remove the obstacle in your mind or realize that what you are writing really isn't what your mind wants to write about today.
Use both your head and your hands to get past writer's block.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Mike,I have been waiting to, ah, well I ah, yes but, mmmm, do you think I could, lets see if ah, gee this is mmm. Can you help me to ....Jim mmm GriffinKnowing you have your hundreth birthday coming up, there is no hope for you Jim.Mike
Hi Mike.Excellent suggestions! I especially like the one about the red X's. Thanks.DianneYou are welcome Dianne. Glad I could help.Mike
hi mike,i totally understand what you were writing, because i've tried them all at one time or another. no more having to ball up paper, just select all and delete!xxxxxxxi forgot what i was going to say,it'll come back to it,best regards,sue
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