Five FAST tips on how to fight against the crippling ailment of Writer's Block

Written by Alexis Watson

There's nothing more beautifully terrifying than sitting down with a story idea in front of a blank Word Doc on a computer screen, eager to fill those pages with my stories laced with mystery, sci-fi, thriller, history or romance. But, just as I get ready to write, just as I get ready to release my inner creator and just as I get ready for my writing journey to begin...nothing. I sit, stumped, looking at that blank page as my ideas quickly fizzle. Anxiety slowly seeps into each lobe of my creative mind - paralyzing the writing process. Before long, I will abandon the story and its newfound discomfort. That story I wanted to write or that idea that needed to be jotted down, will now be stored in my mental cabinet of “Forgetables.” 

So, how exactly does one fight the disease we writers call “WRITERS BLOCK”? 

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Writer's Block is a serious hindrance that millions of writers fall victim too. Some writers never get a chance to fight off this grave disease while others are triumphant. Fair warning, no one is exempt! I have tried a number of creative techniques to help fight off this debilitating spell - many of which have been successful; however, I still get blocked from time to time. Like most, I began to search for a cure.

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When I am struggling to find a story idea I do one of two things: I create a list of memories and/or go to a public place and people watch. 

LIST OF MEMORIES

I really enjoy writing down a list of memories because, quite frankly, who doesn't like going down memory lane occasionally? I give myself a few minutes (two or three, but no more) to list the first ten memories that come to mind. It could be memories from fifteen years ago or memory from three minutes ago. A memory is a memory and there’s no time limit on how far back the memory has to go. After I have my list, I give myself an additional five to seven minutes and fill in as many sensory details about each memory that I can.  Such details include: 

• Where I am; 

• Who I am with;

• What I am doing;

• What do I smell

• What I am wearing;

• What I am eating;  

• What's the weather like; 

• What do I see; and

• What do I hear?

There are no details too big or too small. I try to include as much information as I  can without worrying I have too much information. I can always cut unnecessary details later. Timing myself throughout this technique is key. It allows me to focus on the memory that I am most fond of. My fondest memory will have more details such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and etc., than the other nine memories on my list. The memory with the most description will be the blueprint for a story. Now that I have my foundation for a story, I need to create the background of my story. For example, I need to:

• Create an appropriate emotional atmosphere;

• Add necessary dialogue;

• Create sub-characters; and 

• Allow my memory, now story, to unfold organically.

I love doing this exercise because it provides me with the ability to be as flexible with the memory as I want. I am able to create, alter or add scenarios. I can change the ending. I can react differently on the page. I have the ability to mold my memory into what I want. This technique allows me to be as flexible with the story as I like. People watching as a technique also gives as much flexibility.

PEOPLE WATCH OR “EAVESDROP”

First, let’s all admit one thing. We ALL people watch or “eavesdrop” from time to time - there’s no shame in it. Honestly, people-watching is one of my favorite ways to get story ideas! It might be one of the easiest ways as well. I am not encouraging anyone to steal anyone’s material; but I am encouraging all creators to stroll through a park, to take sporadic train rides or to leisurely sit in a crowded cafe and just listen and watch. Story ideas will be laying around begging for creators to invest their time into developing them. During my leisure time of people watching, I often hear a person say “that’s crazy right!” or “can you believe that?” I realized it’s moments like these and characters like that which can be very useful to my story or, BE my story.  

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So now, I have a few story ideas and I am ready to embark on my writing journey. For me, setting the mood is the second step. I always set the mood mentally and physically.

SETTING THE MOOD - MENTALLY

The first thing I do is relax and try to clear my mind.  My mind is often littered with worries from yesterday, loitering with things from today and frantic for the unpredictability of tomorrow. There is no rush or limit on how long this process will take. My main goal is to alleviate my mind from the clutter of daily responsibilities and give room for my story idea to develop. The key to this technique is to not force the story out. If I am unable to clear my mind and give my story the time for development that it needs to grow, then it’s no big deal. I will choose another time to write or give myself more time to clear my mind. Some good ways to clear my mind are:

• Lightning incents;

• Turning off the lights and closing my eyes;

• Relax in a warm bubble bath;

• Taking a warm shower; 

• Eating my favorite snack;

• Laying down; and 

• Being still.

Once I have put all my worries in the “Junk” cabinet of my mind, it's time to physically set the mood. 

SETTING THE MOOD - PHYSICALLY

There are multiple ways to set the mood physically, but my favorite and most effective way is playing music. I will admit that playing music is tricky. Music could easily be more of a distraction than an attention harness.  For that reason, I don’t play music that will urge me to “twerk” in the mirror twenty seconds after the beat comes on. So, unfortunately, no City girls; no Lizzo; and no Saweetie. Meg the Stallion? Yeah...she’s going to have to sit this one out too. I also stay clear of music that gets me “hyped up.” Any song that makes me do the “dance” Lil’ Kim does when she performs Quiet Storm live is a definite NO. So Lil’ Kim, obviously, is a no, Eve is a no and so is Queen Latifah. As much as I love my girls Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, I’ll have to skip them too. The key to this technique is to use music to help channel my story and not deviate me from my story. 

The music that helps set the mood for me, that really puts me in my zone, is classical soft music or cafe music. It is the soft soothing sounds of the instruments that really help me focus. It is important to note that this technique could also be used in helping to set the mood mentally, by assisting me in clearing my mind. However, there are times when classical music doesn’t work and so I have to go to Brian McKnight for help. His song One Last Cry helps me to write ANYTHING-even now. His buttery smooth voice laced through the soft background instruments entices me to create the story that is dying to come out. That song specifically puts me in a mood that is indescribable, yet productive. I encourage all creators to find that song, sound or voice that paralyzes the outside world and births the creative genius within. 

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Now, the mood is set, the page is blank, my mind is full, but I am still unable to get my ideas down - so now what? Believe it or not -  I’ll doodle. I learned this crafty technique from Lynda Barry’s graphic novel, “Syllabus.” As a kid, I was constantly told not to doodle and/or constantly scolded for doodling on classwork, homework, etc. However, Barry reminds me of how important doodling is to the creative process. So I doodle, I draw shapes, I write jokes and I even jot down song lyrics. The key to this technique is to keep the pen moving. The more I move my pen, the more ideas will come. If I'm halfway through my story and my train of ideas crash, doodling will revive my idea train. Now, my idea train may not have the same idea, but it will have an idea nonetheless. My book of story ideas is filled with just as many doodles as it is with stories. Doodle. Doodle. Doodle! I can’t stress this point enough. As writers and creators, we need to keep our pens moving and our ideas brewing. 

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Overall, these techniques are really important in aiding me while on my writing journey. But, what I needed to know and hear was that I mattered. My voice, my story, my history - all of it matters. And so, I say to all creators out there searching for a place where they matter - create it! 

The world needs more of our voices, but way too often we get tripped up by “Writer's Block'' and aren’t given any creative tools or techniques to overcome it. I hope this roadmap will give current and future creators tips on how to beat writer’s block so everyone can relish the destination of our stories. So to all of my creators, keep with the journey and know the reward from writing is definitely worth the wait.

Author Bio

Alexis Watson is a current graduate student at The New School who masters in Creative Writing for Fiction. She writes short stories, satire, and poetry. She tackles issues surrounding social and racial injustice and uses her writing ability as a platform for others' voices to be heard. She also writes about political topics and how unjust politics plague minority communities and hopes to inspire others to become more politically active and aware. She was born in the southern grounds of Virginia but currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.