Hit Writer's Block? Commentate!
The Colin Kapernick hodgepodge of hatred is on us again. Trump did what? Which new plot leaked? How many people died? Every where you turn, whether you go online, through the news, or even in face-to-face at work. It's hard to get away from the constant diatrope of which issues mean more at any one certain time. If you go on vacation, you miss out on the latest drama unfolding within your favorite vice. Heaven forbid!
As writers, we are better at crafting drama within our fictional characters than we are reacting to them. Like anyone else, we have our favorite shows, books, and movies, all of which have now become a hotbed for fan-theories. We can often get distracted with those shows or our favorite team, and thus accidently placing elements of their story or jokes from their copyrighted material into our manuscripts. So what are we to do? What can we do when we hit the brick wall of writer's block, because all we're thinking about is how much we love the new movie that just came out or how disgusted we are with our current political situation? We're writers, so we write.
Commentating is an excellent form of getting your frustrations, your excitement, or even your meagerness of a certain topic off your mind. Each topic needs research on what you know, but every topic can just be sourced from one or two different quick articles. There are healthy ways to commentate and unhealthy ways to do this too. Below, I'll show you the difference, as well as practical ways we can help clear our head for better writing.
Unhealthy Commentating
Starting off with the unhealthy, there are three major ones, which will lead to either terrible writing, personal fights between friends, or even depression, anxiety, and additional stress.
- Facebook / Twitter: Facebook and Twitter are wonderful things for what they do. Allowing people to connect with different people across the world, sharing interests, and allowing discussions to take place within these arenas of social behavior using gifs, memes, emojis and more. However, it's not healthy if Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site takes up the bulk of your time - careers within social media being one of few exceptions. Using these sites as an outpouring of your skills as a writer is like vomiting on a sign, leaving it in your front yard, and watching through the window to see if anyone is coming to look. Why do this to yourself? You're better than this, and vomit goes in the toilet.
- Overcomplication: In the Navy, there was a saying regarding the incredibly smart and talented people who worked in the engine rooms near our nuclear reactors. The phrase was, "Don't Nuke it." This means as over thinking something to the smallest atom, whether thought or actual science to where it's detrimental to your current situation. With your writing or with your commentaries, are you "nuking it?" Are you overcomplicating things so much people are going to need a safety rope to stay on topic?
- Adding Personal Baggage : Personal baggage is difficult to lug around isn't it? Whether it's parental issues, marital issues, health issues, or even mental health issues, it is always better to stay on topic within your commentary. Telling your reader about how Thanos' scheme in Avengers: Infinity War reminds you of your dad, who used to constantly walk around snapping in people's faces is a great lead into the article. Leading or referencing your "snapping dad" later in the article more than once is a sign of having issues you might want to speak to a professional with. These situations would be much better served within that professional therapy environment, as they may lead you towards growth and becoming a better you. Leaving them saved, posting them, or even worse, making a YouTube video on the topic, could garner additional (and unforeseen) consequences.
Healthy Commentating
These three healthy tips are wonderful for commentating, writing in general, or even professional discussions with people.
- Single Focused Topic: This is extremely helpful to someone who might be suffering with an inability to focus. Conducting an exercise of writing about one single topic, such as your review of a movie or book, gives you a training ground to help stay on topic vice the constant nagging of distractions.
- Proper Format: When you wrote papers in high school, which format did they have to be? APA 6th edition, probably if you're anything like my school. Each line had to be double spaced, with references made available at the end. While it also prepared me for paper writing in my undergrad, it allowed me to navigate the proper format for my future writings. Creating a thesis, followed by your outline and sources, gives you plenty of opportunity to see how your writing will shape up with an executive level view.
- Timeless: How many blogs or vlogs have you seen which are no longer useful? A quick scroll through YouTube on conspiracy theories or comic book news will showcase how the tiniest "Easter egg" means something, even if that moment has well-passed its time. How do you make something timeless? Simple - don't add time into your post. While this paragraph might be telling its age in a few years, the best ones either give advice or hold a level of understanding to them which can be applied, no matter the decade or problem we find ourselves with.
With these six tips, there is a clear line of what's healthy and unhealthy when commentating on a topic, which can be a sure-fire way to clear the writer's block and get back to work.
Do you have any more tips you've seen, or do you have another writer's block solution? Let's further discuss things in the comments.