Writer's Block and How to Overcome It

Has there been a situation where you take your laptop or your book and you are not able to write even a single word??

This can happen to anyone. Yes, writer’s block is real and a lot of individuals encounter it. It is as though all your ideas have been snatched from your mind and your words have just vanished into thin air. This is normal but when it lasts longer than usual, then there is a problem. This is not a medical condition but a psychological problem.?

What causes one to experience writer’s block and how can you overcome it?

There are so many things that can bring about writer’s block. Some of these causes are not things we even pay attention to because we think they are just responses to situations we find ourselves in.?

One of the causes of writer’s block is fear. The majority of people are afraid of what people will say about their writing. They bring up so many “what ifs”. What if they do not like what I write about? What if I commit grammatical errors? What if my vocabulary is too elementary or complex for them? What if they do not like my style of writing? Let me tell you that you cannot get the answers to these questions if you do not start. Even if the answers to these questions are negative, who cares. If you do not start and practise always, you can never get better. Just start writing now.

Another cause of writer’s block is perfectionism. Have you ever met a perfectionist before? I am one. They always want things to be one hundred perfect. This is good but sometimes it inhibits one from writing. It is important to know that writing is a process and you only get better by practising. Yes, I understand you want your work to be flawless and this is very good. However, if you concentrate on this too much, you will never click the publish button or send your manuscript for publication. This leads to procrastination which is a very negative attitude. I created my LinkedIn account in 2019 but I started posting content in 2022 because I wanted every post to be perfect. Do not wait forever before you start because no matter how long you wait, you will not have a perfect script all the time. To overcome this problem, set realistic goals and timelines for yourself. Always remember that perfection is not the goal, progress is paramount in the writing process.

Furthermore, stress can cause one to experience writer’s block. According to the World Health Organization, stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is not always negative because it prompts us to address situations that need our attention. However, it becomes a problem when we are unable to do anything about it and it hangs over us like a burden we cannot lift off ourselves. Sometimes, we do not know that we are even under stress. One of the ways to solve this problem is to become more self-aware. The moment you realise that you are stressed, direct your energy to something else that will help you to relax. Afterwards, you concentrate on the stressor so you can tackle it and get peace of mind to write.?

Most times, people say they do not know what to write. This is never an excuse not to write because there are so many things happening around you. At first, I used to say this a lot until I realised that even the conversations I have with my friends can give me ideas about what to write. There are so many ideas around you but you do not take notice of them. When something strikes your attention, just write it down. Would you believe me if I told you that I get a lot of ideas when I go to the bathroom? I don’t know how it happens but it does. It is as though the water washes my brain anew. If you are on social media and a post inspires you, write it down. When you are watching the television and you hear something new, write it down. Write every idea down and research it when you want to write about it.?

The last cause I will talk about is “I am not in the mood to write”. This happens to all of us. Sometimes we are just not in the mood to write. You want to sleep, watch a movie or listen to music all day. However, this needs not become our routine every day. This problem can be solved when we have a schedule for our writing. I remember before I started this newsletter, I researched the topics that I will be posting each week. I typed thirty topics that I will write about for the next 30 weeks. I also scheduled a time that I would be publishing. This makes one disciplined.?

Writer's block should not be viewed as an irreparable problem. You can always find your way around it so do not wallow in it. You need not be in the mood before you can write. Writing requires discipline and planning. Start writing now.