Diversions - Dealing with Blank Pages and Writer’s Block

photo courtesy of George Hoda; Public Domain image

“Being a writer is a very peculiar sort of a job: it's always you versus a blank sheet of paper (or a blank screen) and quite often the blank piece of paper wins.” ― Neil Gaiman

Here’s a realistic scenario. The blank screen stares at me. Ideas come to mind, but I cringe at their inferiority. I write seven or eight words and stop. Fed up, I glare at the screen, willing words to come. When they don’t, I give up and do something else.

Take Breaks
Nine times out of 10, when I take a break from the blank screen, ideas flow. For me, one sure-fire way to get things my mental juices flowing is taking a walk outside.
 

In a real way, the change of environment is like a release valve. The pressure to create dissipates and ideas flow more naturally. As my body moves and I feel the air move around me, my brain unplugs and my thoughts move and turn. Ideas come.

My intentional act of walking outdoors leads to ideas, but they also come incidentally when I am not actively pursuing them. As Agatha Christie said, “The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes.” Things may come to me in the shower, while I’m eating breakfast or even in my dreams.

Something Completely Different
Few things are worse than wanting desperately to write something, but feeling like you can’t. As Neil Gaiman says, from time to time, the paper (or screen) wins the battle. However, when you’re struggling to get the words out, take a break and do (as the Monty Python crew says) something completely different!