I've been struggling
with writer's block. Not a bad case, but enough to knock my
motivation out. I'd rather be running, jamming on my guitar, or
reading. The page looks intimidating and
I'm unsure about my ability to tackle it.
I'm okay with mild cases of
writer's block; for unlike the more severe, debilitating cases, I
can handle these little munchkins.
What I usually find has
happened to me when I'm like this is that I've fallen apart mentally.
I've lost my perspective on things, on myself, on my art. There's nothing influencing me, no life changing factors, just my emotional landscape has become loose, like a wheel on a wagon after many miles of hard travel.
Writing is no longer fun
because I'm no longer looking at it as fun. I don't come to it
seeking enjoyment, but treat it as duty.
Writing seems too big, too
much to handle, because I've lost sight of the moment. “Take care
of the little things and the big things will take care of
themselves,” Joe Paterno often said. I'm trying to write entire
stories in one sitting instead of peeling off a chapter, a page, or a
paragraph at a time.
The passion for writing has
waned because I'm no longer cultivating my passion for
storytelling. I'm focused on other things (on playing my guitar,
running, and reading other peoples' stories), and so I'm not laying
the necessary groundwork needed to sit down and write my own. I have no fuel
to burn.
These problems
are fixable. The solutions are straight
forward for me, painless really, for some of them apply to life
outside of writing as well and even as I work them into my art I
shall inevitably work them into my life.
The first solution is to let
go; to simply “quit” trying to be perfect. It's my need to do things
right that makes me want to do the whole story
at once, and if I can't do that, then to not do it at all. Or write it
perfectly, and if I cannot, to not write it at all. You can see how this
“perfectionist” mindset may zap the fun out of something.
Quitting and daring to make a mistake is cathartic.
Another way to combat mild
writer's block is to give myself time, instead of a word count. If I
can just sit down for X amount of minutes or hours, instead of trying
to hit Y word count or Y pages or Y chapters, then much of the
pressure to get something done evaporates. I'm no longer
considering the end result, but am focused on the moment, on
the time I have. I may not get anything done, but I won't beat myself
up for it. And if I do get something done, it's a cherry.
Making time for writing is
important, but it doesn't have to be a long time. When I'm in a funk
like this it's probably better that it's not very long. Half an hour
or an hour can be enough. Once I start I sometimes don't feel like
stopping and I take advantage of that mood. It's less pressure on me.
The best thing I can do for
myself when I can't write is to break the writing down into the
smallest practical steps. Taking a story one paragraph at a time, a
few hundred words at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time,
is essential to overcoming my current writer's block. This “staying
in the moment” enables me to focus, not on the end product, but on
what I'm writing. I don't have to pressure myself to be perfect, but
dare to make mistakes, knowing that I can always rewrite chapters later. I often surprise myself, for when I relax enough to
write, I relax enough to write well.
In the end the cause behind
a mild case of writer's block like the one I am going through now is
tension. I'm “pushing” when I don't have to. I don't feel like I'm
doing enough so I try to do more, end up trying too hard, and don't
do anything. Coming to the blank page feels like coming to a great
battle, and without the courage to battle it out, I simply
retreat.
It's easier to change my
view on the blank page than it is to find the courage to win a war.
The blank page is not my enemy, but my friend. It's not my destiny,
but my joy. It's not my duty, but an hour to kill.
I write not because I have
to, but because I want to.
Posts
Writer's block happens and while it really sucks, it's not the end of the world. You have good suggestions here to battle it out. I find that leaving my writing for a while helps while I focus or do other things. Going back to it after helps me see that blank page with fresh eyes accompanied by a more enthusiastic spirit.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. A rest is a great thing. I just don't want to do that...but I probably should take some time off.
DeleteI like your idea of breaking your writing down in little pieces, at least initially, while going through writer's block. That happens to me, and I have the same attitude-I write because I like to, because I want to, not because I have to. Sometimes if it's been a bit of awhile between posts I feel like I "have" to write because I don't want too much time between posts to pass. That seems to aggravate the situation. I find taking a walk or run sometimes frees up some creativity or just some stream of consciousness writing. Oftentimes I'll try to write about something specific and that can tend to block up things even more!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see another post from you...It's a topic I'm glad you're covering.
We've got to take a Taoist mentality toward it, for sure ;)
DeleteAnother strategy is to take a break from your current story. Perhaps you are stuck on how to get to the next scene, or even you're stuck as to what the next scene is. Taking a break from the writing (but not the thinking) can sometimes ease the strain. You might get struck by an idea during the most distracted of moments.
ReplyDeleteAnother strategy is to take up a different story altogether. I've even found it useful to skip ahead and simply write the odd scene or two. They might need changing by the time the story reaches that point but it's something.
I agree, Anna. Another thing that works is just sitting down and consciously thinking about what I'm writing, which is actually something I don't often do until I'm forced to.
DeleteThanks for the advice! Got to keep things fresh.
Great post, JR :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd it's ok to slow down a bit, relax, and breathe. :-)
Noooo! If I do that I'll feel like I'm not doing anything... ;)
DeleteI'm not a writer, but I just write when i have something to let out.
ReplyDeleteMany people do that and there's nothing wrong with it.
DeleteGreat post! Sometimes if I get stuck I actually find reading someone else's book gets me unstuck. My mind is jumping and the creativity starts to flow again. Take care!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way! Some books really peel open my creativity.
DeleteIt's been a while since you've written but just wanted to say I've been enjoying your posts and passing the Kreativ Blogger Award your way...
ReplyDeletehttp://anne-writersspace.blogspot.com/2012/05/kreativ-blogger-award.html
Thanks! Sorry for spelling your name wrong :P
DeleteI can't say I've ever had Writer's Block but it's probably because I have loads of writing projects on the go at any one time - paid and unpaid - so I'm lucky, I can generally pick the one I fancy. I find more that I get frustrated that I can't get to my novel though, when I've got loads of other deadlines and the frustration of that is enough to make sure I can always write when I get the chance.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried editing what you've recently written? I know it might not be your normal novel writing process but that helps get me moving in the right direction again when I can't get started. Failing that, have you tried taking a paper and pen into the garden and just writing any old drivel? You give yourself no rules, you just write anything, eventually, something you write piques your interest. It might turn into nothing or it might turn into a short story. Either way, it's got your head back in the writerly mode. And finally, my fellow runner, have you tried, say about ten minutes into your run, forcing yourself to focus on your plot? It really works for me when you have those happy hormones flowing so there's little stress attached and you have no other things to worry about/ distract. The only difficult thing is remembering it when you get home if you don't have chance to write it down as soon as you get in!
Hope that helps and good luck!
I actually used to do that when I ran, thinking about writing. Now I don't think about anything but just stay in the moment :P
DeleteThose are all really good ideas. My problem isn't my plot though, on anything that I'm working on. That's actually the part I don't have a big problem with. It's motivation more than anything else at this point.
I'm going to treat writing more like a business than I have as of late. I'll sit in my chair no matter what. Motivation won't come if I'm not doing at least that much!
creativity is not part of the rational, conscious mind. you have to distract yourself with something pretty. me personally, I like music I can't memorize. For me this means no words. Try out pandora, I suggest making a station for "Fingathing" it seems to me that they are the happy medium for instrumental music.
ReplyDeleteof course... I don't do story writing. I'm not good enough for it. Or perhaps I lack the courage to try.
Delete