Writer’s Block: Three Lies and One BIG Truth
A while back I wrote a blog about “too many ideas syndrome” (TMIS). This is when you have so many ideas it’s hard to focus, so you just shut down instead. My plan was to promptly follow up with a companion blog about writer’s block – which is the opposite of TMIS. What a helpful little series that could have been!
Instead, because the universe loves irony, I have been blocked for all these months. What got me so stuck is a mystery, but I decided to use my experience trying to write this blog as the blog itself. With that, I give you three lies that stuck writers the world over tell themselves, and a truth bomb that outshines them all.
Lie #1: “I’ve got no ideas.”
With writer’s block comes panic, followed by the conclusion that you are completely devoid of original thought. Maybe you don’t have The Big Idea yet, but to say there’s not a single measly idea to be found?? C’mon.
Take a moment to recall when and where ideas come most naturally to you and put yourself in their path. They may come in as a trickle or a flood, but they will come and when they do, write all of them down. This is important because I can tell you that some of my best ideas started out as really crappy-looking ones that refused to be ignored. Let your whole list of ideas marinate in your mind and then wait patiently. When you trust the process, the right idea will raise its hand and you’ll be off and running.
Lie #2: “I’ve got to follow the rules.”
OK, technically, this isn’t a lie. Grammar, word counts, format requirements; these frameworks and constructs help create good writing, so you do ultimately need to follow the rules. However, in the midst of writer’s block they can be total creativity killers. For now, ignore what makes it hard move forward and just write.
Write funny when you’re supposed to write proper, or vice versa.
Write a paragraph when you only need a sentence, or vice versa.
Write a poem when you have to write a blog, or vice versa.
You get the idea. Setting aside the rules for a bit offers freedom to roam until you come back – stronger and better – to the task at hand.
Lie #3: “I’ve got to be perfect.”
Nothing creates anxiety and distraction like the (imagined) collective opinions of others who are (obviously) talking about how far from perfect your writing is. Ignore them. Greatness awaits (perfect is not a thing) but for now just get something on the page! One of my favorite tricks is to write a couple lines that are flat out bad. This eliminates the dreaded blank page and, because I’ve intentionally made it terrible, things can only get better.
There’s a reason your first version is called a draft. It’s meant to be edited…later. For now, sit down for 30 minutes and just write. No revising, no overthinking, just you pouring all the thoughts out of your brain and onto the page. Repeat as needed until you find your flow. When you do, dive into that great big word salad you created, pick out all the tastiest bits, and serve them up with confidence.
One Big Truth: “I’ve got this!”
This might sound pithy, but it’s based on actual fact. You’ve probably been stuck before, and you will likely get stuck again. But between those points, a lot of good work has come forth because you absolutely know what you’re doing. This setback is a speed bump, not a brick wall. Persevere, push through, and join writers the world over whose words once again flow freely because they defeated the dreaded block.
Sorry, universe. This time we get the last laugh.
