7 Ways to Work Through Writer's Block (Post #60)

"During these moments, ensure to regulate your expectations.  No, you won’t craft poems like the late and great Maya Angelou, blog posts like Darren Rowse, or stories like Stephen King."

True story.  In this very moment, literally right now, I KNOW THAT I need to write.  I know that if I want to maintain this blog, then my fingas’ have got-sta’ keep these keys a clackin’.  After all, you can’t produce content, if you won’t create content. 
 
However, in complete honesty I have to admit that I’m really having some trouble catching my “flow.”  By “flow” I mean the beloved Word Pour.  It’s that place of writing when your thoughts and your fingers are moving in great synchronization.  It’s when you’re producing pages in mere minutes.  It’s the zone where only typos slow you down.  Today, I could only wish I was there:  in the flow, in the zone, in the pour.  

However, right now, I’m not there.  In fact, I’m nowhere near there.  Why not you ask?  Because, in this very moment, I’m staring down the devastating barrel of some serious writer’s block. 
 
Writer’s block (or “Da’ Block” as I like to call it) has been a real struggle within my content creation for a while now.  Da’ Block makes sitting down to write a bit more anxiety-ridden than it ought to be.  Yes, I know that I am a capable writer and yes, I know that any attempt to distract me from writing must be avoided. 
 
Therefore, during this moment where I’m struggling to write, I’ve decided to write about struggling to write, because I’m struggling to write.  

"It’s that place of writing when your thoughts and your fingers are moving in great synchronization.  It’s when you’re producing pages in mere minutes.  It’s the zone where only typos slow you down."

I’m thinking, ‘How can I beat this?’ Or, ‘what has proven effective for others?’ In my contemplation I come up with a couple of things; however, I wanted more than that. I sat and thought that I really needed a strategy. A plan or a blueprint that I could use when my pen begins to struggle. So, with that, I keep typing.

I don’t profess to have the answers; however, these are the tips that resonated with me as I sought to find a plan. So, without further hesitation, I present to you my 7 tips to beat Da’ Block:

1. Keep Typing Anyway: Hate it or love it, this is by far the cornerstone of effectiveness concerning writer’s block. Sometimes you just have to type your way though. During these moments, ensure to regulate your expectations. No, you won’t craft poems like the late and great Maya Angelou, blog posts like Darren Rowse, or stories like Stephen King. However, in most cases I’ve found that pushing through the block, will eventually lead to the flow.
2. Pray for Guidance: Yes, I do agree that this should be number one. As in all forms of struggle, I think the difference maker can be found in a sincere moment of prayer. In times like these I just take my hands off the keyboard, sit back, take a deep breath, and say - “Dear God, this day I’m asking for Your help. I believe with all my heart that You gave me this gift for Your honor and glory. However, You know that I have moments when I’m challenged. So, in faith I’m asking You to please help me to push past all of the fog, and guide me towards some actionable steps. You’ve never failed me before, and I know You never will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen”
3. Create your Authoring Vision: In my moments of creative struggle, another strategy that I’ve found effective has been reestablishing my “Authoring Vision.” Basically speaking, this is where you begin to define (or redefine) your goal for writing. What are you seeking to accomplish? Who’s your target audience? What are you trying to say? For me, I remind myself of my blog’s mission. I then generate ideas on my creation tracker that minister in agreement with the mission. Reminding myself of why I do what I’m doing, often motivates me to do what I need to do.
4. Don’t give into Negative Thoughts: During tough patches like these, it’s important for you to remember who you are. I’ve learned from my own history that Da’ Block lasts longer when I allow its unavoidable impact to discredit my identity. Consider this. Steph Curry is arguably greatest 3-point shooter to ever play the game of basketball; however, even he has off nights. Still, if you were to ask him how his off-night would impact his next night, He’d simply to tell you this – “Shooter’s shoot.” The implication here is simple: a bad night for Steph doesn’t stop Steph from being Steph.
5. Accept that It Happens to All Writers: You may remember that I previously mentioned the incomparable Maya Angelou, Stephen King, and Darren Rouse. Do you know what I have in common with all 3 of them? Well, #1 – we all are (or respectfully were) writers. And, #2 – we’ve all dealt writer’s block. No, I’m not the Steph Curry of writing; however, you could argue that in their genres, these writers are. Therefore, if it can happen to them, surely I MUST happen to us.
6. Be Consistent, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It: Nicole Bianchi penned a blog post entitled “5 Famous Authors’ Strategies for Conquering Writer’s Block” (click here for link). In her article, she stated the following: “Maya Angelou… believed that when you are suffering from writer's block, you should force yourself to continue writing every day, no matter if you're pleased with the final product or not. She explained: “What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.” I appreciate hearing this from such an accomplished writer as her. It reminds me that no one is immune. If you create content, then you must contend with this.
7. Write About Your Struggle to Write: So, the blog post was originally supposed to be 6 points; however, after typing all of this, I had to tell somebody that the best thing that I’ve found to combat Da’ Block, was to write about it. Make the mayhem the muse or beauty into ashes. Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”(NLT)

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​So, what did you think? Was this helpful? Which strategy registered with you the most? Please comment below and let me know. Agree? Disagree? I want to hear from you. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and share this post with a writer who’s sick of just chillin’ on Da’ Block. Blessings.

Imperfectly,

Kevin D. Jones, Sr.

Author and Publisher of Perfectly Imperfect Perfectionist
(@kevindjonessr)
(@imperfection360)