Advice from Canadian writers on how to finally put an end to this never-ending cycle
By: Sania Ali
It’s been a few days, and that article, paper or even novel that you’ve been meaning to write has yet to make a dent in your blinding-white word document. The looming deadline is seemingly coming closer and closer. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer, or that you’re never going to finish this project. You’re probably just facing writer’s block.
Not to worry, you’re not alone here! It may feel like you’ll be unable to climb out of this pit, but every single writer in history has experienced writer’s block. I spoke to three different writers who have not only lived through writer’s block but also have tips to overcome it!
1. Know what you’re writing about
A lot of the time, writers sit down with a vague idea of what they want to write about, only to discover that they don’t really know what they’re writing about. Thus, they find themselves in the pit of writer’s block.
Christina Anto, a technical writer with a master’s in literature of modernity from X University, said that researching what she’s writing about has almost always gotten her out of writer’s block. “You can borrow ideas and change them, you can get inspiration or even just know more of what you’re talking about. So I think that would be the research aspect. Just keep reading and reading and reading,” said Anto. Indeed, finding inspiration through the works of other writers is a great way to combat writer’s block and start getting your head around the content of your writing.
2. Write, write and write some more
When you have an idea in mind but the execution seems nonexistent, it may be time to try freewriting. Calgary-based content creation specialist at Routeique and fiction writer Ethan Allan says that writing something down, even if you know you won’t like it, is a much better alternative to staring at a blank screen. Once you have something down, you can begin dissecting and figuring out exactly what you want to change and add. It’s also important to remember that writing is about having fun and the dreadful writer’s block is all a part of writing. Allan says, “If you can get anything down, I think that’s going to be incredibly invaluable rather than just sitting at your desk and just hoping for magic to strike because it’s probably not going to.”
3. Create an outline
Writing can become tedious when you don’t have a plan in place. To avoid this it can be beneficial to create an outline. Kelly Allers, the author of the fantasy book The Final Age of Magic, explains that to write his novel he used a large poster board and wrote down his ideas for the chapter on sticky notes, outlining the entire book chapter by chapter. This idea also allows you to collaborate with others on ideas. “All of it should serve a purpose,” said Allers. “If the work doesn’t serve a purpose then you might be spinning your tires. You might not be writing about something that’s really important to you or that really matters to you.”
4. Experience life
While it’s no secret that the work of writers can become reflections of their own lived experiences, it can be difficult to write when you haven’t experienced enough. For example, you may find yourself having trouble writing about a boat or a train if you’ve never seen one. “One of the things that really allowed me to break through it — and I know it’s not an easy thing to do right now — but travelling and getting to explore different cultures,” says Allers. You never know where inspiration may strike. Allers recommends holding onto a pen and paper as you experience life. If you’re feeling like your story is leading nowhere, a great remedy to spark some ideas is to put your writing aside for a while and go out for a walk.
5. Remember to take care of yourself!
Despite contrary belief, writer’s block is no reflection of your capabilities as a writer. Anto goes back to the root of writer’s block and talks about the culture of being a writer. “Understand that writer’s block is an emotional experience, it’s a frustration, it’s anger, maybe it’s insecurity,” says Anto. “There are questions about how systems influence writer’s block, how exhaustion and burnout and the 40-hour work week can negatively impact people’s ability to write high-quality work. It’s not just the writer, it’s also everything around the writer.”
If you’re faced with writer’s block you may want to ask if the deadline you’re working towards is reasonable. Are you getting enough sleep at night? Are you eating enough? Sometimes, writer’s block may not have anything to do with writing, it might just mean it’s time to take a break!
No matter what you’re writing or planning to write, writer’s block is almost always a certain checkpoint of writing. Hopefully getting an insight into the tricks and tips of other writers can inspire you to be kind to yourself and get back into the groove of finishing up that project. Good luck!
