Weapon 1: The Measuring Tape
(In other words, “size up your enemy.”) The first step to slaying this dragon is realizing that he can be conquered! Writer’s block is not something that has to defeat you. You can get to a point as a writer where you rarely struggle with writer’s block, if at all. The dragon is not as big as you think he is.
Weapon 2: A Strategic Plan
Especially when you’re writing your first draft, find out what writing tools work best for you. Some writers just love to type up their draft in a Word document. They love the sound of the keyboard, the neat lines of text etc.
Other writers find that typing really destroys their creativity. I am one of those writers. There is something about that flashing cursor and the black text and white background that just blocks my creativity and activates my inner critic.
For the first draft of my first book, Among the Great, I handwrote the entire draft. This, however, wasn’t very practical. For Book 2, Among the Outcast, I tried something else. I turned my text white so that I couldn’t see it. It was difficult to get used to it at first, but it did the same thing for my creativity as writing by hand.
I recommend you try this method (if you haven’t already) but I also know that it might not work for you. That’s okay. The point is to identify the causes of your writer’s block and adjust your writing habits accordingly.
Weapon 3: Your Great “Why”
When it seems like the dragon is winning, remind yourself why you set out on this quest in the first place. “Why do I write?” is one of the most important questions a writer can ask.
If you don’t have an answer, find one! Or (sorry to be blunt) stop writing. There are many more dragons you will have to face in the writing journey and the struggle won’t be worth it if you don’t have a “Why” worth fighting for.
Weapon 4: Courageous Persistence
Write, and keep writing! Now, this is hard, especially for those of us who are perfectionists, but you can train yourself to keep going even if the sentence you just wrote isn’t perfect!
Believe me, it’s totally worthwhile, and totally possible, to train yourself to write an entire chapter without stopping to edit it along the way. If you persist in building up this habit, you will eventually be able to write a lot faster and will experience fewer blocks.
“But what if I just don’t have any ideas?” you might ask.
Write something. Whatever is in your head. Even if it’s “I can’t think.” You’re showing that dragon that he cannot stop you from writing. And the more you just write, the more timid he becomes.
Remember, sometimes writing anything is better than writing nothing.
Weapon 5: Wisdom
There’s a time to be persistent, and there’s a time to rest.Remember that you are human. There are days when it’s best to avoid fighting dragons.
Sometimes writer’s block happens because something distracting is going on in your life or because you’re unwell or burnt out. Learn to read your body and recognize the impact your life has on your writing. If need be, give yourself grace.
If you’re going through a crisis, don’t expect yourself to be able to write as much or be as creative as you are when everything’s going well. And if you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself beyond your limits.
It’s all about finding the happy medium between pushing too hard and not pushing enough.
So, my friend, arm yourself and prepare to conquer! Trust me, the battle is worth it!