I am right now in a writing block. It’s not as much a creative block but just a block that is not letting me write. I just wanted to explore the few different ones that I have got so far.
I have had creative blocks or writer’s blocks. These mean different to different people. For me, they mean that I cannot think creatively about what happens next. I am just stuck. I have identified a few reasons for this. It might not be the same for you. For me it means, I have no way forward. I have noticed this keeps happening when I don’t have an outline. I am a plantser, so I like to write from the seat of my pants and plan a bit. I usually have an overall plot. I have a few points where I need to get, but I don’t know how I get there until I write the story. If I don’t have a point to go to, I tend to get stuck.
Another thing is that I might have a completely different idea of what is about to happen, which doesn’t go with my outline. Until I figured out how to accept and bring two ideas together, I would be stuck. It can sometimes take a bit of time and go from different angles.
Sometimes I just don’t know what to do next, even if I know where I’m supposed to go. Nothing just comes to mind. It feels like my mind is a complete blank.
What do I do to help these situations? With the first one, I would try to write out an outline. Sometimes this does lead to the third problem. If I get any ideas, I will write them down, and eventually, it will become a full novel! Sometimes the ideas are completely random and it feels like they cannot connect, but it does come together. Again, it does connect to problem two.
For the second block, I go visit my world. I admit that I have hyperphantasia and ADHD and I can literally see my world like I was in it. I read what I’ve written, listen to the people, see what is out there. I try to catch an idea from something tiny spark. And sometimes, I just have to start writing and the magic just happens. I think often we are too worried or stressed and that blocks our creativity. We want it to go one way, and it doesn’t want to. We just have to give it time and it will right itself. Just the process.
What do I do when my mind is completely black? I need to figure out why. The first thing I do is take a step back. If I’m too close, I won’t be able to see the problem. The problem might be that one of my characters want to do something else. The worst thing I can do to myself is stress myself out. I cannot give myself too tight deadlines or write every day. It will block my creativity if I have to force it. I will stress myself and my mind goes blank. When that happens, I try to destress myself. The best way is to do something else creative. I love dancing, painting and singing. I just need a creative stress free outlet. So, I do something else. When I am less stressed, I start thinking properly again and I have a good idea.
The best ideas can come from anywhere. I have gotten what if idea off a tv show. What if that happened. I can also do it with my story. What if my main character encounters something weird like a dragon? I would say normally, what-if scenarios are to be avoided when it comes to real life, but as a writer, I find them to be amazing!
Sometimes it’s about a lack of faith in yourself. Some people say don’t this, but sometimes having a friend or family member read your story and most likely they will like it and it will keep the motivation to write going.
I hope this has given you some ideas!
Katrina writes 