#15: 4 techniques to get through a Writer's Block (that actually work!)
A live demonstration - writer's block, unblocked
My dearest,
I hope you are treating yourself with kindness. This week’s newsletter is an experiment, a live demonstration.
A little bit of context
What do you do when you have nothing to write about but have committed to writing a weekly newsletter? What do you do when you feel like you have the “writer’s block”? What do you do when you don’t know what to write about?
This week I felt stuck. Everything I was coming up with felt rather dry. So I thought I’d write about what I do in such situations to get the creative juices flowing.
The truth revealed: My top 4 + 1 tips!
1) Nope, don’t pick up a book!
Unpopular opinion, but reading in order to address a writer’s block is often a form of procrastination; an excuse to delay the getting to the writing bit. So, whilst I love reading and cannot recommend it enough, I would stay away from picking a book when I’m in a “i-don’t-know-what-to write-about’’ situation. Instead just show up. You heard me right, just show up. And that brings me to tip number 2.
2) 500 words in under 30 minutes
Challenge yourself - 500 words in under 30 minutes. Write anything; random thoughts, words, sentences, anything. Your only goal is to hit 500 words in under 30 minutes. I like to call this process “dumping”. For me this is a game changer in 2 ways:
a. A creative idea, a cue or spark might just be hiding somewhere in this ‘dump’
b. Secondly, I think of this activity as a brain clearer - an activity to get rid of all that clutter and quite literally free up space in your mind for energy and thoughts to flow more uninterruptedly.
Consistency eventually (and always!) beats occasional bouts of high competence
3) This hack is a LIFE SAVER - to be in creative conversation
This tip is a way of life that will enhance your writing experience 100X. Download some sort of a note taking app on your phone, (I use the notes app on my iPhone) Anything that catches my attention, anything I find amusing, anything that brings about a sense of wonderment within me - even the mundane and ordinary - observations, thoughts, reflections - I instantaneously type them out on my notes app. Nothing fancy.
Here are some very random notes that I’ve made:
Honestly my notes app is a treasure trove of thoughts, words, phrases that at the moment of penning down don’t feel like much but when re-read later, they prove to be nuggets of inspiration that get me through ALL my “ I am feeling stuck with my writing” days.
The act of constantly being in creative conversation with the world, to look at everything with a sense of wonderment, even the ordinary, makes all the difference.
Start off by doing this consciously, and over time you will realise that it becomes instinctive, you will begin to look at everything in life with a creative lens.
4) Read your previous work
One of the emotions, besides frustration, that most people go through when they feel stuck with writing, is self doubt - am I a good enough writer? Look to your past work to cherish your own writing and remind yourself that YES you can write.
Key takeaways
Trust me at the start writing this newsletter, I was pretty demotivated to get writing, I didn’t have any ideas going on up there! But here we are now, with a full fledged newsletter that, not gonna lie, I love how it’s turned out. I was stuck and I used the exact 4 tips/ frameworks above, right in front of your eyes, and voila we have a newsletter ready to be sent out!
This weeks newsletter is proof that these 4 methods work magic, they have come to my rescue EVERY single time. You won’t believe the flow with which the words on this page spilled through; I wrote this in under an hour (I obviously spent additional time to edit it later) and I’m throbbing with more ideas.
Remember, by simply showing up consistently, the world rewards you.
4 +1) One last Tip
For me this is my most important.
Thank the words that have arrived to you.
Every single time that I finish a piece of writing I whisper a prayer “I’m grateful for the words that have made my pen and page their home, thank you”
To be honest, I don’t really know what this does, but I do know that it humbles me; it keeps this energy flowing through me, allowing these words to manifest through me. Recognising this energy, showing up for it and being grateful for it is my way of ensuring this energy keeps flowing through me.
That is all for this week my friends. I hope reading this helps you in some way. I hope the next time you feel stuck with your writing, you try out these tips and experience first hand, a flow of words.
With warmth and wonder,
Vaishnavi
From the table of Masala Puff Moments, a newsletter
Thank you for being here and reading my newsletter. If I can make one request, please take a moment to share Masala Puff Moments with anyone you think might enjoy it. It would mean the world to me + it would truly help me grow :)
wait… drop by and say hi?
I’m Vaishnavi Radhakrishnan, a management trainee in a business that I love, a poet, a writer and a 23 year old figuring out her space in this world. I love admiring bougainvilleas, being by the ocean, and buying jibbitz for my purple crocs.
This is a real inspiration and very creative. Thank you Vaishnavi