Writer’s block, it’s one of the worst.
For you it might even be the worst of the worst.
I have certainly had my fair share of battle with demons because of blank pages. It sucks, but what’s even worse is trying to find help. whenever I tried to find help, I always ended up at people saying: “Find a new idea, get away from the screen, or (the worst) don’t over think it.”
I don’t know about you, but I feel a strangling sensation when I read something like this. You’re already knee-deep in shit and then this is the best the internet has to offer?
There’s nothing more demotivating than dreadfully staring at a blank screen and reconsidering your whole existence. It’s shit like this that makes you question if you’re cut out for being a writer/author, am I right?
I know first-hand how soul-wracking the blank document can be, but instead of just helping you get rid of it, I want to help make you a better writer.
But it not only requires your time, it’ll require you to step out of your comfort zone.
But in exchange I can guarantee you’ll find something to fill out your precious pages with.
What do you say? Ready to turn your wasted minutes starring at a blank document, stuck in writer’s block into something useful?
Perfect.
Let’s dive into how experimenting is one of the best ways to get over the blank document and let me help you improve as a writer.
How it works
I know you’re pressed for time, so I’ll just quickly make this sidenote.
There are plenty of ways to get over writer’s block. The way I’m exploring here, experimenting, is one of the ways I recommend. But if you have an idea, you love and you can’t let go. Then I’d recommend you try blind drafting. It’s another method that helps you get rid of the blank page by focusing on the idea
Okay, now that’s we have that out of the way, let’s get to the magic.
The thing is as a writer you have some identify you clinch onto. This identify is like the roar of your ship. It tells you which way to direct your ship (novel), but it’s built up from multiple parts that makes it special.
Basically, your writing identify is what makes you stand out from the crowd and makes you, you.
This identity, even if it’s just starting to form or you have built upon it for years, it’ll force your writing to fit a certain style.
Your identity as a writer is important
You like to introduce your story in a specific way, build your characters in a certain way or explore your plot. Or if you’re just starting out, you have a specific vision for how things are supposed to be.
This is what’s causing you to struggle with the writer’s block. You feel locked in place because your mind is trying to fit your idea into a predetermined style that just doesn’t fit.
An example: I always like to write about a powerful manly main character. I don’t know why, it was the thing that always came natural for me, so when I for the first time wanted to write a story with a female main character, I struggled.
I know it seems silly that such a small thing can have such a huge impact, but it’s real.
These standards you form inside your mind when you start writing can/will be difficult to get over, but that’s where experimenting helps. It forces you out of the box and away from your standards.
For some this will feel like taking two step backwards but let me just reassure you: it’ll help you to take at least 5 steps forward.
Is that worth it? That’s up for you, but in writing, 5 steps forward are massive.
“But what exactly is experimenting in writing?”
In reality, it’s not much different than experimenting in every other thing.
You try out different things: A different genre, writing style, a different main character. It can be the point of view, a different plot or even a mixture of a lot of things. The possibilities are endless.
The whole point is to do something that’s out of your standard to gain some new insight.
Now, there’s a difference in the amount of “different” and as a new writer I recommend you try to go in the completely different direction.
Because that’s the powerful thing that’ll eventually make you move the needle forward.
For example, I’m a Sci-Fi guy, but when I started out, I “forced” myself to write both a crime and romance book. Even though these aren’t genres I’m particularly interested in, I got a few ideas and learned a lot.
Each experiment you do will give you important insight into a different aspect of writing. Even if it might not be something you want to use in the future, you’ll quickly realize, as a new writer, even the smallest thing can help you improve or move you in the direction you want.
But there’s a slight caviar: when you experiment you need to let yourself go.
You know when you stare at the screen, you twist and turn your mind to get the words out?
When you experiment, you want to challenge your desire for the “right” words.
You need to let go of your thoughts and just let your words pour out.
In fact, with experimenting if you write a sentence and then immediately think how it fits, then you’re already heading in the wrong direction and thinking.
“But Jack that’s nonsense, then I just need to edit more”
Is it more work? Sure, but isn’t more work what you want?
I know it sucks to put in more time, but try think about all the time you currently use to stare at a blank document and feel resentment for not being able to write?
Something happens in our minds when we sit down and write without any limitations. And it’s crucial that you do so.
Too often when you feel the writer’s block, it’s because you in some ways are trying to fit your idea inside a box it just doesn’t belong in.
The words need to be on the page.
Screw how terrible it might look, if you repeat yourself forty times or if you’re all over the place.
Because what happens when you get the words down?
The document isn’t blank anymore and you can keep on writing.
This might seem like voodoo but trust me if you can start your draft, no matter how terrible or repetitive it is, the less intimidating you’ll find it.
It’s a guarantee.
The presence of just a few words, sentences or paragraphs are enough to get your mind moving and it’s important that you just keep pouring out the words, even if your mind tells you to stop.
The task is to get rid of the dust and turn your mind into autopilot and have the idea spill out.
And the beautiful thing?
The bad stuff you wrote at the start, it can be edited or removed.
That’s it.
How I have used it myself
Again, I know this seems like voodoo, but I used it when I started my writing journey 2 years ago.
I struggled to get anything done and wanted to experiment with just letting my mind drift.
But at first, the only thing I discovered was I have a massive talent for bullshitting, but I didn’t let it stop me. I sat down and wrote.
It took me 20 minutes of bullshitting, before I started to write anything useful.
I tried with multiple ideas. Mainly with other main characters, genres and plots.
And it was a struggle every time. The task seemed so intimidating and my mind, which was full of ideas, just couldn’t get them out.
But I stayed at it.
It’s all about letting the mind free
I let go of my expectations and started to straight copy the words one by one from my mind. I watched as I slowly build the page and eventually the words came out as fast as I could type.
Experimenting has taught me that I enjoy writing novels with a focus on strong characters and relationship. I like to write novels with characters the reader can relate to.
Initially I thought I just needed a strong main character and some supportive characters. Then I’d be golden.
But it was like as I experimented, it didn’t just help with the itch of writing, it gave me a dopamine rush as I got more insight into my own writing.
In fact, deliberate experimenting and “out of comfort writing” is my go-to, whenever I feel like I want to expand my writing and gain some new experience.
Some experience I gain through the writing and some I gain from doing research for an idea. But most importantly, every time I have gone through an experiment, I feel like I have gotten better at starting and expanding on stories.
Which should make sense.
The more you write, take care of your creative itch, and explore your ideas, the less power writer’s block has over you
Period.
How often should you experiment?
This is really personally and depends on how far away from writing you feel as a person.
I have always found writing rather natural, so I didn’t need it as much to get started, but I have gained a lot of growth from doing it.
But if you are someone who’s new to writing and you don’t find it natural, I might recommend you try to experiment with a few short stories before turning to a full novel.
Go through 2 to 3 short novels of about 20,000 words where you experiment with a different genre/style/plot in each of them. Try to make them as different as possible and then try to go over what you can learn from each.
And I’ll guarantee you that a writing identify will start to form and you’ll know what not only takes you itch away, but makes you passionate to continue to your writing.
An important note on writer’s block
When you experiment, it’s important to make sure you let go of your limitations.
I know I said it earlier, but it’s just so important that it’s worth mentioning again.
If you don’t let go of your limitations, you’ll just have an even harder experiment in front of you.
I mean if you are stuck on a blank document for an idea, you really want to write, how do you think it’ll turn out with an idea you are just trying to experiment?
Catastrophe.
Give yourself the chance to explore and experiment with different elements of writing and build your experience as a writer.
It’ll make everything a much smoother ride once you put in the work and place the dreaded blank page in the past.
That’s a wrap for you today.
Until next time – Hope you have a productive and creative day.
Your writing buddy,
Jack