Curing writer’s block

Everyone who writes - be it comedy, drama, or just a shopping list - will one day stare down the barrel of the dreaded writer’s block.

Whilst this is completely normal, at the time it can feel like you’ll never put pen to paper (fingers to laptop keys?) again. Before you decide to hurl your notebook out the window, here’s a few things you might want to try…

MOVE!

Go for a walk, do 50 star jumps, get chased by a Doberman… the choice is yours! Point is, sitting and staring at an empty page will not free that blocked up little brain of yours, so in the words of Beyonce, ‘Release the Wiggle’ and get that body moving!

HAVE A REBRAND

The phrase ‘writer’s block’ itself can be damaging - it suggests a kind of non-remediable affliction rather than just you having an off-day. So… change the narrative! Take the power away from ‘writer’s block’ by referring to it in a different way in your mind. Maybe it’s you having an arse day, maybe call it ‘brussel sprouts’ (the worst of the foods, surely?) or maybe name it ‘Kev’ after that ex of yours who used to paint Warhammer models. Not so powerful now, eh?

BLAME THE SPIRITS (No, not that kind...)

Did you know that ancient Greeks used to believe that artists were merely a conduit for inspiration from a higher power, and not, in fact, the ones in control of the work being produced? Pretty cool, eh? Watch this TedTalk by Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love author) as she explains it far more eloquently than I can.

HAVE FUN, GO MAD

If no content is coming to mind, create your own! Take a burlesque class, drag yourself up a climbing wall, go to a craft beer distillery (actually, not that last one… no-one is that desperate). Do something out of the ordinary - think about what you see, how you feel and who you meet (not at the craft beer place though) and WRITE ABOUT IT. It doesn’t have to be your magnum opus, but you never know what getting out of your comfort zone might lead to.

Good luck!