What Is The Easiest Way To Beat Writers Block
What do you think the easiest way is to beat writers’ block?
It seems as though everyone that writes seems to have an opinion on the subject, until it happens to them. One of the easiest ways that I know of is just to keep writing, without forcing yourself to do it at all. I wrote a post about writer’s block here way back in 2008. The comments that I received would make great posts in themselves!
I often write essays about things that I am passionate about, or am at least interested in. As I have a wide range of interests, these cover everything from raising kids to politics, flying drones and ancestry research. And then there’s my interest in history, which I have written about on this blog a number of times.
Many, if not most, of these essays will probably never be published in their present form, but they serve two purposes. The first is that they are about subjects that I might write about again in future, and so form a reference library where I have researched those topics. The second purpose is that they keep me in the habit of writing. As weird as it may sound, for me, writing is something that I enjoy. Doing it repeatedly makes me better at it, and helps the words to flow!
But what if you don’t have something to write about?
Well, why not search out some quotes like the one below. You could use royalty free images purchased online, or take your own photos. Match them with a relative quote, and then write about it!
And what could you write about a quote like this one from Jim Carrey? Well, you could say that the light that we as humans need is love, and that it is spiritual. Or you could say that manure helps flowers to grow, to which I would say that I have had plenty of that thrown at me over the years, so I must be growing really well!
In it’s simplest form though the message of this quote would be that flowers don’t stress too much. They’re planted in the ground, take what they need from the soil, and bloom where they are planted. At the end of their life, they become part of that same soil, where the nutrients from their remains helps to nurture more life next year! There’s a simplicity about this life cycle that the quote captures, and yet it is quite profound as well!
Sometimes I have to walk away from the keyboard!
While sitting down and writing for the fun of it can help beat a “creative slowdown”, sometimes a complete break and a rest can help. Don’t make it too long though, as you want to be able to come back afresh, not give it up altogether. Often I’ll grab my camera and go take some pictures, or buy flowers and chocolates for my wife, an action which can bring its own rewards.
Other times I’ll meet a friend for coffee, play with the grand kids, or just take the dog for a walk. Returning to the above quote, maybe these are simple ways of “letting the light in”?
Whether you want to call it a creative slowdown, mental constipation or lack of inspiration, writers’ block is a real thing that isn’t solved by forcing yourself to write!