Terry Pratchett said that there is no such thing as writer’s block. If so, how should we define the moments when it seems that our bucket of ideas is empty? How do we put words where it seems to be nothing but darkness? And moreover, how we decide which words to use when no words seem to be required?
I don’t know if it counts as writer’s block or not, but sometimes writing is hard. And not because there is nothing to say, but because it doesn’t seem important enough to crawl deep into our souls to search for those good words we keep aside for emergency purposes. Who knows when you need that brilliant phrase you don’t even know you have in there?
There are countless written words out there. Countless! Trillions phrases coming from millions writers that can’t wait to make an impact. With such richness in words, nothing seems to be important enough anymore. Everything seems to be written already. Maybe this is writer’s block. Maybe the words already written are so scary to face that nothing can beat that fear.
In my opinion, this can be overcome by emotion. When I think about what makes me scared or what makes me joyful, I can find words to write because I don’t care anymore about what’s already written. I only care about expressing my emotions and when I have this in mind, the words come. They always do. All the words are there, inside ourselves, locked until the right emotional key comes.
Which emotional key unlocks your best words?
This is very relatable, it always happens to me when i try to write fluently and correctly, but when one thing goes badly everything else will by breaking the flow and symphony of the words. Well said, really like this post 🙂 <3
Thank you for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😀
I really enjoyed this post! I just went through a bad period of writer’s block myself.
Thank you for reading! How did you manage to “conquer” it?
I rewrote my chapter probably around four times and eventually I was satisfied!
Thanks for the post. Every writer has his or her own motivators; for me, it is music. I have made playlists of favorite music and for the two years that I have been writing almost daily, my earbuds transport feelings that bring words through my keyboard. Somedays, it may be just a paragraph or two. Others, much more. It doesn’t matter how many words, it is what they say. Each day, I begin by rereading and touching up my work from the day before…that exercise, and the music, usually get me back in the groove. At least that is what works for me. Best wishes.
You seem to have a great way to deal with writer’s block and I truly admire the fact that you write almost daily. For how long have you need doing this?
I don’t mind being stupid I don’t mind saying something simple with odd words finding new ways to say what’s always been said is great. I stopped having this issue when I decided I can write anything even if it’s terrible. I just don’t have to share everything I write.
ECHO ECHO
I can relate.
Yeah, that’s my general attitude about writing these days. Sometimes I’m a bit vain and need validation and at other times I’m like, stuff this, I’m writing for ME today and if I sound like an idiot, so be it.
I’m writing for someone else then I still don’t care, I can just try again if first attempt isn’t so good maybe edit maybe give up in initial concept and start from scratch. There is no reason to take life so seriously and writing is my life.
ECHO ECHO
That is very true! What helped you get to the conclusion you can write anything even if it’s terrible?
Not sure, it stated during school so I’m sure that was somehow a factor
ECHO ECHO
When I read there’s no such thing as writers block, that I just had to sit and punch the keys. Well, it’s the head that controls the hand. But what do I call it when I try to write and my head is completely empty. Painfully blank. That’s writers block to me. For me writing what others would like to read in its perfect form makes it harder but now that I write for myself, I write often.
I think this is because when we write for others, it feels impersonal compared to when we write for ourselves. That’s when the emotions step in.
Loved it. For me the key emotional words to unlock are : Love and kindness. And other than words : it is nature 😊❤️
That’s awesome! Thank you for reading!
My feelings and pain both bring the words out of me. I can’t write if I cannot relate to myself or to the reality. I need to feel it before I write it.
In my opinion, that’s the best way to approach writing. It needs to be a way to express emotions so if emotions aren’t there in the first place, the writing won’t express anything…
Interesting suggestion. You made me realize how prolific bloggers most often than not write about their emotions… If you take a look at their posts, you’ll see they revolve around some emotions they have felt in a given situation. Sometimes it’s just a little flash, a few lines, sometimes it’s a long article… In any case, they manage to post something new everyday (or more times a day!). So this is probably one of the secrets behind their flow of words, which I definitely envy 🙂
True! I’ve heard many successful writers talking about writing from a state of anger or writing about what hurts them or “punching the keys”. I think that in the end, it’s all about expressing and transmitting emotions.
I agree with you when you say that we have thoughts but we don’t want to vocalize them. we don’t want to delve deep into and write about them.
Maybe we need to even though it’s only for ourselves?
🗣🗣 And let church say…………!!!!😂
Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I think most of our “blocks” comes from how we want to frame the intended message. The more we worry about finding the “right word”, the more we get pulled away from what we really want to say.
In addition I find it easier to write down bit and pieces of thoughts constantly, and go back later and built on those ideas. We don’t think about a complete essay when an idea comes to mind, so it’s often difficult trying to “write ideas” into complete works.
Writing the ideas down when they come and then developing them whenever we have the chance is a great way to deal with this. When nothing comes in mind, an idea written before can be picked up.
This is my favorite part: “With such richness in words, nothing seems to be important enough anymore. Everything seems to be written already. Maybe this is writer’s block. Maybe the words already written are so scary to face that nothing can beat that fear.”
When I can’t think of what to write, I take a walk. Somehow, moving feet and nature unlock the flow — no keyboard pressure.
It’s awesome if you have some nature around you that can inspire you. Thank you very much for reading!
You should never be ‘blocked’ – just start writing about anything or nothing and the subject will evolve. But if you really can’t put words down, here’s a trick: try and exploit the unexpected. For example, a relative visits the bathroom, the plumbing performs in the usual way, but your relative doesn’t return. After patiently waiting you investigate. The bathroom is empty. There is no other way out, so where did your relative go? 1200 miles from home on holiday you see someone whose funeral you attended ten years ago, in the company of one of your sworn enemies – what are they doing there? Explaining the inexplicable is the essence of writing, and when you think about it, applies to non-fiction as much as fiction. There’s always something to write, but sometimes there is a lack of motivation to write.
“There’s always something to write, but sometimes there is a lack of motivation to write.” Great point! Investigating the unexpected… I’ll think about that. Thank you very much for the tip!