It can happen to any writer. You are writing fluently, the words are flowing from you in a steady stream and, suddenly, you come to a stop. Or perhaps you have done your research, found the perfect bits of information that will make your story shine but you just cannot start writing. Writer's block is something that can happen at any time. Among the many causes are a lack of research, simple fatigue, self-doubt, or an unconscious desire not to finish the article or story.
Lack of Research
Lack of research is probably the main cause of writer's block. You could have amassed a whole mountain of facts but, if they are not relevant to your focus or angle, you will need to either look for another angle or do some more suitable research. Often, it would be simpler to just follow the former option. This is because you have gathered the information that most appealed to you and you would write a more compelling article if you follow your instinct.
Fatigue
Simple mental fatigue is another probable cause of writer's block. You may have been writing without a break for a long while and your brain refuses to continue. A good indication of fatigue is when you cannot write even though you have adequate facts at your fingertips, all ready to be used. In such cases, you should do something completely different. Go for a walk, talk to friends, or just look at some beautiful photos. This will take your mind off of writing for a while. Meanwhile, your unconscious mind is working away at your article, smoothing out the edges so that you can write it when you return to your desk.
Fear of the New
Writer's block can also occur when you are nearing the end of your work. If you're writing a book, you begin to think of tasks like marketing your work, talking to agents and, in general, dealing with things that you are not familiar with. In such cases, you should stop looking forward, stop predicting the future, and just concentrate on reaching the end of your book. In the words of that wise philosopher Yogi Berra 'it ain't over 'til it's over.' The hardest part of your work is almost over and, if it is good, marketing it should be easier than writing it.
Free Writing
Free writing can be a most effective technique against writer's block. It consists of writing as fast as you can whatever comes to mind. You should not stop to read what you have written or do any editing while you're writing. Just set an alarm for 15 minutes and start writing. Once the alarm rings, you should look over what you have written. Try to find clues that can help you identify the causes of your block and think of possible solutions. Often, the simple act of free writing can help to dissolve any mental blocks you may have been experiencing.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Your Writing Appointment
If you're a writer, you'll know that one of the hardest things to do is getting down to work. Most of us procrastinate, find things to do, daydream, or just sit and stare at the screen instead of just writing. Contrary to Fishhawk's dictum that a writer is working when he is staring out the window, when we do start to write we often find that our thoughts remain as they were before. Our production lags and, if we are on a deadline, we are forced to pull a late nighter or skip meals just to get the work done. What we need to do is to find a way to sit down and write until the article or story is ready. Here are three tips that can help us become more productive and efficient writers.
1 – Set the Alarm
Most people do not like to wake up to an alarm clock because it tends to ring just when they are in one of their periods of deep sleep. They wake up feeling tense instead of relaxed. You can also use the alarm to tell you when to sit down at your writing desk. If you consciously begin to write when the alarm rings, you will soon create a habit that will stay with you for as long as you like. Taking a page from Pavlov, you can easily associate the ringing of the alarm to your picking up pen and paper or putting fingers to keyboard.
2 – Prepare for Action
When the alarm sounds, the last thing you should need to do is to start looking for your notebook or reference files. These should be ready on your desk, just waiting for you to use them. Any changes to your daily habit could cause you to shift your attention to something else. If you are writing an article, the outline should be ready and all research complete. What you need to do now is to just pour the words from your mind onto paper or screen. In the wise words of Maupassant, you need to get in black and white as soon as possible. After the draft is ready, you can edit to your heart's content.
3 – Zero Interruptions
There are other little obstacles that can prevent you from keeping your writing appointment. This is why you should turn off the Internet before writing. Incoming mail is usually announced by an audible ping or a visually distracting pop-up. When this happens, our natural curiosity gets the best of us and we can find it hard not to read our mail.
If you can accustom yourself to start writing when the alarm rings, you will find that other related problems such as writer's block can easily fade away. Since you know that you have a writing appointment that can't be missed, you will tend to look forward to your writing sessions.
1 – Set the Alarm
Most people do not like to wake up to an alarm clock because it tends to ring just when they are in one of their periods of deep sleep. They wake up feeling tense instead of relaxed. You can also use the alarm to tell you when to sit down at your writing desk. If you consciously begin to write when the alarm rings, you will soon create a habit that will stay with you for as long as you like. Taking a page from Pavlov, you can easily associate the ringing of the alarm to your picking up pen and paper or putting fingers to keyboard.
2 – Prepare for Action
When the alarm sounds, the last thing you should need to do is to start looking for your notebook or reference files. These should be ready on your desk, just waiting for you to use them. Any changes to your daily habit could cause you to shift your attention to something else. If you are writing an article, the outline should be ready and all research complete. What you need to do now is to just pour the words from your mind onto paper or screen. In the wise words of Maupassant, you need to get in black and white as soon as possible. After the draft is ready, you can edit to your heart's content.
3 – Zero Interruptions
There are other little obstacles that can prevent you from keeping your writing appointment. This is why you should turn off the Internet before writing. Incoming mail is usually announced by an audible ping or a visually distracting pop-up. When this happens, our natural curiosity gets the best of us and we can find it hard not to read our mail.
If you can accustom yourself to start writing when the alarm rings, you will find that other related problems such as writer's block can easily fade away. Since you know that you have a writing appointment that can't be missed, you will tend to look forward to your writing sessions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)