Writer’s Block Remedies – a new series

I got inspired to begin the Writer’s Block Remedies series as one of my followers asked me about my best tips on curing writer’s block. (@DyanaValentine – thank you for asking)

I decided to gather all my tried and true tips on writer’s block here and publish them every Wednesday. I will keep posting until I run out of tips – which might take a few weeks! Keep coming back if you are interested in how to write again with ease.

The first obvious question is: what is writer’s block? I think this is a very personal experience. Here is my definition (based on research and my own experience):

A deeply emotional state associated with a blank page or computer screen while you make earnest efforts to get a few words written.  Oh, yes… the suffering, the desperation, the endless trying, the thinking, the churning…

Writer’s block is not choosy and gets the better of you while writing your novel, a sales letter, a blog post or even a love letter. There are only a few immune to this ailment.

And our reaction?

·         Getting totally unnecessary tasks done that could have waited till next week, next month (or next life?)

·         Checking email, Twitter, Facebook – but any good old distraction will do

·         Reading instead of writing

·         Checking the news, magazines, and requisites of the past in the process of looking for the word that will get our fingers move again

·         Watching TV

·         Getting high on chocolate, sugar, alcohol or drugs (I stay with chocolate as a not-recovering chocoholic)

·         My personal favorite: cleaning the house from basement to attic

All in the name of getting some inspiration and get writing again. Or simply to forget about the sad state of affairs.

 I found this extremely fitting quote from Gustave Flaubert which describes writer’s block perfectly for me:

"You don't know what it is to stay a whole day with your head in your hands trying to squeeze your unfortunate brain so as to find a word." (But I know, Mr. Flaubert, I know)

How do YOU experience writer’s block?