One of the most frustrating scenarios for any writer is staring at a blank page on the computer screen and having absolutely no idea what to write. At these times, it seems someone has used a blackboard eraser and erased everything of relevance in your brain making it impossible to come up with anything useful. This does not only occur in writers who make their living through writing articles, short stories, or books, but also to students, songwriters, advertisers and anyone who needs to use the written word to accomplish a specific goal. Writer's block is no laughing matter, especially when there is a deadline involved.
The Causes of Writer's Block
Writer's block is the result of an overactive mind and stress. Imagine a woman who is juggling four children, housework, shopping, a part-time job and trying to write a novel. Could be you, right? As she sits down to write, the blank page on the screen glares back at her and writer's block rears its ugly head. Her mind is too busy with random thoughts consisting of needing to clean the bathroom to finding the money to purchase new shoes for the kids to having to make an appointment for the dog at the vet. Unable to concentrate, she walks away from the computer leaving the empty screen behind for another day. If she had been able to quiet her mind and relax, she would have walked away from her computer after making good progress on her novel and with a feeling of accomplishment.
Steps to Avoid Writer's Block
There are three steps a writer can take to assure they are not bitten by the writer's block bug.
- Clearing your mind of the clutter is a good habit to get into. With all those thoughts popping up randomly in your mind, it is quite impossible to concentrate on the writing task at hand. Take a few minutes to write or type out the "to do" items you have floating through your mind. Once they are down on paper, you don't have to worry about forgetting them and you have cleared your mind to work on your writing. Once you begin writing, if a random thought attempts to intrude, take a moment to add it to your list, then continue on with your writing.
- The second step is breathing. We all breathe very shallowly throughout the day. We may occasionally take a deep breath, but that is not enough for our brain to receive the oxygen it craves. To get your mind working to its full capacity, take a few minutes to breath slowly and deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth at least ten times. You will be energized, allowing your brain full oxygenization and your thoughts will flow smoothly and quickly.
- Setting up a designated time and place to write and giving yourself a goal of at least one page each day aids in avoiding writer's block. We are, by nature, creatures of habit. It is natural for us to fall into a routine without even realizing it right away. Writing is no different. When we set up a specific time for writing and a specific place, after a few days, our mind reacts to this routine. After about a week of this repetition, when we sit down to write, our mind gets right down to business without hesitation.
One Last Word
If you follow the three steps outlined above, you may find yourself getting into "the zone." This is a type of light trance that makes a writer feel as if they are in their own little world. This zone allows the words to flow at an incredible speed. Oftentimes, after coming out of the zone, a writer will go back to read what they've written only to wonder where the writing came from. It's almost as though someone else wrote the words. The zone is not a place to be afraid of, but instead is a place to strive for as you'll find some of your best writing comes from it. It is also a place where writer's block is a non-existent concept and all writer's can do the work they love knowing the words will continue to flow.
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