Ok, I have it. Writer’s Block.
Today, I’m drawing a blank.
Well, truth be told, for the passed ten days I’ve been drawing a blank.
I have other friends who are going through the same thing.
Some of this is definitely quarantine related. I can’t concentrate on anything but health issues, keeping my family safe and trying to stay sane.
But it’s been well over two months now. If this is the new normal, I need to get with it.
Regardless of the source of your writers block, if you are interested in getting rid of it, here’s what I’m doing to get after it.
1- Breathing through the block.
Lots and lots of breathing.
Because in the world of what really matters, being stuck on a scene is not the end of the world.
A bit annoying but not apocalyptic.
When I decided to switch from active duty to a writing career, I went to a writer’s retreat at a Zen monastery in Crestone, Colorado.
It was right after Eat, Pray, Love came out and seemed appropriate.
What an experience!
Breathe. Understand this moment is all you really have. Breathe. Enjoy the process.
So, I’m breathing and letting the process work its magic.
2- Brainstorming the writers block out of commission.
Then I started brainstorming all things marketing, because well, it’s what I do.
Anything and everything we as writers need to know, don’t want to do and which ones are the most important.
The obvious: Social media. The not so obvious: photos and videos.
The bizarre: a book launch at a tractor store grand opening. The dreaded: cold calling groups to ask for speaking time or following 1000s of people across all social media forms.
The fun: chats with readers. The really fun: engaging with other writers and lots of readers.
For my fiction, I did a character interview and mapped out the town in my series.
What can you do?
3- Listening to drown it out.
Podcasts about writing, books and publishing are a godsend for a writer with the block!
Love them!
Just hearing someone talk about writing or marketing gets me out of a funk pretty well.
It helps me stay focused on the ultimate goal.
Knowing your ultimate goal will also help keep you focused.
I have a list of great podcasts for writers here.
And now, after breathing and simply writing, the process has done what it always does for me.
Cured my writer’s block? Not really. But writing is my process. My tool.
And these activities at least make me feel better about where I am.
For more ideas on combating writers block, check out Reedsy’s recommendations.