I’ve Got A Blank Space, Baby
And I can’t even write a name.
I joke a lot that my brain is made up solely of movie lines and music lyrics and apparently T-Swift is winning. That song is about the only thing rambling around in there as I stare at the blinking cursor on the pristine white page. Damn her.
I do say everything has a soundtrack so it’s actually kind of perfect for having the dreaded writer’s block. I mean, all I had to do was sit down and start typing. Just pick up where I left off and go. Easy, right? Yet here we are.
So, what’s better than beating writer’s block? Writing about it. And hopefully get those creative juices flowing at the same time.
There’s a debate about whether writer’s block is real. Because of course there is. There’s a debate about everything. But, just like in every aspect of life, what is intrinsically true for one person may not be for another. Because we aren’t, you know, robots. Many will experience writer’s block in some form and others won’t and they just type away telling stories that are so beautiful you cry and so hilarious you pee your pants. They win Pulitzers and meet deadlines and are our overlords now.
Since I’m definitely not in that latter category, I figured I would share some of the reason’s for writer’s block and how to overcome them. At least how it clutches me in a death grip every so often.
INSPIRATION + IMAGINATION
Sometimes it’s just not there. Like Keyser Söze, poof, it’s gone.
If you’re anything like most writers, our minds are constantly churning with ideas or a storyline or dialogue or a setting or time-appropriate apparel or when you last ate an entire meal. It can be super disconcerting when the space that’s usually jam-packed is as empty as your ex’s promises. I mean, we can’t get our thoughts out on paper if there are no thoughts. No ideas. It happens for various reasons but it does, in fact, happen. Sometimes the well just goes dry.
When this happens, I usually find a writing prompt or two or a spark somewhere.
“Start writing no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
DISTRACTIONS
Y’all ever say to yourself, “I’ll just check out Twitter for a few minutes,” and then look down and five hours have passed? You had every intention of getting through the rest of that chapter but, damnit, there was a meme and then a rabbit hole and then…
Or maybe your mama calls and even though she’ll understand if you don’t answer, you do because it’s your mama. And then you say like twenty times that you need to go but she keeps talking. That ever happen to y’all? That’s a universal mom thing, right?
Maybe you’ll just watch one or two episodes of Schitt’s Creek. You know, start the day off with a smile. And then your spouse comes home to a dishevelled mess because you somehow binged two seasons instead. I’m not saying this happened. But it could. I’ve heard. But not to me. Definitely not.
So, here are a few things that can be helpful when dealing with distractions.
I’m not good with schedules. I hate them. I’m late everywhere I go. Always. I had a character and this was one of her flaws but it somehow made her endearing. Me? Not so much. But, schedules can be immensely helpful with writing. I’m a more fluid writer. I write when it hits and for as long as it’s there but not everyone is like me or has that option what with jobs and families and whatnot. So, make a schedule. Set time aside for your writing and for yourself. Don’t pencil it in. This one’s in ink.
Allot yourself a certain amount of time for social media. Pick a time of day and stick with it. Set an alarm and when it goes off, click off. Even if you start sweating and get the shakes - do it.
Turn your phone off. Leave it in another room. Remove the enticing little devil from your space so there’s no chance you’ll be distracted by a call or those notifications.
Don’t start something that is going to bleed into your writing time. I’m talking TV, laundry, an email, whatever. Nothing that you could get absorbed in or may pull your focus away in the middle of your time. Or, you know, prevent you from even starting it. Close all your tabs except for your writing program so there are no temptations, she said with ten tabs open.
Clear your mind. This time is for you and you alone with the world you’re creating.
STRESS + LIFE
Ugh. Bills. Vacation. Jobs. Taking the dog to the vet. Taking the kids to the vet. A break-up. We have so many outside factors that it’s difficult to let those go completely sometimes.
I went to Austin City Limits Music Festival last month and I’m still trying to get back in the swing of things. We go on vacation to decompress and then when we return it’s like we have to turn into a superhero to get everything done. I’m chock full of stress about what I need to do in real life and how I’m going to write. What I’m going to write. (Don’t worry, your editing projects are getting done as they’re always my first priority.)
It’s extremely difficult to go from one mindset to another. I had a blast and am still on a happy high so how can I write about something serious or sad?
Maybe you’ve recently had a break-up and you’re heartbroken. How can you possibly write something uplifting or comedic? That’s not how our brains work.
The same advice stands as for distractions, try to clear your mind. Use whatever it is as fuel. Let that heartbreak empower you to do something for yourself. Write. Maybe look at it from a different point of view - that of one of your characters. What would they say about it? Use it.
Your story can’t be totally sad and morose start to finish - there have to be uplifting moments. Use your happiness and write those scenes, even if they’re out of order. That’s okay, too. You don’t have to write Chapter One followed by Chapter Two. Write Chapter Eight. Who cares. There’s no Writer Police. Just get to it.
Give your stressors a time and place to worry about - then set them aside when it’s time to write.
Hopefully you can break through that dreaded writer’s block wall.
