These past few weeks, I've tried to write multiple things: prose fiction, an essay about publishing, a review of Second Class Citizen, a product pitch, etc. Unfortunately, I was mostly unsuccessful until a few days ago. In frustration, I decided to look to music that has always gingered me to write: Asa's music.
While listening to Asa on a short walk, I realised that I might have been experiencing writer's block. I've never really liked the idea of writer's block. Once as a teen, my sister asked me a question about my writing, and I said I was waiting for inspiration. She joked that I'd wait forever. But it's remained with me how almost everything can be an excuse not to write or create.
“You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” —Jack London
So when I got home after my walk, I tried to think through everything that had ‘prevented’ me from writing and here’s what I came up with:
I'd write a few lines, reread, think to myself, this is no good, start again or abandon it.
I'd read an essay or story and think, wow, this is amazing — can I imitate the writer's style? Can I write a story with this type of protagonist? I could never write like this.
Laziness and being overwhelmed: because I was on leave and had no real deadlines looming (isn’t it fun to do the work two days before the deadline? 😊), it was convenient for me to procrastinate. But when I decided to begin, I'd list out all the things I had to write and get overwhelmed by them.
Sometimes I think about the fact that I've been writing a lot of prose fiction in the last six months and haven't published or gotten the fanfare or feedback that comes with publishing a mind-blowing story in a big publication. Instant gratification is a sickness, lmao.
It all boiled down to these and more. Thinking about this made me redefine what writer's block was supposed to be, at least to me. It was not just a mental block that prevented my creative juices from flowing or the sleazy excuse I gave for not writing. It was/is emotions and experiences that limit my ability to be creative, and on some days, I’m mostly responsible for inflicting it upon myself.
There are a lot of recommendations online that should help when you can't write. I haven't tried them all, but here are a few things that worked for me and may help you.
Music: Anything that awakens your creativity. If I made a writing playlist, Asa, Florence + the Machine, Ibeyi, Somi and others would be on it. Asa helped my rut this past few days. She’s such a great storyteller, and her voice does magic to bring the stories in her song to life.
Writing routine: force yourself to write a certain number of words for a time period without rereading or criticizing what you've written. Criticizing and (re)reading (when you’re not done writing) really takes you back instead of moving you forward.
Walks and exercise: Getting out of your writing space is healthy.
Reading other things: It can be a trigger in some cases, but it helps you find the words in some others.
Read and research similar themes: Research gives me ideas!
Staying away from writing and consuming other art forms: Pause, don't write—binge on Desperate Housewives or other kinds of bad TV. Watch a music video, play a game, go out and be with people. Enter public transport. Work.
Sleep and eat. Food is the cure for everything.
I hope this makes sense and you’ve found some of it valuable.
At the end of the day, none of it might work. You might have to pace yourself and come up with strategies that help you write. The crux is that to be a writer, you must write. No one is going to listen to your excuses.
It's a pretty short (and late) letter today, mostly because I’m exhausted, lol! I hope you're having a good week. Stay safe and see you next week. Don't forget to like, share and comment. You can also send me a reply. I always look forward to your emails.