#39 Dealing with writers' block
Tried and tested tips to boost writing, photographs, quotes, and more
Hello dear reader,
How are you faring these days?
And how are you faring in your current writing projects? I know that in the writing field, want of words can be the most dreaded obstruction for a writer. You are out of words and sometimes you are out of ideas too. This often leads to incomplete tasks/projects and work being pushed way beyond deadlines. Hence, it is severely damaging to a writer’s career, consistency of content production, and reputation.
And so, today I will be sharing with you some tips and tricks that are personally tried and tested and proven to be effective injections to boost one’s writing strength. I believe that these tips are useful to all kinds of writers— from poets to non-fiction writers to content writers as well; also, to writers who are at different stages of their writing journey.
Actually, this article of mine is again an advice column that I wrote for The Incognito Press. Read it below and I hope you will find it helpful.
Also, since you voted “yes” to my question (“Do you want me to answer your questions in occasional advice columns for this newsletter?”) in the previous issue of the newsletter, I would ask you to leave any questions that you have, in the comments section of this issue, so that I can answer them in an advice column for this newsletter. You can also email me your questions (at anamt938@gmail.com). Your names won’t be included when I will answer your questions through the advice columns.
Now peruse below my writing advice and let me know if it was of use.
Advice column: Dealing with writers’ block
I’ve come across a bunch of questions on social media which all amount to more or less this: "Losing motivation to write. How do I motivate myself to write, or how do I write more?” Here I will provide an answer to this question. I will provide a few tips which will hopefully prompt you to write, and you won’t feel overwhelmed by the very task of writing. All these techniques have been personally tried by me and have worked.
1. Read
Read novels, short fiction, and poetry for ideas and read books on the art of writing for honing your skills. I will give some suggested readings at the end; do check them out.
Read to refresh your brain. When you get tired of thinking and brainstorming, take a reading break and later return to your piece with a much more refreshed mind brimming with new ideas and words.
2. Write your heart out
Write whatever comes to your mind. Words, emotions, musings, phrases. Maybe later these randoms click, become coherent, and could be used up to make something usable.
Practice, practice, and practice. Don’t worry about writing being bad. Just try to finish your piece, you can polish it later. It is through the bad pieces that you get to the good ones, Olivia Rodrigo once said.
3. Don’t give up
If you feel discouraged due to some reason, if you even think that you are not a good enough writer, don’t give up writing if you are really passionate about it. Don’t get swept over by criticism or rejections. If your writing has been appreciated by some at least, persist.
4. Write reviews
When you are stuck, I believe it’s a good idea to find your momentum through writing book reviews. They are easier to write in my opinion, you have material to work with, and things to talk about. Do it for practice and to get started.
5. Hop on to “the mood”
Whenever you are in the mood, do write. Don’t let the moment of inspiration go.
Also, jot down words, phrases, ideas, metaphors, or sentences whenever they hit your brain otherwise you later forget them. Most of the times these notes turn out to be really helpful when you have to complete a piece of yours.
6. Stride outside
Take inspiration from the outside world. Observe and then write about it. I have benefitted from it personally.
7. Search your life for subject matter
Recall any incident from your own life and build a story around it. It may be easier for you to talk about your life incidents and your pen may flow more smoothly there. It does for me though. They are great materials to begin with. You could perhaps end up with a voluminous manuscript.
8. Join writing workshops
You can try writing workshops. They could get you writing or give you pointers or techniques to enhance your writing skills. I’ve myself written poems in workshops.
9. Prioritize writing
Get some silent, leisure hours for writing. If you are busy with other tasks and chores, you won’t be able to get time to write. Try to make time and specifically set aside some hours dedicated to the task of writing so that you can use that time to concentrate solely on it. Also, you might want silence in order to focus and write better. Prioritize writing over distractions like watching movies/series or surfing social media.
10. Get published, get motivated
Try to get your existing works published in magazines, websites or other places. It gives you the required confidence and boost to produce even greater work. But that does not require you to be published in the top-tier magazines. You can go for tier 2 or 3 magazines too.
I hope that now you would be excited enough to pick up the pen. And once you get in the momentum to write, don’t stop. Make the most of the productive days, when you’re in the zone. I’ve read that the act of writing is inspiring in itself. Below are more suggested readings which will guide you.
Suggested readings
1. “NaNoWriMo Q&A: ‘It will teach you a lot about yourself as a writer’”
2. “14 Writing Tips for Beginners from a Self-Taught Poet”
4. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work and its sequel Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey
5. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
6. Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann
7. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
A resource
Apart from these tips above, if you want further guidance in writing or in specific kinds of writing (like poetry writing, non-fiction, reviews, etc.), you can book a writing session/workshop with me at anamt938@gmail.com since I am a freelance English (literature, grammar, writing, etc.) instructor and take classes online. In these classes, I can teach you writing, explain with examples, make you practice, give you tips on editing/polishing your write-up and getting it published in the right place, and give you good feedback on your written work, since I am a poet, writer, and editor with more than 1 year of writing experience, 8 years of poetry writing experience, and some online teaching and editing experience as well. I also offer freelance writing and editing services. You can know more about me and my work at www.anamtariq.in
Snapshots
Since we have talked a lot about writing today, I want to share some pictures of my journals and diaries (the ones in which we write). Many writers, including me, are hoarders of journals and planners. We just love having them 😍
Despite that I am not a good photographer, I will share my pics anyway 😊
Do you like them 🤔? Let me know.
Quote
Every good thing in this world started with a dream. So hold on to yours. — Willy Wonka’s mother, Wonka (2023)
p.s. but your dream should be inherently good of course.
Bulletin board
Full House Literary is open for poetry submissions throughout March. The pay and nominate for prizes.
The Authors of Tomorrow has some open positions. Check them out and apply.
Lucky Jefferson has some open calls for submissions for their upcoming issues and they also pay.
Thanks for reading 😘!
Now, as mentioned in the last issue, I would reiterate that although I am not gatekeeping any content of this newsletter and keeping it free for all, any donations that you would want to make to support this endeavor, this newsletter, are always welcome 😃 and you can scan the QR code below to donate any amount of your choice, if you want to do so. I am not sure whether my readers who are based outside India would be able to pay this way though. Find the QR code below:
Lots of love,
Anam