READER: Hark! I cannot seem to complete my work. I seem to be experiencing writer’s block. Lo, fair Lami, how do I overcome this?
LAMI: Build a story from that block (sensei style)
READER: How???
LAMI: Exactly (*bows)
Side note: I wrote the above in 2018. It's cracking me up in 2021 ?. What in the world was I thinking???
So, this article was originally meant to be on something TOTALLY different. However, I didn’t have any ideas. So, I wrote the above.
Don’t ask me… even I don’t understand that crazy analogy; it was just the only thing I could think of at that moment.
So, this might sound crazy, but the moment you get to that point where you totally run out of ideas on what to write, kindly write something. Anything. Anything at all. That moment of blankness is a really defining moment in your work and would probably lead you to look at whatever you’re writing from a new angle… or you abandoning ship.
Well, some people would say ‘don’t force it’, and I agree completely. Squeezing yourself of ideas you don’t have at the moment could cause your work to ‘sound’ strained. Your readers or lecturer or friends would probably notice because, as humans, we all have this sixth sense that tells us when something is not exactly right. What I do when I have writer’s block is to write the first thing that comes to my mind. Das all I’m sayin’.
Quick story:
So, it took me 5 months (I kid you not) to complete my previous article. It took about 3 days to even start at all. Prior to when I started, I was getting irritated with myself for not even having a topic to write on. I found that birthday incident very funny, so, I started writing about it, and that’s when I got the idea of using what I googled as my next topic.
… End of quick story
Writing is an art, so, it shouldn’t be forced. For me, it isn’t calculated or measured, or quantified… It just is. I argue right now that experiencing writer’s block does not mean you don’t know what to write or you can’t think of what to write; it just means you are thinking too much about what to write. Why do you think your greatest story ideas come at the oddest moments such as when you’re relaxed or doing something totally unrelated to logical thinking. We are all innate perfectionists (I think), and that’s why the thought of creating perfection keeps us from actually doing so.
I have a few tips for you and me to help us overcome the infamous writer’s block.
Tips on How to Overcome Writer’s Block
Take a swim down your stream of consciousness. Immediately it hits your head, write it down. It does not matter how unrelated the sentences might seem, you’d be surprised what you discover in a stream of apparent discord. Somehow, you’ll find an amazing connection.
Use the internet. I love surfing the web, and many times, when I want answers or a way out, and I’m too lazy to think, I just Google it. Sometimes, I get too lazy to read too, so, I Youtube it.
Don’t use the internet! Sometimes, distractions might just come. Putting your phone away could legitly help you stay focused. OMG. YouWouldBEAmazed! You know when your phone dies and you start thinking about how to plan your life? That works for when you seem lost for ideas on what to write too!
Pick up your phone! Listen to some music. Let off some steam… but, not too much. You see, you should always be determined to finish what you have started, especially if you’re like me. For me, I almost never finish what I start because of distraction and eventual loss of interest (#Relatable). It is a seriously horrible habit I progressively work on, and I am improving. One thing I do in order to stay focused is not to allow myself to get too engrossed in my ‘steam letting off’.
I am loath to say this because ex-procrastinators like me THRIVE on this: Stop writing. Well, it does work, actually. It could be for a hour or a day, but it does help refresh your mind. However, do not abandon ship!
Conclusion…
I did not want to give the advice of “stop writing and continue later, the idea will come”. This is because sometimes, it never does and you completely forget or you keep waiting for it to come until you suddenly don’t. It’s especially true if it is a self-given assignment. If you’re a writer, you would understand the hassle of having a number of uncompleted stories (some as bad as being just one line or a paragraph). This happens because we feel we don’t owe it to anybody since no one told us to do it. However, that is not how to overcome writer’s block.
Trust me, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with completing a self-given task is fantastic. It is even more amazing than completing a class assignment or a project; those were completed because there were deadlines and you HAD to do them to pass a course and get good grades. Of course, getting good grades pleases the soul and makes you proud of yourself. But how about becoming a world-class bestseller of that novel you completed? How about becoming the best blogger the world has ever known (hehehehehehe *points to self) just because of those articles you made sure you completed?
And is this only about writing? No. It is about everything you start. Make sure you finish.
#NoPressure,
Lami.