Writer’s Block – Jump right over it!

All of us face a blank wall sooner or later. Even experienced writers and successful authors face it. But for new writers, it is even more difficult to start off. A blank page or screen stares back at us, as we struggle to fill it with something interesting.

We start to write something, then think again. We delete it only to rephrase it differently. We may reach half way, across the page and still not be happy with it. Start again, we think, but somehow just can’t seem to get it right.

Here, are some tips to get over that initial roadblock –

  • Step 1 – Use the prompts given as part of assignments in Blogging U. to come up with something interesting. It doesn’t have to be Booker Prize worthy. It just has to have your original take on it. Not registered on the course – use random phrases, idioms, words, quotes, song lyrics, photos, dialogues, tweets, facebook comments etc as an inspiration. You can learn more about prompts and how to use them here.
  • Step 2 – Read recommended articles or posts that are mentioned by the Happiness Engineers. These usually are very insightful on how to approach the process of writing and also very helpful in giving tips on how to pick up ideas from around you.
  • Step 3 – Read other people’s blogs, posts, comments. It usually does trigger off something – the memory of a similar incident, the death of a loved one, your own take on life, your opinions regarding a social evil, love for a shared interest. All of these can be developed into a post. This post was also inspired by a comment from rosecoulouredsince91 and the responses of other fellow bloggers. She has already written some greats posts since our exchange.
  • Step 4 – Take a moment’s pause and reflect on your life – important milestones, incidents and/or experiences, lessons learnt or even setbacks – you may want to write about them and share them with others.
  • Step 5 – Disconnect from your writing and take a break. Connect with the real world. There’s life beyond the virtual world, also. (I really need to take my own advice) Watch a movie. Listen to music. Take a walk and observe and absorb the sights around you. Real Life and Nature, both are very good sources of inspiration. Use it as a setting for a story or post – a fictional account of a seemingly happy married couple fighting while on holiday, an interaction between two strangers who are stuck at a bus-stop in the rain, a philosophical take on failed relationships, a poem about the starry night sky. Anything from the real world could be developed into something on paper. Taking a break is very important as it helps declutter your mind. Pick up that half-written draft that you tossed aside yesterday. Revisit a previously written draft after a short break. Stuck in the middle of an article? Leave it alone for now. Sometimes, the time away from your desk helps to see your writing with a fresh mind and perspective. This would not only improve the quality of writing but also help you avoid glaring mistakes that may distract and take away from the message in your post.
  • Step 6 – Talk. Read. Ask. Just involve yourself in the stories of other people. Talk to your neighbors and ask the couple how they met. Chat up with that suave, confident office-goer about his experiences in college. You will get to know a lot more than what you initially did. Not only does it make you a better people’s person but also gives an insight about people and how certain incidents shaped their lives and made them who they are. These discussions can become the basis of yet another post – fictional, or real-life account or even a self-help article.
  • Step 7 – Write. However obvious this point may seem, I can’t emphasize on it enough. You may not have a clear idea of how to express, so just ramble on. You may not even know what to talk about and how to go about it. So, just write about the first thought that comes to mind. Burnt the chicken casserole, frustrated with your pathetic painting skills, couldn’t find that important appointment letter? Write about it. Pour out your feelings. It doesn’t matter whether it makes sense or not. You can always edit and re-edit it later. You don’t have to even publish it or share with anyone at all. But developing the habit of writing down is important and a step in the right direction.
  • Step 8 – Read up about the experiences and advice that the pros share. It may not give you ideas but will give you comfort and solace in knowing that you are not the only one experiencing “writer’s block”. Give yourself space and time. Usually, sooner or later, something or the other from the above points sparks off something and an idea germinates in your head. Go back to Step 7.

And soon you would see that have already finished with writing your article 🙂


Related Reading

Getting Started with a Prompt Box

No Comments
  • Wicked Brilliant Blog
    Posted at 09:59h, 13 November Reply

    Love these tips! I’ve been having some serious writers block lately so I’ll have to try some of this out.

  • Pingback:3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge, Day-3! | blabberwockying!
    Posted at 10:11h, 13 November Reply

    […] A Wandering Soul. […]

  • lisamariagardiner
    Posted at 10:24h, 13 November Reply

    Helpful and informative thank you 😊

  • rosecolouredsince91
    Posted at 12:18h, 13 November Reply

    Wandering soul:) It was great advice, and it really is true…you can write about anything! We all have something to say and not writing is defintly not the answer 🙂

  • Corinne Shields
    Posted at 13:42h, 13 November Reply

    Lots of useful info here. Funnily enough the only time I get writers block is when things are going well!! When things are going badly or I’m feeling out of sorts I find I have plenty to write about! My blog is an “inspirational blog” if I have to give it a categorisation, and everything there has come out of some thing going wrong. Every cloud!

    • Wandering Soul
      Posted at 13:49h, 13 November Reply

      True. Happens with us all. That’s probably because when things are going wrong, we have ample things to vent or give advice about 🙂

  • Emily
    Posted at 13:43h, 13 November Reply

    Excellent post, it was detailed, helpful and insightful. I don’t have writer’s lock but I know I will eventually so I’m going to hang on to this post if you don’t mind.I see you’ve changed the colour of the font, very nice indeed. I can actually see now, so that’sna plus when I’m trying to write. By the way, don’t you think it’s bad when people leave an insincere comment? Funny yes, but never pretentious either. Just a thought. I’ll just hop on back to Australia and leave you in peace… until next time!

  • ScribblingParrot
    Posted at 04:01h, 14 November Reply

    Exactly me last night, i feel wounded i need time to recuperate. My mood for writing hasnt came back.

  • Ahmed
    Posted at 13:02h, 16 November Reply

    There’s always something to write about, so the block I think is not for lack of inspiration or ideas but probably how we feel at that particular moment. The tips that you provided are all really useful especially the ones that trigger off something in us like commenting on others posts and interacting with other bloggers.

  • Vibrant
    Posted at 01:57h, 06 December Reply

    I love those tips; really useful. Thanks for sharing them with us. 🙂

    Love and light <3

    Anand 🙂

  • gloverdeb
    Posted at 10:09h, 18 February Reply

    Hi Wandering Soul, this article does make a lot of sense. It reminds of my second post into the new year. I was experiencing Writers Block. You know what I did?

    I wrote about how I felt and Pooof, the block came undone.

    • Wandering Soul
      Posted at 10:40h, 18 February Reply

      Exactly my point! 😀 Thanks for reading, and commenting. 🙂 Glad you liked it 🙂

  • Feelings and Freedom
    Posted at 12:40h, 09 March Reply

    Loved it Piyusha. Very helpful post and so many tips!! After reading it, I really felt that there is no dearth of topics to write. I am going to refer to this post quite a lot 🙂

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