5 Ways I Deal With Writer’s Block

That can help you refill, recharge and come back strong.

I went for two days without writing. It started off with extremely stressful days, of leaving the house at 7 am to work and coming back at 6 pm, exhausted. My mind could not think, neither could my fingers scribble words on my keyboard. And the days pass with nothing coming to mind. I slowly became worried. I was a writer, right? Why ain't I writing? Somehow I fear I would lose the flow and momentum I have managed to gain since I joined Medium altogether.

I have to be honest with you, I know this may come across as crazy because I believe, just like I was, you have the notion that writer's block is bad. But if the term writer's block is exactly what it means to me, then it is not correct. I think I was able to get over it because I didn't see it that way. Instead, I saw it as not having anything to say — possibly, I ran out of what to write. You might call it inspiration. Just like speaking, I speak effortlessly, almost coming across as a talkative when I do have something to say. Yeah, I know am an introvert, but introverts are not people who do not talk, introverts are just specific occasional talkers.

My own writer’s block I saw as simply not having anything to say. My mental tank was empty and needed a refill. My mind was beginning to look like the abandoned bad roads in my country. They are bad, but still being used. Until they shut down completely and out of service. That is what we writers call ‘writer's block’, (or how I choose to see it). What this way of defining it does for me is, instead of searching for tips to unblock the mind, I simply focus on giving it some food. Refilling my tank with ideas and information, which all translate into inspiration. So how did I get out of the writer’s block rot? Well, let us see below.

I don't need to write if my mind doesn't want to

I know you just cringed at the sight of that title. Did he just say that? Yeah! Yeah! I know. I know it goes against the virulent advice of writing every day and treating your writing as a job. But the truth is, when you begin to religiously follow that advice, you’ve successfully traded one 9–5 for another 9–5. You just succeeded in becoming the boss that made you consider working for yourself, in the first place.

You got to realise when you can, write every day and every chance you get. But when you can’t, it is okay that you can’t. Do not force it. It doesn't make you less of a writer, or less disciplined. The problem usually is we cannot make the difference between the things we should take ourselves seriously on, and the things we should cut ourselves some slacks.

As a writer, I draw inspiration from many sources, and there are times where all I get are just ideas and pointers. I do my best to immediately pen those ideas and also jot down the background or theme for the ideas. if my mind is flowing, and the mood is there, then I sit down and let those words pour all over my notepad. But if it doesn't, it is okay with me. I consider myself an emotional writer. I write because I feel things, something within — an irk, angst or a pique. And if it's not coming, I don't put a pillow over my nose about it. Writing or not, life goes on.

I know my trigger, and I search for them

In Atomic Habit, the author, who I don’t remember his name right now, highlighted a key element in the process involved in habit creation. There is usually a cue, he said, that kickstart the process — the ‘habit loop’, he called it. Say you have the habit of smoking, then your cue, which is the trigger could be seeing someone smoking, or seeing a pack of cigarette. Whatever it is, you want to know your cue, and avoid them if its a negative habit. And embrace them more if of course, they are positive habits.

I have said earlier that I am an emotional writer, which means I write when emotionally provoked. A writer friend of mine, who I met on this platform, encouraged me to write more poetry, which of course I love to do. But I found out that, I need an emotional trigger, to produce words from within. Maybe it is due to how I am wired as an HSP INFJ. I feel my way through life. Weird right? I don’t understand much about how this psychological stuff works. But the fact is, they are true and they hold findings that can help average Joes like me, and, maybe you — if you’re weird enough to admit.

Knowing myself and understanding how I function, has armed me with the knowledge to rightly and successfully combat the renowned writer’s block. I know my habit of writing through emotional connection, that is my trigger. so I seek things that stimulate me emotionally. Like watching romantic or deeply emotional movies. Like yesterday, I was flooded with emotions to write while watching Riverdale. An amazing movie, which I recommend by the way. I also take a walk, or visit the parks; watch kids play — friends, talking as they pass by, workers going on about their works. Submerging myself in this sceneries helps awake the writer inside of me.

By the way, I just remembered now, the Atomic Habit was authored by James Clear. Damn, my mind is tricky!

I try to constantly refill my mental tank

I wanted to find a good quote to start this section, but nothing is coming to mind and heck, I am feeling very lazy to go hunt for one on google. So I’ll just put mine.

“Great readers make great writers.”

If you've heard that somewhere else before, it's fine. It doesn't mean I have plagiarised, it just means I am just as smart as the person who said it first.

No matter what you want to write about, or what genre you are in, writing is translating articulated thoughts, ideas and experience on paper or screen. In nutshell, it is the transmission of information. Do you want to transmit Infos without Infos? It's like making a bet with your girlfriend you can drive a car without putting your hands on the wheel. Except of course you have one of those Elon’s cute self-driving babies.

From the beginning of the year, I made it mandatory to up my reading volume this year. Starting since January first, I have been reading two books a week. To be honest though, sometimes I skip it and find myself battling with a book for nearly two weeks. But more often, I try. Reading is a great way for me to refill my mind, get some fresh ideas in. I read a lot of Medium articles as well and a few writers Facebook groups I follow. All this serves as a spot for me to go fill up my mental bank account.

The point is, you gotta have something up there — the mind, where you pull from and construct the ideas you wish to pass on. Have you heard the phrase that only those who love themselves can give love? That is a passive insult FYI. It means you can't give what you do not have. You want to write good content, and not constantly battle writer’s block? Then invest in your education. do not rely solely on writing from experience. A good education will help you better serve your experience more palatably.

I turned my Twitter into a little writers lounge

You know that phrase made by the business tycoon and public speaker, Jim Rohn;

“You are the average of the five people you hang around with.”

A few years ago, watching a lecture of his, where he made that phrase, gave me an awkward moment, where I literally paused to truly evaluate my closest friends. And boy were those words true. It is something we do unconsciously. Unless you become conscious of your self-growth and ambitions and begin to deliberately seek out those who are better than you, or who are within the same practices, you are most likely to end up with average folks just like yourself.

Okay, I deviated just a little bit. but the gist is, my Twitter feed is filled with tweets from fellow writers, authors, and journalist. whose, 99% of their tweets are about writing; ideas, publications, articles and the next novel. I have found it to be incredibly helpful to keep me grounded and consistently reiterate and imbibe the spirit of writing.

There is no quicker way to get back your mood and flow of writing than when you are surrounded by people who are bouncing the idea of writing off each other. They talk, eat and breath writing. Mere reading a tweet has evoked inspiration. Someone tweeting that they finally finished their first draft, always, is a good motivation. These are the kind of people and pubs you want to surround yourself with and get in, to make sure you have a constant flow of inspiration.

Sometimes I take a break and don't feel bad about it.

You heard that right! Reading all the advice on the platform about writing every day, something I have been doing for the past two months, I have found it to be of great value. But, there is a but! It is so hammered that when I do not write for a day, it begins to feel like I have committed some sorta mortal sin. Like I have broken the secret writer's pact. Therefore I am not qualified to be a writer.

This way of thinking makes it hellish during those moments where I find it difficult to bring my mind under subjection, to follow my bidding. I begin to question and compare myself with others; if others are really writing every day, then maybe I am not cut out to be a writer.

What I've learned from not murdering myself during those empty bouts, is that I usually come back strongly. My writing tends to get tighter, stories feel more powerful, and confidence is over the roof.

Despite what you have heard, if you can and when the inspiration is flowing, go for it. But when you've done all you can, and you still feel blocked, let it go and take a step back. Give yourself a break and explore other of your hobbies. What happens is, the moment you pull away from writing, and engage in life, somehow, the writer inside of you will begin to connect your everyday experience with ideas for your work. This is something I have experienced a lot.

Final thoughts

I am currently working on two articles, and one is submitted already waiting for publication. Articles I enjoyed writing. I got inspiration while working and not focusing on writing. But my writer's mind, helped me connect and extrapolate what was before me into a story. That's how it works. Writing or ideas for writing can come from anywhere and at any time. Whether you are consciously thinking of it or not.

The fact that you ain't writing doesn't mean you are not a writer. So know when to go hard on yourself and also when to take it easy. Know when to apply the breaks and take a step back. Surround yourself with other writers, and as I mentioned, find out the things that trigger you to write.

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