As writers, we all know there’s nothing more satisfying than having a story to put on paper. You’ve mapped out the storyline – the beginning, the end, and the exciting middle filled with extraordinary characters and unforgettable events. You know just where to take the story, so you sit at your desk, turn on your computer and stare at a blank screen, your hands perched on the keyboard ready to create yet another masterpiece. But nothing happens. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to get the words out.
Your peers tell you that it happens to all writers; that it’s a completely normal reaction brought about by many factors like stress and every day distractions. You’re left with an unsatisfied taste in your mouth because this has never happened to you before, and you’re afraid to admit it because it’s embarrassing. Unfortunately, there isn’t a pill called Write-agra that you can take while suffering this impotence – but I do have 10 easy steps to help block the block.
Just Write
Write whatever comes to mind – even if it has nothing to do with your story. Write a letter to a friend, your grocery list, or write what you believe the reason for your block may be. The point is, try to forget your block, and just like an annoying pet, it might go away.
Get Out
Take the opportunity and do what most of us don’t – bond with nature. Go for a walk or sit in the yard and enjoy what most of us in our busy lives take advantage of; nature. Describe what you see as though it were a setting in your novel. You might surprise yourself with your own creative words.
Roll Play
Lock yourself in your room, office, wherever you can find a moment’s peace and put yourself in one of your character’s shoes. Walk their walk and talk their talk in your every day business. Find out what they would do in your life and it will make it easier to put them back in their own.
Secure Yourself
Lock your door or buy a Do Not Disturb sign to let your family / coworkers know that you are not to be distracted. Turn off the mobile phones and let the machine pick up any incoming calls. As far as anyone else should be concerned, you are not in. You are in the world you’ve created with the characters you’ve birthed – and you cannot be reached. Please leave a message after the beep.
Disconnect
Not from reality – but from the internet. Sign off all messengers and close all other programs that will inevitably cause a distraction. If you can’t disconnect, then set yourself on “Away” or “Busy” to ensure that no one will bother you.
Designate a Time
No matter what it is you are working on, or even if the block is still pestering you, create a time you can keep to do nothing more than write. A half hour a day, an hour every other day, whatever works for you, set it. More importantly, keep it.
Revise
Go back to where your story began and reread. Odds are that while you were busy creating the perfect beginning, your mind was already whirling with ideas for the next chapters / scenes. Go back and revise your work to refresh your memory.
Talk
Tell your friends about the project and ask for feedback. Tell your coworkers about a something that happened to a friend of a friend’s using your story as the backbone of the tale. Watch their reactions. Talk to yourself on your drive home, describing what kind of project you’d ultimately like to complete.
Listen
Believe it or not, the story you’ve created has a life of its own. Tune into your characters and hear what they have to say. Suddenly, the dramatic love story you set out to write has turned into a suspenseful adventure, and it’s all because your setting and characters demanded it. Don’t sell them – or yourself – short.
Y. T. I. H.
This is my personal favorite because it’s helped me many times during my endless pursuit of writing. I’ll admit, I’ve been selfish and kept it from other writers I know. But now, the time has come to share the ultimate secret of breaking the block (deep breath everyone).
Yell Till It Hurts.
Let out the frustrations of your every day life that builds in the pit of your stomach. Release the demons within you by producing a sound so loud, your dog will turn on its back and beg you to stop. When you’re done, and the silence has settled around you, take a moment to catch your breath and revel in the stress free moment. By yelling, you literally let out your aggravations and “cleanse” your thoughts, and as a writer there’s nothing more valuable than a clear mind. I wouldn’t suggest doing this at work or in a room of crowded people, but the next time you’re writing (preferably after you’ve followed step 4), and you find yourself bothered by the block, Y.T.I.H.
Believe me, it works.
These 10 steps won’t guarantee a great story, nor will they promise a sale, but they will help in getting the words exorcised from your mind and onto the paper – where they belong. They can be used in any order, all at once, or one at a time. Like writing, it should suit your needs.
One thing is certain, though. The next time you find yourself staring at a blank computer screen and that annoying feeling that you can’t write begins to surface – look it in the eye and tell it you know how to beat it. You’d be surprised at how quickly it will leave you alone to find someone else to pester.
Now, stop reading this – and write!
Originally published in Writer Online in 2003