When Writer's Block Hits

As writers we've all been there, we sit down at the computer eager to write, but when the Word document opens, your brain closes for business. No matter how hard you try nothing is able to make it from your brain to your fingertips. Even now, as I sit, knowing my topic, the words are trying their hardest to stay lodged in one of my sulci (the crevices in a brain). Most of the time when writer's block hits, it is when we force ourselves to write. The pressure to produce anything makes the brain freeze, reducing you to a breathing machine.

Frustration is the first emotion to surface, which locks up the wheels of imagination even more. As the screen remains eerily blank of any new words, anger comes raging through your veins like a bull searching for the matador. At this point, you are tempted to throw your computer across the room, but reason seizes your muscles before you can actually accomplish your goal. After all, you did spend a significant amount of cash on the device. So, you decide to take a break, or even take a shower. And I don't need to tell you what happens the very moment you turn off your computer or step away. The words start flowing and won't cease. The precious time it would take to turn on your computer and open the document would see all those words wasted.

For me, there are three activities that are notorious for producing a flow of words: stepping into the shower, driving, and trying to fall asleep. It's as if my brain has made a pact with my imagination not to work unless I am in a situation that would render me unable to write. I cannot tell you how many epic battle scenes or genius dialogue have been written and lost in the span of a 20 minute shower. I try my best to remember all the actions and dialogue, but it is a futile quest, like ships lost at sea. The same goes when I turn the lights out at night. The actions jump starts my brain and there is no stopping it. Thankfully, I have an app on my phone that allows me to type my thoughts out before all is lost. The same goes for driving, especially, on long drives when I am alone in my car. I have driven for eight hours straight, my imagination running wild, gotten to my destination, and forgotten everything I had thought about for the entire eight hours.

So, the question becomes, how do we overcome writer's block? There are two options: we either give in to it or we fight back. By giving in, we admit that today is just not a day to write (of course, this is easy for those whose livelihood doesn't depend solely on writing or if you have a deadline for your publisher - neither one have I experienced). If you enjoy writing, stressing yourself out to produce something is a guaranteed way to turn a relaxing activity into a dreaded chore. If this is the route you choose, don't beat yourself up! Take the time to let your imagination relax. However, I find fighting back fun at times.

The best way to fight back is not to stare at the screen with your eyes squinted and holding your breath. I do one of two things: read/edit an old project or I transcribe notes. Either way, I am able to circumnavigate writer's block, and when my imagination starts flowing, my computer is already up and all I have to do is switch to that specific document. It tricks my brain into thinking it is going to catch me off guard but doesn't.

Now, the reading/editing of old projects only works if you have old projects to focus, but what if you don't? You can give up if you want or you can start anywhere on your only project. There is no rule that says you have to start at the beginning or with a huge action scene. If you know bits and pieces that are going to go into your story, start with one of those. I start wherever the words take me. Sometimes, it is the last line of the ENTIRE story. Other times, it is the beginning (usually a paragraph or so). Often times, it is in the middle of the story. In fact, I don't even divide my book into chapters until I am editing it for an agent. I feel sorry for those who read my stories before I put chapters in. For me, having to worry about dividing my book up as I write takes me out of the story and interrupts the flow. I can write faster and more without them.

So, if writer's block has you down and you don't have other projects to work on, take a breath and think about your story. Don't worry about writing it down, just think. In time, the words will start to flow. Now, what do I mean by transcribe? I don't write on just my computer, and I am positive I am not alone on this (a topic for another blog). When I can't think of anything new for my story, I transcribe what I have written, whether it is for the story I am currently writing on or another one. Before long, I find myself adding to the words I am transcribing, or jumping to another project entirely. Often times, my mind will grow bored with the transcribing task and find a new adventure to begin.

Writer's block does not have to be some terrible, nasty monster that is waiting to devour writers. If anything it is like Mike Wazowski, desperately wanting to be that scary monster yet it turns out to be a late night comedian. I do hope this blog helps a little in taking the sting out of writer's block. So, next time you are tempted to throw your computer across the room, or out the window, imagine Mike Wazowski and perhaps you will remember my tricks for fighting writer's block and prove victorious.