How To Overcome Writer’s Block
This is a very common problem for authors in the world today. I see posts about it all the time when I’m on Twitter. It has caused me to reflect on the times that I’ve had writer’s block and what I did to fix it. Though my advice may not work for everyone (or even be practical for all types of schedules and deadlines) I do find that it works the best for me so I wanted to share it.
When it comes to writer’s block, there is no real “quick fix” approach, not one that I’ve found, at least. I wish there was a magical pill or a ritual you could do, and suddenly, you’d be back on your A-game, but there isn’t. It took me some time to figure out my solution, and it worked very well, surprisingly, but I don’t think this is a one-size-fits-all solution either.
Many people know David Bowie and are a fan of his work. I’m one of those people and I have been for many, many years. Since music is one of the most important tools to me for inspiration and writing, and a lot of his music fueled my creativity when he passed away, a small part of me died as well.
I didn’t think I could ever write again. Believe me, I tried, over and over. Though I could physically write and get the words out on the page it felt so forced. Like there was no emotion or substance and any time I read it back I hated it. I just stopped writing. For over a year.
Nearing the end of that year and into the next, I had the great fortune of meeting an actor that I’d always wanted to meet. It was in that moment that I remembered that I had previously written an entire story and one of the characters was inspired by him. Since he wasn’t busy I brought up the topic and said that I was writing a screenplay about it. Which wasn’t exactly the truth but it was true that I wanted to turn the novel into a screenplay. I just hadn’t done it. He didn’t know any of that part, I sold it like it was already written.
It was probably a good thing I confidently exaggerated my progress on that because that’s how I got a referral to his agency and where to send a script. The only problem? The script didn’t exist. If there was anything that could motivate me into writing something it was that moment. Knowing that it could possibly be my success story. It wasn’t, even though it did get me in front of a producer to pitch the idea and another referral but obviously had that worked I wouldn’t be here now writing this blog.
Since that point I had basically been writing non-stop. I finished the screenplay, of course, and I started to work on original content. Tons of original content. It led me into writing my first novel, Birthright: Acquisition (on sale now) and into many more novels in various genres. I was unstoppable.
Then, out of nowhere, writer’s block struck again. I was down for the count and completely unmotivated. There was nothing in me that I felt I could write that also wasn’t complete garbage. The only thing I could do was wait. And wait. Then wait some more. I realized, at that point, that the answer is waiting. That’s probably only ever going to be the answer. Time.
That is, if you are like me and work on a system of muses and inspiration sparks. For instance:
My novel Price was inspired by a photograph I saw. I guess I learned the meaning of a picture saying 1000 words. Though in this case it was more like 100 thousand words. Still, all of that from one picture that I randomly saw on the internet.
I know that it’s hard to hear and people don’t want to hear it but when you are blocked you just have to give it time. You have to wait. You have to relax. It will come back to you when it comes back to you. I understand the anxiety and absolute terror of thinking that it will never come back at all but for me, it always has. The time periods differ for each episode of writer’s block but I know that it’s never gone for good.
Time heals all wounds and time heals writer’s block. Some people say to continue writing and to push through it but I think my worst work is created when I force it. The characters need to tell the story and if they aren’t right in my mind then they don’t tell it. I know this is about as helpful as saying “chill out” which will enrage some people, sure. However, as someone who has completed multiple novels and an entire trilogy of books, I think that I might possibly be a small authority on that matter.
