Writer's Block is Not Fun!

At times, words can be evil. Every writer knows that feeling of being stuck staring at a blank document/paper, unable to express the chaotic storm rampaging in their heads. Before I began penning this piece down, I was in a somewhat similar position. So, technically, this is not only an article about writer's block, but it is it. This is me trying to power through weeks of not writing anything. This is me just trying to get the words down and trying to keep my hands off the backspace key.

What is writer's block? It's me saying "I don't know man, just look it up on Google or something ffs" to the reader instead of actually using my own words to describe it. It's the flow of words being blocked in our minds, even though we have a lot to say. It's our mind making us think that we really don't have anything to say. It's a lot of things. For me, it's not being able to express myself for n number of reasons.

What causes writer's block? To be really honest, the causes of writer's block may vary from individual to individual. It could be due to the writer being burnt out after having gone on a writing spree. On the other hand, it could be because the person hasn't touched their keyboard or pen for months. Or, it could be due to stress. What we can agree on is that its cause is largely psychological.

How to unblock the writer inside of you? If you go on the web, you'll find dozens of tricks and tips on how to get out of that slump. But the crux of all those tips and tricks is this - sit down, pick up the pen, and just start writing whatever comes to your mind. Wait, I'll show you.

amsaljdlkafdajgaklfa. Annie was the undercover smooth criminal, and she was more than okay. Whatever comes to your mind, just write it. Write it. Write it. All you need to do is refresh your mind and the tangled words inside it will sort themselves out. It doesn't have to be perfect. It don't have to make sense or be grammatically corrrrrect. It don't matter what you write to get out of that slump. It doesn't really matter what people will think of what you are writing. Kill the audience in your mind that is constantly judging your work as you pen it down. Give them the middle finger and then carefully place them on railroad tracks. Watch a train go over their bodies as they scream in horror while anticipating their excruciating death. See? Now you're free to write whatever you want.

The paragraph above was me writing whatever came to my mind. Now, in this paragraph, I'm more relaxed and the words are flowing a bit more freely. So, it sort of worked? Yes, it did. Try it. It's an exercise that's fun and helps you to get out of your own way. Once you're done having fun with words, you can move on to writing your blog, book, article, thesis, press release, or whatever it is. After all, no athlete jumps onto the field ready to play without warming up.

Cheers and happy writing!