Editor’s Picks — Top 10:

Writer’s Block and How to Use Its Power to Be Prolific

Read our top 10 writers who know how to use the power of words

If you are a writer who is unable to write, you believe you are lazy and undisciplined, a failure and a shirker. Don’t think like that.

Writer’s block has been called by many names. Tillie Olsen called it “unnatural thwarting of what struggles to come into being, but cannot”; and George Eliot declared it as a “pitiable instance of long incubation producing no chick.”

Without resistance, you can do nothing. ~Jean Cocteau

Writer’s block is misconstrued as a death zone. It is an aggressive and energetic reaction from your subconscious mind to adjust the way you are approaching your writing.

The block is a signal to readjust the way you are approaching your work; it is not the problem itself. ~ Victoria Nelson in Writer’s Block

The more blocks you break, the more you grow as a writer. Changing how you take your writing will ultimately take you to your best mental state — not just as a writer but as a human being.

Accepting and responding to the message of the block is how every writer matures and receives the blessing of his subconscious self, the ultimate source of creativity. ~ Victoria Nelson in Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is the unease your subconscious mind feels. The poet Carolyn Kizer emphasized the importance of our unconscious mind by saying, “ The unconscious creates, the ego edits.” If you are unable to write, your subconscious self is saying ‘No.’ to your conscious mind’s instructions.

Our conscious mind manufactures reasons for our lack of creativity and productivity. You cannot will your way out of writer’s block. It doesn’t mean you lack willpower. You need to understand your subconscious needs.

Any unmet subconscious need can result in creating a writer’s block.

As a writer, you have not consciously decided not to write. The intuitive use of the word ‘block’ comes from feeling a barrier between the conscious self and the subconscious mind.

The subconscious mind has its own incomprehensible rules. If you break any one of these rules, your subconscious may cut off communication.

The defenses of the subconscious mind would not let you use force. You have to negotiate with your subconscious mind.

When you feel your inner dialogue has started — learn to listen to your innermost needs and desires. You may only need a cup of coffee or a pat on the back from your mother or spouse. Or you may want to chat with your friend, or you require some sleep, or something else. The best way to listen to yourself is to stop telling yourself what you should or must do.

Victoria Nelson, in her book, the Writer’s Block, suggests warming up to break the beginner’s block. She proposes to follow these steps — but first, allow yourself to do nothing at all until you feel a deep and genuine urge to write something:

1. Write only what you want to.
2. Write where and when you want to.
3. Write as much or as little as you like.
4. When you get tired of writing, quit.

Once your subconscious allows you to write, you would not even remember you had writer’s block.

Here is a list of our top 10 writers who managed to calm their subconscious today:

10. Why There Is No Right Way To Use Credit Cards

Shubham Pathania is a coder turned writer. Today he is trying to help us to seek financial freedom.

Many finance gurus already preach to avoid credit cards. You might have heard this bazillion times on the internet. Have you ever thought about what could be the possible reason that so many people advice to stay away from these cards?

Let me first tell you it has nothing to do with your spending habits. People often say that if you plan a budget and stick to it, then credit cards are beneficial. In fact, many financially literate people regularly use it.

9. The Weird Egg-Laying Mammal that Glows Under Blacklight

Simon Spichak is a neuroscientist and science communicator. First I read this story and then I went on a half-hour YouTube research to know more about this weird reptile+bird+mammal creature. Don’t miss this one.

Have you ever felt something was too strange to be real? Over 200 years ago, biologist George Shaw received a specimen from New South Wales that left him perplexed. He even tried to snip off some fur around the beak, expecting to see the evidence of stitches and fraud. Despite how strange this specimen was, he did not find any evidence it was a fraud. Describing it in a scientific journal, he wrote:

Of all the Mammalia yet known it seems the most extraordinary in its conformation; exhibiting the perfect resemblance of the beak of a Duck engrafted on the head of a quadruped.

8. You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Akarsh Nalawade is all these things: Talkative. Intrepid reader. Easy-goer. Globetrotter. Quixotic. Gooner. Polemic. Opinionated. Tea Drinker. Nerd.

He is an excellent writer as well. His style is simple, direct, and engaging. I hope you like his article as well as the book he is talking about. Accept diversity. Don’t miss it.

“She told me, shaking her head, how painful it was to see the company hire all these great college kids — all sorts of backgrounds; all sorts of ideas brimming in their heads — only to watch them gradually remoulded to ‘fit’ the culture of the organisation. They came with unique insights and voices. She heard those voices fade, unless it was to echo the company’s ‘accepted’ way of thinking.” ~Matthew Syed, Rebel Ideas

As brave as it’s brainy and as holistic as it’s honest, this book gives the reader a new lens to view the world. Incorporating insight from psychology, economics, nutrition, academia and biology Syed makes a compelling case for more diversity. He forces us to question why diversity in business, culture and society is a feature, not a bug. How hiring an ethnic employee in your multinational company is not “diversity” but fostering a culture of constructive dissent, is. Why intelligent individuals come together to form stupid groups that make witless decisions. Why conforming to your peers at work is likely costing the company millions in unrealised revenue. Why being social leads to 100x more innovation than being smart ever will.

7. A Japanese Mother Hires a Father for Her Daughter

Zul Bal writes to collect, capture, and curate ordinary beautiful ideas. She is an exceptional writer. Her charming style is conversational and highly engaging.

It is stories like these where I use these words: Well-written stories take less time to read.

This 4-minute read seems like a 1-minute read. Don’t miss it. And don’t forget to see her other work.

Growing up without a father was difficult enough for Manna. Being bullied for not having one made life more unbearable for her. At the age of ten, she became withdrawn and didn’t even want to talk with her mother about her troubles with school bullies.

Her behaviour worried her mother, Hiromi. By talking to her daughter’s teachers, she found out that Manna was ostracized by her friends for not having a father and had no one to play with. Soon, she refused to go to school.

6. How Not To Deal With Writer’s Block

Tosin Sanusi loves to write about chaos in our lives. She is facing the block I was talking about in the intro.

Her style is honest, direct, and engaging. If you want to see unpretentious writing, her writing would please you. Do check her other work.

Reading and writing on this platform along with thousands of talented creatives, I’ve learned that the majority of us have to work hard to maintain our inspiration. Each day brings unique challenges that can block creativity but when the career you’re pursuing relies on your ability to pump out quality content, you just have to find a way.

I will not pretend I have a formulaic cure for writer’s block. I believe I’m still suffering from a mild case of the affliction right now. Since my lack of inspiration is all I can think about at the moment, I thought I’d write about it and perhaps help you dodge the traps I’ve fallen into. Basically, all you have to do is to avoid all the things I’ve done this December and you’ll probably be just fine.

5. How Much Is One Year of Living Worth to You?

Oliver Brunchmann is working tirelessly at increasing his odds of a happy life and to help others reach their potential.

He is an excellent writer. His style is inquisitive, direct, and engaging. The headline is perfect — it captures your attention without reading a single word. If you started reading this story, you would probably not click away without finishing it.

Don’t forget to check his other work.

I always wanted to write but never had the time for it! About one year ago I did a critical examination of my life. I didn’t think I was moving forward. I did a horrifying analysis of my time and why I didn’t have enough time to fulfill my dreams.

Life is limited. You will approximately have 80 years to live, some of them are already behind you. For the sake of this article. I am close to 40 so living an average life, I am halfway through. But enough about me, let’s assume you have 60 years left to live. How are you spending those?

4. Tips on Saving Money From a Former Shopaholic

Liberty Ann is a brilliant writer. Her style is simple, direct, and highly engaging. She is sharing her personal experiences here to help you save some money.

Not so long ago I was a textbook shopaholic (as I’ve been told by friends and family).

I’d feel the incredible rush of instant gratification and there was nothing else like it in the world for me. The bad part was afterwards I’d soon realize I didn’t even need it, or want it that much anymore. Sometimes it would take less than a day — or just hours — after purchasing for me to feel the comedown that’s known as buyer’s remorse.

3. Are Your Meetings a Meaningless Gathering of People?

Paul Myers MBA is a top writer in Business, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Startups, and Innovation. His style is simple, direct, and engaging.

If you are interested in his writing topics, follow him immediately. His advice would help you in your business and life. Don’t forget to check his other work.

Few meetings are dialogues. By that, I mean that they do not invite openness or untethered contributions from workers on the front-line.

In my 20 years of experience, most meetings are ill-structured. They fail to capture individual opinion. Nor are they a forum to collate collective insights.

Too many meetings follow the same form regardless of function or output.

Today we have presentations, Zoom, flip charts, white-walls, coloured pens, post-its, cookies, coffee, tea, and buffet prawn sandwiches. None of which substitute real progress, the true output of a collective opinion.

2. 9 Small Gestures That Can Make You A Joy To Live With

Erin King is a writer and a musician. She is an outstanding writer. If you are not already following her, it is your opportunity to keep track of her future stories.

Many of her stories have reached thousands of views and earned her a reputation for writing well. Do check her other work.

The biggest culprit for domestic conflict is housework and some people genuinely don’t understand what it means to be a good housemate.

Whether you’re a roommate or a romantic partner, living with someone else requires a certain amount of consideration in order for it to work.

If you want to be easier to live with, why not try some of these little gestures because when you’re living together, it’s the little things that make the most impact.

1. Lead With Kindness

At number one, it is Randy Wolken. He writes to educate and inspire. He is the President & CEO of MACNY — The Manufacturers Association with over 300 company members in New York State.

He is also an outstanding writer. His writing style is pleasing, direct, and extraordinarily engaging. If you read this story, you would definitely like to check his other work as well.

Business and kindness are not often put together in the same sentence. However, good leadership and kindness are often related. Good business leaders will be known for being kind in the future if they want the best talent to perform well and stay at their organizations. The COVID-19 crisis has only accelerated this trend.

In company after company, I have seen a trend toward employees wanting caring employers.

COVID-19 has heightened the fear and concern of employees for having a safe work environment. They also wish to work for employers who help them consider the demands of work and home, especially if they have school-age children in school only part of the time.

Final Thoughts

If your story was selected as one of the Top 10, please share another one of your stories in the comments with a brief introduction and a short review that can convince a reader to read your piece. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the Chief Editor and Founder of Illumination and Illumination-Curated, read, highlighted, and applauded every good story when he started his publications. He still reads almost all of the good ones. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

So, help me. Help me to find and rank the best work of the writers of Illumination and Illumination-Curated.

Happy reading.

To improve your chances of success as a writer, read these highly recommended curation guidelines:

You can read my curated stories here.