One of the
greatest literary pains is the infamous writer’s block. It’s a genuinely
suffocating experience. Time freezes. Your mind dissolves into an unforgiving
void. That stark, blank page stares back at you with blinding intensity. All
the while, the cursor on your monitor pulsates, resembling a ticking time bomb
more than an outlet for your muse.
When writer’s
block hits, you must hit back even harder. For the last few years, I’ve had a
Post-It hanging from the corner of my monitor which reads:
“RACHEL’S REMEDIES FOR WRITER’S BLOCK”
So, here are
several tricks I use to work through those terrible creative droughts.
(Naturally, I have expanded each bullet point on my 4x4 Post-It.)
An important
step to conquering writer’s block is revamping your creativity. These first few
points focus on stimulating inspiration:
1) READ.
Pull out a
novel or inspiring piece of writing. Allow the author’s words to wash over your
senses—become completely absorbed. Start an “inspirations journal;” while
reading, jot down passages you find especially enlightening. Reading
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things
above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two
things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” – Stephen King
2) LISTEN TO MUSIC.
Playing
evocative background music is an excellent technique to get those creative
juices flowing. Choose pieces which complement the mood you’re trying to
accomplish. For example, if you’re writing a horror scene, listen to something spooky.
If you’re writing an action scene, however, op for something more fast-paced—something
that will get your blood pumping and adrenaline charged.
Design several
playlists, and categorize each one by mood/tone. I have personally found that
instrumentals work best for this, since lyrics can be intrusive and distracting.
You can find good material on YouTube (for example, you might search “spooky
ambiance” or “sad violin music”). Movie soundtracks also work very well. Here
are a few of my go to soundtracks: Fluke,
Game of Thrones (seasons 1-3), and DragonHeart, and music from the Final Fantasy videogame series.
3) IMMERSE YOURSELF IN YOUR CREATIVE VENTURE.
Are you writing
an epic medieval piece? Then surround yourself with material from that era.
Print out images and hang them on your walls in the form of an inspiring collage.
Research actual persons from the period in-depth. Watch films set during medieval
times. Listen to popular music of the era. Check out reenactments. Whatever
your topic is, immerse yourself completely.
3) DAYDREAM. THEN “METHOD WRITE.”
Lie in bed,
close your eyes, and envision yourself as one of your characters. Place
yourself in his shoes. Think like he would think. Reflect on his memories as if
they were your own—and relate them to your personal experiences. Then attempt
to write as if you were that character. This strategy emulates “method acting,”
where actors fully immerse themes in their character’s psyche.
These next few
points concentrate on practical exercises and techniques:
4) HAND WRITE.
There’s
something special about writing with a pen and paper. Not only is the act
itself often liberating, but you’re less likely to get trapped in
“editing-mode.” If you’re struggling with a particular scene or project, try
writing by hand and in a new location (for example, if you usually work at your
desk, try writing outdoors or while lounging on a comfy sofa chair).
5) WRITE RUTHLESSLY FOR 15 MINUTES.
This exercise
works best in conjunction with points 4 and 5. Pull out a sheet of paper, select
a topic (or scene), set your timer, and write non-stop for 15 minutes. Don’t
edit. Don’t cross out sentences. Don’t lift your pen. Concentrate solely on
your thoughts and feelings. Allow them to fearlessly pour from your fingertips
for 15 minutes straight.
6) DISCOVER NEW TOOLS.
Tons of writing
tools are available—and many are designed to help you organize your thoughts,
plan projects, and reach that daily word count. (Just be careful not to get
sucked into gimmicky software.) Here are a couple of my personal favorites:
Scrivener
– A topnotch word processor that allows you to intricately plot your projects,
organize research, and much more. I can’t recommend this one enough.
Evernote – Organize your research by storing everything
(and I mean everything) in one
location. It syncs your notes to the server, allowing you access from anywhere
and on any device. As a historical fiction writer, I can’t imagine living
without Evernote.
yWriter – Very similar to Scrivener, though
much more simplistic. Best of all? It’s totally free.
7) KEEP WRITING.
Set a daily
word count and stick to it. What seems like uninspired dreck today can (and
will) be transformed tomorrow. Just keep writing and always remember:
“The enemy is not the badly written page; it is the
empty page. The great advantage of a badly written page is that it can be
rewritten. It can be improved. A blank page is zero. In fact, it’s worse than
zero, because it represents territory you’re afraid, unwilling, or too lazy to
explore.” - Timothy Hallinan
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim , California
Imagining stories and characters has been Rachel’s passion
for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she
would dictate stories while her mom would jot them down for her. She has a
special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether
sculpting the protagonist or antagonist, she always ensures that every
character is given a soul.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional
impact through her words. THE FROST OF SPRINGTIME, her edgy historical romance
novel set in revolutionary France
Amazon Page for THE FROST OF SPRINGTIME – Prime Members read
the Kindle Edition for FREE
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