Want to know one of the worst feelings in the world?
Staring at a blank computer screen with your hands on the keyboard, knowing that you have the world at your fingertips to write about, and yet, nothing can come to your mind. You sit for hours and hours, knowing that you have thousands of thoughts and ideas in your mind, but those thoughts just aren't cooperating with you. Personally speaking, stress can consume your mind very quickly, especially when stuck with writer's block. This stress can make you doubt yourself in a way that makes writing seem like a harder challenge than anything you've faced before.
Don't get discouraged.
As someone who avidly writes, I know that writer's block can be your absolute worst nightmare at times. I'm here to tell you, however, there are some ways to set your mind at ease from this tragic mindset.
1. Read a book/listen to music.
If you are a bookworm or a music lover like myself, then a lot of your creative wheels get to turning when you read a great book or hear a good song. By holding that book in your hand or by listening to that track you play, you hold the effort produced from someone's countless amounts of writer's block, someone's hours of brainstorming to make this piece of work. If they worked through it, so can you.
Take a moment to read different storylines, read a chapter of a book you've always loved, and just simply take inspiration from the words on the page. Or take the moment to drown yourself out in the music, to become so in-depth with the creativity flowing in the air that you have no choice but to pick up on that creativity.
2. Scroll social media.
We live in a time period where it takes no time for a story to be cast into the World Wide Web, and many people say that's a bad thing; that the Internet is nothing but an outlet for negativity by the way stories get slandered or plastered harshly across Facebook and other unreliable sources.
Take this negative and make it into a positive. Research stories and articles you find, learn the truth beneath them, and write about that. Because of social media, you literally have the entire world at your fingertips. Take advantage of this!
3. Talk to a friend.
The easiest way to get your creativity kicking again is to talk to a friend. When in conversation, you have no choice but to respond to the topics brought up to you (unless this is a very one-sided conversation). Conversations can stimulate ideas in your mind, begin to make you think of things you've never thought about before. They can make you realize your standing ground on certain topics or values you have that you didn't realize were as big as they are. Conversation can get your creativity going quicker than it was ever blocked to begin with.
4. Don't write at all.
I know, this may sound crazy, but hear me out. About a year ago, I went to a book signing for the famous author, Deborah Harkness. During this signing, Harkness allowed a short Q&A for those waiting, and I took my opportunity. I asked this woman what advice she would give to those aspiring to be what she was. One key part of the advice she gave me was that when you get to a point of having writer's block, do not write for a week. Just ponder on what you have; think. Even if ideas come to your mind and you're just dying to get them out, do not write. By stopping yourself from writing when those ideas first come to your mind, you're allowing those ideas to bake, to spiral and develop past this first thought you held. By the time this week is up, you'll have so much more than just your first thought to write about, but the developed story to go along with it.
Mainly, however, when you do get stuck in the trap of writer's block, just breathe, and no matter how trapped you may feel, you still have the words inside of you. You just have to find a way to get them out.
