I Was Experiencing Writer’s Block, So I Wrote About It
Stuck. Or Stuck Not. There Are Some Whys.
Writing is one of the things that still surprises and scares me, with how easily it comes to me on some days and how it eludes me on others.
It happens quite often that I anticipate an easy, breezy writing session because I know what I want to write about, whom I want to write for, and how I want to structure it. I sit at my desk, fire up my laptop, open a blank document, and then….crickets.
The words that felt so close moments ago, like they were bouncing around in my head ready to jump onto the page, seem to evaporate. I try to hold on to them, to pull them back from the ether, but they slip out of my hands. I stare at the screen, type out a word, then delete it. (The word was “the.” Groundbreaking!) The blank page and its blinking cursor taunt me, challenging me to put my thoughts into words. I grow restless and agitated, and my breathing becomes shallow and fast. I close the document and walk away, cursing myself and dreading the deadline.
(Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash)
When the writer’s block strikes
I was about 11 years old when I first heard the term “writer’s block.” It sounded fascinating to me, almost aspirational, because I didn’t immediately understand what it meant. To my middle-school bookish-nerd self it sounded like a place where writers lived (I thought I had found my Mecca!) I now realize that it is indeed a place where writers live from time to time, just not in the way I imagined.
Upon researching online, I found some interesting facts about this phenomenon which we know as a disruption in the writing process that can occur at several different points and for several different reasons. Read on for some of those reasons.
1. Cognitive overload. The process of writing involves multiple cognitive processes simultaneously, like generating ideas, translating them into language, organizing the language in a coherent structure, evaluating for quality and readability, to name a few. Too many processes at once can overload the system and derail the process.
2. Stress is another factor that can interfere with our ability to write creatively. Under stressful situations, such as an approaching deadline, our brains prioritize our immediate safety. When that happens, creative thinking takes a backseat and any task that does not involve securing our environment and ensuring our well-being gets pushed to the sidelines.
3. Editing while writing also contributes to writer’s block. When we evaluate our writing, we often go down the path of self-criticism and doubt, which, as we already know, is the antidote to progress. Thinking about how our writing can be “fixed” distracts us from actually writing in the first place.
Regarding when it can occur, in some cases the block appears at the very beginning of the writing process. Difficulties with task initiation, especially for open-ended tasks with no clear starting point, can make writing feel almost impossible. Sometimes it can happen at the end, when we need to convey our final thoughts and wrap it up. We can end up struggling with how to conclude without sounding abrupt or redundant.
And on top of all this, if you’re neurodivergent (I recently saw a writer here use “neurospicy” instead, and I kind of liked it, but I digress) or if you’re experiencing burnout, then you also have to factor in nervous dysregulation, sensory overload, demand avoidance, emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, etc. It can make accessing language and structure much more difficult, and further add to the stress and dysregulation. It’s a cycle that fuels itself and can keep going unless we disrupt it.
Given all this, writer’s block seems to be a product of our environment and how our mind-body system interacts with and responds to it, rather than just a creativity challenge.
Six research-backed approaches that can help
As is obvious, not every approach will work for everyone. Since all of our brains are unique in their design, function, and needs (and even if the variations from one brain to the next are nominal), the methods that work for different brains and nervous systems are also unique. Having said that, here are some practices that have consistently proven to be effective in managing and overcoming writer’s block:
Edit after you’ve finished writing. I understand that switching habits may not happen immediately, and that the need to correct the flow and structure as you write may be overwhelming (I am struggling with following my own advice, to be honest with you, and I’m writing this with gritted teeth). But still, give it a try. Delay editing, and when you’re writing, just write. Don’t think about how it’ll read just yet.
Just begin anywhere. When we wait for the correct words and sentences to come to us before we start writing, we can keep waiting and delaying the beginning. It’s okay to start with incomplete ideas or at the “wrong” place. Anything that needs correcting can be corrected later during editing. Take a deep breath and just start writing.
If typing on a keyboard is not working, try changing the mode of creation. Try dictating your words into a speech-to-text app on your phone, laptop or tablet. (The Wispr Flow app is a blessing for those who use dictation as a tool for writing better, including myself. Shoutout to Tanay Kothari and Sahaj!) Or try the old-fashioned way of writing on paper with a pencil. I have experienced that the unique sound and feel of graphite on paper add to the sensory enjoyment of the process, leading to more creative ideas and easier flow of words.
Create a structure for whatever it is that you want to write, divided into sections with headings (article, blog, proposal, report), followed by writing down keywords or key sentences under each section, and then go about filling in the rest. This breaks down the bigger write-up into smaller steps, reducing cognitive load and allowing you to write faster. This system works better for technical or business writing, in my experience. (I have spent the last 15 years writing business and legal documents for upwards of 10 hours each day at my workplace, and I strongly suggest using this method for similar writing projects.)
Regulate your nervous system first. This can be achieved with movement, sensory aids, breathing exercises, etc. I personally like walking when I’m feeling stuck. After walking for about 10 minutes or 1000 steps (set a timer or use a pedometer app), I tend to write better.
I have also found on certain occasions that listening to “binaural beats for focus” puts me into a calmer and clearer state of mind, helping me to write faster. I think the correct sound frequency is 40Hz. I’m not very sure about it since I haven’t done any research on it. A friend just mentioned these to me once and I decided to try them out because, why not? You can find many such audios on YouTube and use the ones that you feel work for you. (Please remember that none of this is medical or therapeutic advice.)
Lastly, and if you feel comfortable in the company of other people, joining a writing group can also help. These groups generally keep fixed timings and by joining them, you are reducing your dependence on your internal systems to get you started on your writing and instead outsourcing it. This method doesn’t work for me personally, but you do you!
As you can see, none of these methods ask you to push harder. They just fine-tune your writing environment a little to improve your chances of success.
What works for me
For me, the most reliable way through a block is movement, specifically walking or dancing.
As I already mentioned, walking for 10 minutes helps me reset and write better. Walking is easier when I’m at my workplace. Dancing is something I do when I’m home.
Dancing with or without music helps me destress, be a little silly, get creative with my moves, and in the process, become unstuck. Yes, you read that right - I sometimes dance without putting on any music because I always have at least two radio stations inside my head broadcasting two different “songs of the day”, and I can pick one to dance to anytime. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and have a dance party!
To wrap up, if you’re ever struggling with writer’s block, remember that it has nothing to do with discipline or your commitment. It is a product of our environment and the needs of our nervous system. Address those needs first, and your words will come to you, and you know why? Because your words are uniquely yours and nothing can take them away from you. You just need to shake up some things to make way for them.
Question (Read it how Dwight says it, for added fun): Do you have a method that helps you get over your writer’s block that I haven’t mentioned here? Share in the comments or DM me, and I’ll include it in the above list.
With love,
Ray from DD