Jamming with the Writer’s Block

Ever felt stuck, as if you’ve depleted your creative reserve and nothing seems to

flow? As if loving the thing you love has suddenly become difficult? As if the pen is

betraying you again and again? That’s a “writer’s block.”

We’ve all been there. The reasons could range from being be pretty simple to deeply

complex. Often, we place ourselves on a pedestal so high that everything starts

feeling inaccessible. The moment you start criticising yourself before even beginning,

you paralyse your own creativity. Maybe that brilliant creation is twenty or five pages

away. Who knows? The key is to stick with it. Writing the “bad” stuff will ultimately

lead you to writing the best ones. Give yourself the permission to write trash. Once

you get into the flow, the idea will start gaining shape naturally.

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” -Jodi Picoult

So, how do you get there? Here are some of the tips that you can look at if you find

yourself slammed into the writer’s block.

1. Everything takes time

Many a times, we stress ourselves to the brim just by thinking about how the final

piece will turn like. That thought in itself is enough to jam us. Imposter syndrome can

become our worst enemy at times like these. The only way forward is to detach your

critical self from your writing self. Just start- it doesn’t matter if it is the middle or the

end. Let it simmer, then let it out. A few pages in, things will slowly start making

sense.

“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” -Terry Pratchett

2. Change the location

Nothing beats like a jet to holiday! Take that little trip you’ve been dying to take for

years. Visit your favourite spots in your neighbourhood. Go to that event you might or

might not have been invited to! The idea is to place yourself in a different location. A

change of scenery can surprisingly inspire you in ways you couldn’t have imagined.

“I write better when I write away from home.” -Ernest Hemingway

3. Write something unrelated

It is not extraordinary that you get stuck in the middle of a full-fledged scene and are

left staring at the screen for insufferable hours. What could’ve been done in a fairly

stipulated time, is now proving to be a Herculean task. You could either get yourself

away from the screen or try writing something completely different. Writing

something different would shift you from the zone you might have confined yourself

within. Often, stepping sideways instead of pushing head-on opens new pathways

for creativity and brings back the flow you thought was lost.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” -Maya Angelou

4. Don’t give the “writer’s block” the precedence on yourself

Yes, there are deadlines breathing down your neck. Yes, there’s a pile of pending

tasks that needs sorting. Yes, you’ve been planning this page for the past month.

Yes! All of it might be true. But the more you dwell on it, and the more you pressurise

yourself, the longer it’ll take to break free. The best plan is to starve the thought. The

moment you shift away from those inner naggings, you’ll breathe a little easier.

“Start before you’re ready.” -Steven Pressfield

5. Reading always helps

Pick up your favourite read- or any other book for that matter. You could read the

books about the themes that you’re writing, the feelings you want to capture, or the

scene you want to depict. It could be related to your work or pivot in a completely

different direction. Let yourself get lost in the pages. Maybe the spark you need is

hidden in that assortment of words. Reading is just the task that can get you going.

“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or tools) to write.

Simple as that.” -Stephen King

6. Look around and observe

Sometimes the life happening outside your screen and corner can do wonders for

you writing. In fact, the more you seclude yourself, the more it becomes difficult to

have your work done. Inspiration doesn’t come from thin air. It is embedded in the

small details that surround you- the interactions, the colours, the sounds, the

textures. It is in those fleeting moments that life happens. A brief pause to watch,

listen and observe can unlock the ideas that sitting alone in front of the screen never

will.

“The job of the writer is to observe the world and render it to others.” -Zadie Smith

And honestly, it is the whole package. Embrace the good and the bad. The secret

lies in the process and not the product. Watch yourself grow, moment by moment.

That is truly living the life that you’ve been given.