Writing, for most, consists largely of staring at a blank screen and a blinking cursor for half an hour. When the coffee mug (or brandy snifter) is empty and the peanut M&Ms source is depleted, the writer sinks deep into despair, realizing that not a word has been written, not a single worthy idea has even surfaced in his mind. The self-loathing and self-deprecation begin. “I’m a terrible writer. I’ll never write anything anyone wants to read. I can’t ever think of anything to write. I should be eaten alive by baby racoons.” You know the routine.
I’ve learned something through these “writer’s block” experiences. The way we approach writing, even “for fun” writing, determines what we produce. Writers often sit in front of a screen or notebook with an “image” in mind, an image that demands to be manifested through the writer’s pen. Initial thoughts are: ‘My work needs to end up looking like X. How do I get there?’ This Platonic idea haunts the writer, pressuring him to find that perfect, formulaic prose that his audience demands. And if he does not produce something that fits that image, the gods of rhetoric will strike him with lightning. Thirty minutes later, no coffee, no M&Ms, and no writing. Just a cursor, that blinking eyelid, staring menacingly.
Here’s some ideas for working through this blockage:
1) Try not to visualize your end product. This will only stress you out and rob you of your creative energies. Unless you’re technical writing for a toothpaste company, chances are you probably have a fair amount of freedom with what you produce. Your final product will have your own personal touch to it, and that’s why it will be unique. Writing is mostly about a process, not a final product. Process beckons your creativity. Product stands over you and growls, “Did you get that memo?”
2) Brainstorm/Invent/Pre-write. I also call this “scribbling”. Get a separate piece of paper or Word document and just start writing out your thoughts about the subject at hand. Write about how frustrated you are with writer’s block, or how awful a writer you are. I once started writing a fictional scenario about an editor reading my work, crumbling it, throwing it in the trash basket and urinating on it because it was so terrible. Imagining the visual lifted my spirits and gave me some fresh ideas. You’ll be surprised at some of the beautiful sentences you can produce while being honest. You’ll be inspired and, at least, your creative juices should be starting to flow.
3) Cluster. Take a sheet of paper and write the word or phrase or topic you need to write about in the middle of the page and circle it. Begin to think of any words, phrases, or topics related to the circled one – anything, ANYTHING that comes to mind – and draw lines protruding from the center and circle those other words. Then do the same for the new words. Before you know it, you’ll have a spider web of lots and lots of words/ideas to work with. Let your mind sort them creatively and poetically. Inspiration will happen.
4) Read what someone else has written about the topic at hand. Or just read something creative. Anything. Read a chapter by Hemingway or Montaigne or Malcolm Gladwell. Notice the way their words flow (or don’t flow) and their sentences fit together cohesively. Get jealous of their skill. Determine to write something good. Something damn good. Something that Hemingway would read and say, “Damn. That’s a good sentence. I’ll drink to that. Another Papa Doble, bartender.” You get the idea.
5) Spoil your writer. Tempt her with goodies. Refill the coffee mug and the M&Ms dish.