Writer’s Block

By: Tia Love

“The easiest thing to do on Earth is to not write.” — William Goldman

Writer’s Block is like the 8th layer of a hell that was only suppose to have seven. It happens like this:

You’ve just accepted this awesome writing job where you will finally get to use your talents! You sit down in front of your computer in your creative little thinkspace, all ready to show up and show out! But NOPE! Writer’s Block cracks the top of your head open, digs out all the good writer’s stuff, and replaces it with a load of garbage you would never even speak, let alone write.

But, what can you do? Nothing right?

WRONG!

I once had a fellow colleague joke to me, “someone needs to find writer’s block in a dark alley and get rid of it.” Though we can’t hire a hitman to do our dirty work for us, we can overcome writer’s block with a few good tips and some persistence.

Before I offer these tips, I want you to know that you are not alone! I experience fear and frustration every time I open my notepad to a fresh page, just as the millions of scribes before me have. But, its all about facing that fear and moving past it.

Tips:

1. Ready? Set?!! Write!

The only way to do it, is to get to it. What people don’t understand about writers is this: a lot of writing is actually NOT writing. We procrastinate, doing everything except write, until we have no choice but to write. I’m not necessarily telling you no to procrastinate because its a part of the process, but I am telling you to write. Even if you find that you have no fresh ideas or inspiration, still write.

2. Accept that everything you write will not be Grade A.

And that’s called being realistic. Published or not, everything that flows from your pen will not satisfy you. You’ll hate it. Probably want to burn it to the high heavens; but realize that it is all about the process. Bad writing eventually turns to good writing, if you keep at it. This is where persistence comes into play. Persistence and understanding. Even our favorite authors started out with essays and short stories we would be embarrassed to even read.

3. Create a Routine.

This is the tip I am currently implementing. If you want to be taken serious as a professional, you have to discipline yourself like one. Set aside time in your day to practice and perfect your craft. There is no other way to get better at writing than to write. There are some writers who dedicate themselves to a specific amount of words per day or a set amount of time spent writing. Try 1000 words a day or 2-4 hours of writing. Whichever one works best for you, but create a routine that will allow you to set reachable goals.

Okay! Now that you’ve been armed with some tips, my super dry humor, and what I hope will be inspiration; turn off the distractions and write! Let me know what you come up with!