Block

I answered a question on this topic not long ago and wanted to expand for the sake of clarity.

Writer’s block is the scourge of wordsmiths the world over. There is no greater frustration than staring at a blank page or screen and finding vast emptiness before you, echoing with mocking hollow tones.

Life is often the culprit in this terrible malady. We get overworked, eat poorly, have an argument with friends or simply go through the three most difficult traumas: Change of residence, losing a job or losing someone close to you. This last one can range anywhere from a death to a breakup. Either way, it may leave you stunned and unable to do more than stare at the screen with little or no passion, wondering if the spark will ever return. I have and continue to deal with these times in the same manner.

I treat writer’s block like a cold.

It is a sickness that needs treatment and few ever agree on what treatment is best. We can’t simply prescribe orange juice and chicken soup when you can’t write, after all. The remedy I use is threefold.

First, listen to music. Preferably something inspirational. Something that makes your heart race as the first few seconds pull you in and you want nothing more than to lose yourself in the moment over and over again. Your music can be anything from classical to power ballads to theme music. It’s your choice. Find the music that drives you and let it carry you off.

Second, watch television. Yes, the boob tube. The idiot box. That screen which turns rational thinking people into couch potatoes. That one. You may not like it or you may be a recovering couch potato. Whatever the case may be, remember: This is another form of storytelling. There are amazing shows out there which tell stories that bring us to tears and have us at the end of our seats. There are adventures to be had and love stories to make our heart sing. At the core of every great movie or show is a story. Find the great ones. Watch them. Let them inspire you.

Third… Read. It may be difficult, considering you are struggling to put words down yourself but reading is essential. We need words like a deep-sea diver needs air. Without reading our inner engine for stories sputters out and dies. We need to read someone else’s words. We need to explore someone else’s dreams.

We may have vast dreams that span years of exploration and prompt us forward with every breath we take, but in the end, a block can make it feel as if we have dipped into a dry well. New stories bring sparks of inspiration and glimpses into worlds that inspire us. Drink deep of these other wells. Take in the stories and adventures. Make them a part of you and know that your own are waiting for you to come back with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of adventure.

It may take time, but just as a cold is burned away with proper treatment, feeding your writer’s block with the flames of inspiration will clear away all obstacles, allowing you to turn a blank page into a new world. Infuse yourself with inspiration and you will have the fuel needed to push aside all blocks so you can create a new adventure. Onwards!