t’s nice to see you again. I hope you are well. Writer's block or creative block, whatever you would like to call it, is the bane of all creative's existence. It can last for hours, months or even years and sometimes no matter what you do, you cannot find inspiration. One of my lecturers once told me each story we write is a tiny piece of stardust that we must find and occasionally our rocket burns out on the way to find it. This, however, is not inherently a bad thing and allow me to tell you why.
First and foremost, writer’s block could be a sign that you need to take some time to rest, relax and unwind. Writing is mentally and physically taxing. If you have been working all hours of the day on a piece and haven’t left your writing cave or stepped outside, writer’s block is your body’s way of telling you to take a break. Even if you haven’t been writing much, other stressors from all areas of life can burn you out. Always remember to put your body and your mental health first, it is of utmost importance. Take yourself on a walk, see your friends, give yourself a self-care day, read, or do something else that you enjoy. Look after yourself lovely, you deserve the rest.
Writer’s block can also come from a simple lack of inspiration. While it may not seem like it, I find this the easiest to overcome. This happened to me recently and this is what I did to find inspiration again.
- Figure out what I am trying to write and where the struggle is coming from. If it is a piece that I have already written and I am struggling with one aspect (character, setting, dialogue, etc) then I take a step back and give it a few days. One look over with fresh eyes can reveal exactly what the issue is and how to fix it. If that doesn’t work or I am starting a brand new piece and have zero ideas then I work through the next few steps.
- I take a prowell through my many notebooks. You may be surprised by how many gems are scattered in there, that at the time you don’t think are that great but when developed can be fantastic. Again, it is all about fresh, rested eyes.
- Go outside! I will preach this message. I know that this isn’t possible for all people but if you can go outside, sit in nature, visit somewhere new, stroll through a city. Whatever is accessible to you, if you can’t find inspiration from the place itself, the people there can be used. They all have lives, whether real or imagined and use them to fuel your writing.
- Turn to other forms of media! Have a scroll through Pinterest, read a new book, watch a movie or TV series, listen to music, and find artworks that speak to you. Artists feed off art! Allow yourself to listen to whatever it tells you.
- Reach out for help. Workshop your idea with whoever you can, brainstorm ideas together and see what you can come up with. Someone else may have a clear idea of where something can go, but you just can’t see it. There is no harm in asking those around you, as scary as it can be.
You may find you only need to complete one of these steps to feel you can continue writing, but if you have to complete all of them and still can’t find inspiration, that is okay too! Give yourself time and do whatever you need to and I promise you will end up where you need to be.
What I find to be the most frustrating cause of writer’s block is the idea that my work is not good enough, that it has to be perfect and in doing so constricting myself with this fear. Writing is hard. It can take decades to write a book. But being paralysed by the worry of not being good enough will not help us to write or improve. Of course, this can be a subconscious restraint we are putting on ourselves which makes it even more a challenge to overcome. I find freewriting to be the best cure for this. Take a notebook or laptop or whatever your preferred page to write on. Don’t be scared by the blank space. Use it. Set yourself the challenge to fill it, let your brain flood the page and it can be whatever you want. Even if it is just a stream of consciousness, you’re still writing. Nothing is ever useless or not good enough. Use it and shape it into something good enough for you.
If you can avoid it, please don’t force yourself to write (I know in some cases this can be impossible with deadlines) but allow the words to come back naturally to you. My love for writer’s block comes from what happens after. The sense of clarity as though you have finally made it out of a fogged wood. You feel refreshed and bursting with ideas. It is euphoric. Don’t go chasing writer’s block but if you find yourself in it, look forward to overcoming it, as it all seems worth it in the end.
Now get some rest and brew a piping hot tea. You’ve got this!
All my love,
Eliza x
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