Tackling writer's block: some tips for your playbook
Jan 08 '01 (Updated Sep 10 '01)
The Bottom Line Keep a list of topics; try different angles; relax!
For some people, writing is effortless.
They're the speedy wide receivers of Epinions. Toss one of them a topic, and before you can yell "Touchdown!," s/he's gotten all the way to the end zone.
And then there's me, who more often than not has found herself slogging through muddy fields, grinding it out sentence by sentence. At these times, writer's block looms as large as a horde of defensive linesmen and seems just as difficult to defeat.
Fortunately, just as offenses find ways to score on stingy defenses, you can learn how to avoid and/or defuse these authorial anxieties. I won't guarantee that this editorial will transform you overnight into a five-post-a-week producer (it hasn't happened for me!). But my tips, I hope, will make it less likely that you'll be balked by writer's block.
An important caveat: Everyone has his/her own style and method of writing. What works for me may not help you, so please take what you can from this post, and ignore the rest!
Writer's block: a definition
Merriam-Webster (http://www.m-w.com/) describes writer's block as "a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece."
To that succinct and accurate summation, I'd add two observations:
- The usual formula for writer's block is indecision + frustration = paralysis. The latter is probably more important than the former; it makes all the difference between, "Hmm, I wonder what I should do here" and "Aaargh! I'm stuck!"
- Paralysis can set in at any stage of the process. Some folks have the most difficulty getting started, while others find themselves stalled during the final draft.
Writer's block probably takes slightly different forms for different people. Rather than try to come up with all the variants, I'll cover what I feel are the three most common blocks, and make suggestions for dealing with each one. This epinion was written by soxfan. If you're reading this on someone else's page, this review was plagiarized. Sorry to have to put this in.
Block #1: I have no idea what to write about
The trick in getting past this block is to avoid treating reviews like assignments. By that I mean telling yourself, "Okay, I need to post something, so I'm going to write about such-and-such." I tried that twice for writeoffs. Both times, I became stymied and stressed out, and ended up changing topics at the last minute.
A more productive method is to keep a running list of topics that a) you care about and b) you have a lot of experience with. Own a dishwasher that drives you crazy? Put it on the list. Just finished a beloved novel for the fourth time? Add that, too. Ditto for your Sunday brunch spot, the websites you've bookmarked, or your children's favorite toys. Then when you feel like writing, consult your list and see which topic grabs your interest.
You might even want to jot down notes about pros and cons, your feelings about the product, etc. That way, when you get to writing, part of the work's already done for you.
Block #2: I'm trying to start my post, but I can't get beyond the title
It's one thing to sketch an outline. It's another thing entirely to put it into words. Somehow your ideas just don't look as good on screen as they did in your head, and you end up deleting, rewriting, and re-deleting in a never-ending cycle.
If the blank page intimidates you, fill it up! Get those fingers typing or scribbling away. Ramble about anything that comes to mind, even if it doesn't follow your outline to the letter. Pen and paper may work better for this; the computer makes it too darn easy to backtrack, when you should be going full steam ahead.
Don't worry at this point about producing perfect prose. Later you can edit and polish to your heart's content; right now, it'll be enough if you can break the logjam.
Block #3: This sentence/paragraph/section has me banging my head against the wall
There are a few things you can try to solve this impasse:
- Take a timeout.
Your brain cells might just need a break. So read a good book, take a walk, or do something else for fun. You'll come back refreshed and raring to go.
- Do the "full steam ahead" method with the section that's giving you trouble.
You might stumble across a phrase or two that makes the rest of your post fall into place.
- Try a different tack.
If you're having a tough time going from point A to point B - or if you realize points A and B really don't make sense - you may need to find a new angle or line of reasoning.
- If all else fails, set it aside and pick another topic.
As much as I hate surrendering, sometimes it's best to give up on a post (at least temporarily). If you stick with an unworkable review, you may get nothing but a headache for your efforts - and that's time you could be spending on another post.
A parting word of advice: relax!
One of the nice things about this site is that we're free to write what we want - within limits - whenever we want. We have no assignments, no deadlines, and (unless you're an top reviewer, or trying to become one) no pressure to produce.
There's nothing wrong with shooting for statistical milestones, like 10,000 total hits or 300 epinions. But to me the best goal is an ongoing one: to have fun while writing. If you can keep that in mind, writer's block won't stand a chance. :)
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Epinions.com ID:
soxfan
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Location: Boston, MA
Reviews written: 39
Trusted by: 69 members
About Me:
Tant que je vive, mon cueur ne changera ...
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