Writerโs block bedevils most of us writers at some point. No big deal if you’re writing “for fun;” but if writing is your business, getting blocked at the blank page is a potential crisis.
Your deadline is looming, and you have to get past the blockโyesterday.
I’ve had my share of cold sweats trying to get the words out. But two books in particular helped me tremendously in dealing with writerโs block and other creativity-stifling problems.
Work With Your Natural Creativity
The first book is ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ถ๐พ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐, by prominent 1940s advertising executive James Webb Young. The book clocks in at only fifty pages; But donโt let its diminutive size fool youโit was for me (and still is) a powerful tool for tapping into creativity.
Young describes idea generation as a process occurring in five stages (my labels):
๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: You begin by gathering all the raw data you can about the project at hand;
๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: You then engage with the data by arranging and rearranging it mentally into various combinations.
๐๐ฏ๐ค๐ถ๐ฃ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: Reaching exhaustion with all that data manipulation, you turn your mind away from it to something else (a walk, a movie, another project, etc.). Your subconscious mind, however, continues to work with the data.
๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: You may soon have an โAh-Ha!โ moment when your subconscious mind suddenly delivers an idea or the solution into your conscious mind.
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ฅ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: You submit your new idea to the crucible of public opinion, peer review, or your own cold assessment to ensure itโs a good one.
Youngโs book is mainly about idea generation in general and for a wide array of applications. But Iโve found it especially helpful for developing a theme or angle for a writing assignment.
Start Writing...Even If It's Icky
In the second book, ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ, renowned novelist Anne Lammot provides her own way of dealing with blocks: write, what she calls, โSh*tty First Drafts.โ
Lamott says to throw caution to the wind and start writing whatever comes to mindโand ideally without stoppingโeven if it reeks of fecal matter. From her perspective, you have to bowl your way past the inner critic by the impulsive act of writing.
As to the lackluster copy you produce, no one but you (or whoever you foolishly allow) is going to see it. And now that the first execrable draft is out of your system, you can edit or completely rewrite it.
The first draft simply becomes a waypoint on the path to a finished piece that meets your and your clientโs standards.
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I’ve learned from both Young and Lamott, each in their own way, that creativity and idea generation is a process. Our biggest hurdle is learning to trust it and “go with the flow.”
When writing, having a little fun and โjust letting it flyโ can go a long way toward dissolving fear of the blank page.
David Webster is a copywriter and consultant who creates online marketing content for clients.
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You can learn more about David’s services at webstercreative.com
