How I write when NOTHING is forthcoming
A guide for anyone who's ever had writer's block (or indeed, any block)
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate
The words that you cannot find
Let me tell you something. While Natasha Bedingfield was indeed a bona fide noughties icon, she is also a filthy liar.
I have tried, have been trying, every conceivable method to break bouts of writer’s block or intense procrastination – eerily similar in how they present – and opening up a dirty window? That didn’t help a jot. The sun did not, in fact, illuminate anything, let alone the words I could not find. I live in Ireland. The sun only shows up – like a rich aunt – on special occasions, the rest of the time she’s off somewhere exotic.
The fact that I turned to Ms Bedingfield at all is an indicator of how perilous I have found these bouts of writer’s block to be. I have some learnings – some potentially useful takeaways – to share with you. These might only apply to writers in a literal sense, but the concepts span pretty much any career rut or procrastination hole you might find yourself in.
Method #1: Give up
The cheek of me, telling you I was going to help you out of a writer’s rut and then to hit you with ‘give up’ early doors. Bear with me – I don’t mean it literally. Something I find helpful when I’m staring… at the blank page before me… is to surrender to the fact that nothing is coming today. If you’re on deadline, obviously I’ve got tips akimbo to come, but sometimes, there’s no answer.