Writer's Block Begone
BY MICHELE PARIZA WACEK
Back when I was in college, I
belonged to one of those professional associations for the
video industry. (I was a student member.) The monthly
newsletter had a column called "Writer's Block." Although
called Writer's Block, no one ever wrote about this mysterious
and debilitating condition. So, finally, one day I decided to
tackle the subject.
I don't remember much about
the article except it seemed to be about eating chocolate,
taking walks and not doing much writing (it was supposed to be
tongue in cheek). I don't think it turned out as successful as
I had hoped.
Anyway, my point is this —
while I still eat lots of chocolate and take lots of walks,
I've also been forced to wrestle with that particular
nightmare many a time. And in those wrestling matches, I've
learned a few moves that might help you in your own struggles.
First, I've come to view
writer's block as a friend more than an enemy. Okay, maybe
friend is too strong. An ally. (Okay, maybe he's a really mean
ally, but an ally all the same.)
Writer's block isn't about the
writing. Writer's block isn't telling you you can't write or
you'll never write again or you'll never have another idea
again. Writer's block is telling you something else is wrong,
and you need to deal with that something before you can get
down to the business of writing.
Now, when I say writer's
block, what I'm talking about is the inability to write. You
have no idea where to start, no idea where the project is
going, or maybe you have no ideas at all. That's true writer's
block, not to be confused with writer's procrastination.
Writer's procrastination is when you know what you want to be
writing (or should be writing) yet you've somehow lost the
ability to sit in a chair and type. Oh, but you can still
check e-mail. And surf the Web. And lots of other tasks that
have nothing to do with the writing project you should be
doing. But try and start that project — you'll just fall right
off that chair.
I've had more than my share of
encounters with that particular fellow as well, and I'm
planning to share tips on beating writer's procrastination in
future issues. (Trust me, you need to beat writer's
procrastination. He is the enemy and he's evil.)
But writer's block is
different. Writer's block says there's a problem. Writer's
block says you haven't researched this project enough or you
haven't thought this through enough or you're missing crucial
information. Maybe your approach is all wrong. Maybe you
should be writing a Web site and not a brochure for your
business. Maybe you're trying to force a book-sized idea into
an article-sized container and it just doesn't fit.
If your ideas have suddenly
dried up, maybe writer's block is telling you to take it easy.
You've been working too hard — you need to take time and
recharge your creative batteries. Or maybe you haven't dealt
with some old hurt or anger and you need to take some time and
deal with that block.
Writer's block also might be
telling you the project is all wrong for you. (Although be
careful with the last one — writer's procrastination is a
wonderful mimic and he might be trying to slip something past
you.)
When I'm stuck, the first
thing I do is get away from the computer. I take a walk, jump
in the shower (I get a lot of great ideas in the shower) or
eat some chocolate. (Some things never change.) I think about
the project. I review my notes. I analyze what I'm doing. And
I ask myself questions. Do I have all the information I need?
Should I do more research? Is my approach right? Have I
thought this project through enough?
Sometimes I can spot the
problem in a few minutes. Sometimes it takes a few days. But
always, without fail, I've discovered writer's block was
right. There WAS a serious problem with the project. A fatal
flaw in the foundation — a weakness in the structure.
Eventually, it would have collapsed.
And by stepping in, your
writer's block stopped that from happening.
Creativity Exercises — Make friends
with writer's block
I realize this might be a
scary exercise for some of you, especially if you're in the
throes of writer's block (and I've been there — I know how
terrifying it is) but that's all the more reason to do this.
Now, when I say make friends
with your writer's block, I'm not talking about inviting it to
move in and existing in a permanent blocked state. What I'm
talking about is a way to put writer's block in its rightful
place — where it uses its talents to help and not harm you.
Take a few moments and thank
your writer's block. Thank it for all the times it blocked
you. Tell it you know it was trying to help you and you
appreciate it.
Whatever you do, DON’T fear
your writer's block. You give it too much power if you fear
it. Power corrupts. You don't want to corrupt your writer's
block, you want it to do its job — helping you craft the best
writing pieces you can.
If you're in the middle of a
bad case of writer's block, try asking your writer's block
what the problem is. Why won't it let you start that project
or what happened to your ideas? Do it as a journaling exercise
or a meditation. You may be amazed at what it tells you.
Michele Pariza Wacek owns
Creative Concepts and Copywriting, a writing, marketing
and creativity agency. She offers two free e-newsletters that
help subscribers combine their creativity with hard-hitting
marketing and copywriting principles to become more successful
at attracting new clients, selling products and services and
boosting business.
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