the upside of writer's block

If you are a writer then at some stage you are going to be cursed with writer's block.

Writer's block is a bit like erectile dysfunction. Unexpected and bloody annoying.

Taken in the right frame of mind, however, it can be very useful.

The reason you get writer's block is because the creative part of your brain is totally full. It needs to have an ideas de-clutter.

If like me, you are a compulsive writer, and by compulsive I mean, you have to write every day, and if possible, most of the day. It's only natural for the mind to say, 'Enough. I need a break.' And if, like me, you are in the habit of ignoring this plea for mercy, then that creative part of your brain will rebel, go on strike, and eventually shutdown.

Can you avoid writer's block? I don't think so - I've yet to meet the writer who hasn't suffered writer's block at sometime in their career. 

Consider this, you, are writing the best prose you have ever written, are you going to stop? Stupid question really – the answer is – an emphatic – NO. You keep writing and writing until wham --- nothing of any value is being written down, then you don't have a choice, you have to stop.

So, here you are, looking at the screen with not a single useful thought in your head.

How to overcome this situation? 

You need - strategy.

And you need to ignore the twitch in your fingers that says, I need to write. There's no point in writing verbal vomit - is there?

Everyone needs a holiday, and if you think of writer's block in terms of timeout to regroup your creativity, then it's not such a bad thing.

Maybe, all your brain needs is a recharge. 

Lorca on his walk

Each day for about an hour I walk my dog,  Lorca. I love this short time to myself. It gives me the opportunity to rethink what I have written that morning. 

Lorca waiting for his treat.

Writer's block is a bit like walking a dog, it gives you valuable a break from the intensity that writing a novel, an article, a poem or a short story, demands of your creative juices.

If you consider writer's block to be a mini-holiday that helps stop your brain from exploding, then it changes from a negative thing to a positive thing.

What you need to do. Is forget that you are a writer. Become, something else. Anything else. Just not a writer.

If you have watched the film Fight Club (and I recommend you do - it's brilliant) - then you will know you don't talk about Fight Club. 

If you are going on a sabbatical to clear your writer's block then follow the rules of Fight Club - and don't talk about it. One of the reasons for going on a holiday is to have a rest and forget about your problems back home. Same thing with taking a break from writing. Clearing your mind of the problem helps you overcome why you have the problem in the first place.

Reading other peoples books is a great way to get your thoughts back in gear. Best thing is not to read your usual choice of genre.

If you don't normally read crime novels, then read them.

If you are not the romantic type, force yourself to be.

Why do this? If you only ever read one type of book, then by widening your choices, it forces your mind out of the narrow genre band that it is used to. If you write Paranormal, and you read only paranormal books, then there is no respite for your poor saturated paranormal soaked brain.

And, if like me, you are a multi-genre reader, choose the genre you read the least.

Do the things you have been meaning to do, but have never got around to doing, housework usually comes to my mind.

I love this quote from J.K. Rowling. When asked how she managed to fit in working, being a single mother, and write her first Harry Potter book, she replied, “I didn't do any housework for four years.” My kind of girl, J.K. Rowling.

There is no point in sitting staring into space trying to conjure up your next chapter. If it's not there. It's just not there.

Take a break from the guilt trip of – 'I should be writing.' If you can't think of anything to write, then there is no point in trying to force something that isn't going to come.

Get up from your chair, close the lid on your laptop, and stop thinking about your work in progress. It not progressing, so why waste your time beating your head against a brick wall?

There are lot of articles on the net about writer's block. They all have their different theories as to why it happens, and how to overcome it.

In the end – it's yourself, who will overcome this lack of creativity. And you will overcome it in your own individual way.

Theorists blame a myriad of things, distraction, perfectionism, self-doubt etc. As to the real cause of your not being able to come up with anything decent in the writing stakes, could it be that your brain is simply tired? You are sick of writing? Take a break – stop worrying why your creativity has dried up, and get on with other things. It is said that when you stop looking for something – it will often find you.

For some reason my creative ideas usually resurface when I am up to my elbows covered in soapsuds doing the washing up. Then bam, out from the ideas section of my mind, comes the best line I have ever thought of, making me rush to dry my hands, before this most stupendous idea is lost back into the fog of my over active imagination. It's why I don't have a dishwasher.

Dictionaries define, writer's block, as a physiological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece of work.

Physiological my arse. Boredom more like.

Your brain is sick to death of coming up with words that make some kind of sense to the story line you are agonising over.

Relax that poor overheated brain of yours. Take a rest from writing, go do something else, and let the flow come back – because it will, in it's own good time. You can't rush it. So don't try. Wait patiently. If all else fails --- try washing up.