The Writer's Worst Nightmare: Writer's Block

I figured that for my first real post, I might as well dive in head first into the nitty gritty stuff, the nittiest and grittiest being the dreaded writer's block.

Every writer has had it at one point or another. If you haven't, you're probably doing something wrong.

Writer's block is very much like a black widow spider, waiting in the wings to go in for the kill. It attacks when you least expect it. You are its prey. However, there is something you can do about it.

I've been writing for over sixteen years now and can say in all honestly that writer's block is the bane of my existence (my writing existence, anyway). Just when everything is going good, the gears shift. Suddenly, my brain has turned to mush. I can no longer think of any ideas -- or at least any that are worthwhile and that I enjoy.

So, the unending question is: what does one do about this menace?

You could always go for the traditional approach and wait for an idea to come. Surely it will eventually, right? I've spent a lot of lost time doing this very thing. Just sitting around, waiting for the right words to suddenly come into my brain, through my finger tips, and onto the screen. But alas, it doesn't work -- or at least not quickly enough for my temper.

The best advice I can give is: don't wait for inspiration to strike. Go out and look for it.

Say you're working on a novel and you're on page 123. You're typing away, you've finished up the chapter, and then...nothing. Not a thing. There is nothing in your brain that could help push the story along further; or perhaps you get an idea where the heroine goes on some sort of hike into the deep dark woods, but you can't think what the purpose of that would even be. It's an idea, but not a fully-formed one. It's not enough to help your story and it's the last idea you had before writer's block took you into its icy clutches.

Some would say this would be down to bad planning. Some would say that you were a ninny for not having an outline to go by. I am not one of these people. Some people write best without an outline -- everyone is different, after all.

The point is: you are out of ideas. And you've been sitting in front of the computer (or, if you prefer, with your notebook and pen in hand) waiting for your muse to return. But your muse has set her cell to silent and wants nothing to do with you. So, it's time to get a new muse.

Firstly, think of what inspired you to write your novel, or shorty story, or whatever in the first place. If that alone isn't enough to spark imagination, think about things that are related to it. If you're writing a fantasy, try reading some fantasy works or my personal favorite, Runescape. Doing so will pull you out of your story. It's always good to take a little bit of a break here and there, so as to not go completely bonkers. Will you're on break for your story and you're using your mind in different, yet similarly creative ways, it is very likely that you will get a spark of creativity.

Say you are playing Runescape. Say you are a noob and are killing goblins because that is the only way a noob like you could make some money. While you are killing goblins, the wheels start turning and suddenly, you realize the reason your heroine, Mary Sue, went into the woods: she was running from the dreadful Goblin King who was intent on kidnapping her and making her marry his son, Bernard, while she really loves the handsome, yet mysterious, Price Charming. And you say that the Goblin King corners her, and Prince Charming comes out of nowhere and saves her. But the day is not saved. Meanwhile, Bernard has taken over the Kingdom of Fairytale Bullshit and has locked Prince Charming's parents in the stocks, allowing children to throw cabbages at their heads.

Your imagination runs wild, and suddenly, you have your story finished. Hurrah! Aren't you talented?

One important thing to remember (and this is all over most good writing websites): if you're allowing yourself to be inspired by an established and copyrighted product, it's very important not to rely too heavily on that thing. After all, you don't want to be sued. Using a goblin is fairly safe. Goblins are general folklore. Runescape doesn't own goblins, but if you, for instance, described your goblins to be exactly like theirs, you might run into trouble. And I think all of us writers out there can agree that no one wants a repeat of the Hari Puttar incident.

I hope this has helped people. Some people are better at latching onto inspiration better than others. Really, thou simply has to know thyself and what works best for thee. And I will finish this post will a quote that I like, which I will do most of the time.

Here goes:

"Illegitimis non carborundum."
-Gen. Joseph Stilwell

(If you don't speak Latin, I highly suggest an online translator.)