Writer’s Block: Unique Ways to Crack on the Underhand Monster

Writer's block is a general problem most writers in any stage of their writing career faced. It doesn't matter whether the writer is a beginner, an amateur, or a professional. Most people give up the dream of becoming a published author because of long-persistent writer's block.

Statistics show that over seventy percent of people who dreamt of writing a book, a story, or an article never did because they lose the energy to writer's block. Most never muster enough determination to pursue and to achieve such a fulfilling dream of a lifetime. When you look at the stats above, it's crazily high. That means the world lost more story and book ideas to writer's block.

Evidence suggests more than eighty percent of people who attain a higher level of education dreamt of writing a book in their lifetimes.

Think about your classmates, coursemates, work colleagues, and acquittances who told you about the book or story they could want to write. How many of them wrote those books or stories? Fewer than one-tenth of them, I guess! It explains why writer's block qualifies to be called a monster.

According to the Bahamas Faith Founder, Myles Monroe 'the richest place in the world is the graveyard.' In his opinion, most people carry their 'want-to-write' stories and books to the grave.

The question we all need to answer is 'Why do these happen?'

There are many possible reasons, but the two most common are 'procrastination' and 'writer's block.' Writer's block is a big problem that has denied the world some of the finest books and stories. It's a big problem with unimaginable economic consequences. Yet, it receives less attention.

Earlier in my writing career, I faced this problem of writer's block frequently until I discovered ways to crack it. Although I've not been able to crush this monster completely, I'm able to minimize its 'frequencies of visit' and its 'stay duration' by a wide margin. Through exploring different ways, I have been able to find some ways to put myself back into a writing mood.

Like I do tell myself, 'You have to write-it-now no matter your mood. Just find a way'.

In this article, I shared some of the ways I have personally used to fight back the writer's block in my writing career/practice. First off, let's look at what is writer's block is.

A writer's block is a condition a writer unable to express his power of writing--either because the writer cannot come up with an ideal topic or idea to write about or because he cannot access his emotions due to mind-dryness. In this case, a writer may have an idea or a topic to write about but cannot bring it to life with the right words or phrases.

On the other hand, if a writer cannot squeeze out his creative juice after generating an idea or a topic, he is said to have partial mind-dryness because the problem is not about what to write but how to express it adequately. If, however, he lacks an idea of what to write (idea or topic) he is said to face a total mind-dryness. Either way, the writer cannot write or produce the desired piece, so we said there is writer's block.

Writer's block is a psychological problem or what some people called a mind attack. Writer's block occurs when the mind becomes:

1. dried totally or partly;
2. distracted totally or partially; and
3. partly dried and partly distracted.

In situations where the mind is dried, the writer cannot come up with an idea or what to write. The sole task under this condition is to the sought idea of what to write. In this form of writer’s block, the writer experienced total mind dryness. This type is common to beginners or writers who engage in one-track writing (on a specific topic, in a particular field, or undertakes only a once-in-a-while kind of writing).

In a partly dried and distracted writer's block, the writer may have an idea/topic to write on, but he might not find the right words or phrases to express that idea either because he cannot access his emotions or inadequate vocabularies. Two things are involved here: Inability to access one's emotions which causes obstruction of creative flow, and inadequate vocabulary prevents the writer's ability to convey the message adequately. This type of writer’s block is caused by distraction, poor vocabulary, and poor word maneuverability.

In a partly dried and partly distracted mind, there is the idea of what to write. The problem here is not what to write but how to express the idea or write down the topic with the best word combinations or phrases possible.

A writer facing this kind of writer's block can become dissatisfied with writing. It mostly happens when feelings and inspiration are at all times low, or what most writers called creative juice is not flowing. A writer in this state is either uninspired, distracted, out of motivation, or season. The season is characterized by frequent cancellations (of words, phrases, and lines) as everything appears unfit or inappropriate. Writers at all levels of writing experienced this once-in-a-while, caused by distraction (disconnection of the mind and the spirit).

Before I go into specifics, I what to give some general codes to break out of the cage of writer’s block. As I said in the call-out, an important ingredient needed to break out of writer’s block is adaptive ability.
One cannot go far as a writer if he/she is not adaptive. Adaptation is a necessary ingredient in a writer's life and also explains why taking the exercises below or a combination might be a good fix.
• Read books
Books have an unimaginable strength to inspire imagination. The ability of books to flame-up readers' minds is one of the reasons books writers write. Books help to revive dying spirits, rekindle dying out lights, and rejuvenate worn-out souls.
• Read your older writings
I had harnessed the power of reading my old write-ups as a way to get out of writer’s block. Sometimes, I get inspired by the beauty of an older piece I had written that I wonder if I wrote them. Other times in the process of editing an old piece my dying spirit gets re-energized.
• Read other writing stories
Other people shared stories take us off our shores to distant lands—bringing new ideas, inspiring imaginations, and stirring up the spirit. Remember, words connects all writers.
• Take a walk
A walkout is a great way to free the mind from the burden of stress. It helps to lift dwedling minds. So, it can connect to new ideas.
• Go on site-seeing
Site-seeing is similar to taking a walk, but it provides more inspiring scenes and the environment.
• Visit a friend or family member
A creative idea sometimes springs from a simple conversation with family members, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
• Visit a zoo or wildlife
Animals are among the most interesting and awe-inspiring creatures ever. Their aggressive, human-like love and territorial behaviors can inspire creative imaginations, especially for pet lovers or those who write about animals.
• Visit a museum or historical center
A piece of art, historical artifact, and cultural information can spark up a thought, an idea, or a writing spirit.

•Change Environment

"Overfamiliarity," they said, "breeds contempt." Also, been overfamiliar with an environment can depress a writer's spirit or even kill his imagination. Changing one's environment is a way to revitalize a writing spirit. A trip to another town will mean a new home, a hotel room, new people, places, and fascinating things. All these things are needed to come off a writer’s block as quickly as possible

• Play a game

I had been able to overcome writer’s block playing Scrabble game, Cross-words, and Word-puzzles. Playing a game is my favorite way to bounce off the 'floor of writer's block'. (I recommend games such as words puzzles or phrases, Scrabble, Cross-word, etc).

• Listen to Spoken-word Artist or Messages

Listening to spoken word messages works for lovers of poetry, speeches, and word sounds. Try it. You might be lucky to get stuff jingling up your writing mojo.

• Listen to Songs

Songs and spoken words are similar. The difference is a possible blend of tones and pitches.

• Watch a TV program or video with a writing or spelling background

Watching people do things inspires us to want to do the same, especially when they do it extraordinary way with extraordinary energy. Videos and TV programs are well-known sources of hyper pieces of stuff. They work for some writers. You can try them that might also work for you if you need to jump-start writing after a prolonged period of writer's block.

• Attend a writing seminar

A writing seminar is a great way to awaken the writing spirit. You watch, see, hear, experience, and connect with experienced writers—teachers, authors, mentors, colleagues, or even a favorite coach.

• Attend a party, an event, or occasion

Parties bring together the society—the good, the bad, and the ugly. No matter what we write about, the community is both the source of inspiration and the audience. It has been my source of inspiration as a writer and can be to you, too. How about spending some time at a bar, a beach, or a game house? Great I think if it works for you!

• Delve into other area or type of writing

The narrowness of a writer's writing scope can cause writer's block as the mind itself becomes narrow. So, why not try to widen your scope by delving into a new area of writing? It works for me. I believe it can work for you, also.

• Find a motivation

There is no way out of a writer's block than becoming motivated. To be alive and active in your writing career, you need to be motivated. As my dad advised, “Do not seek motivation outside what you do. Find motivation within it. If you can find the reason for doing it, the motivation to do it will naturally come.” The same rule applies as a way to asphyxiate the writer's block problem.

• Free-up space for new stuff

A clustered mind will under-perform. Yes, that is one of the many reasons writers will not be able to access their minds for ideas, topics, words, or phrases to express their desire. Just free up some space!

• Know what inspires or motivates you.
In all said and done, you remain your best doctor. What inspires you? Your ability to find that is the best diagnosis you can ever get.
• Finally, take an intention timeout
Tiredness comes with all life''s task forms. It manifests as a result of being overworked, hungry, or when one is emotionally distracted. Refreshing one's mind cannot be emphasized enough. It is the reason we eat, drink, read, rethink, watch, and listen to new stuff, but if all the ways we get to rest, the greatest of them is to freshness. It is one way a writer can come out of a writer's block energized for a new writing season. When we refresh, it creates a higher degree of hunger, such that when comes back we renewed and energized.
The need for a connection between the mind and spirit is key to a successful writing season.
Whatever you write about be up-to-date in your field of interest is a great way to get ahead. Attend seminars, pay attention to writing, listen up, practice hard, imagine, learn, and be both creative and crazy. In every field of life, only those with creative and crazy imaginations get ahead.
If you didn’t find the key to unlocking your mind from writer's block in this article, you might consider it a spiritual exercise. Prayer is one of the greatest keys I have known. Just pray, you might get out of writer's block divine or de novo.