You’ve heard it. Some call it writer’s block, and others refer to it as writer’s burnout.
But the results are the same no matter what you call it.
This can affect all your writing. From the book you’re working on, social media, or any other writing you do.
You’re sitting, staring at the blinking cursor. Ahead of it is a blank expanse waiting to be filled. Waiting for you to provide all the letters that, strung together, into words that will make sense.
But nothing happens.
Zip. Nada.
We’ve all been here, so let’s explore this situation all writers face.
And do something about it.
Writer's Block, Writer's Burnout
I recently hit a patch of burnout, writer’s block. See, I combined them because that’s how it felt. I had a bad case of both of them.
I had been hitting my word count. I should have felt great.
But, there I was, not writing. That gave me time to think about this predicament.
Let’s look at the process.
Stress, let’s agree that this situation causes us stress. The brain, under pressure, will switch from the higher brain function, where our creative processes reside, to the more instinctual midbrain response, the flight or fight reaction.
You won’t be aware of this shift. You just notice you’re cutoff creatively. The lack of input from your higher brain functions further obstructs any creative pursuits.
Rings a bell, doesn't it?
Long periods of this will lead to stress becoming chronic. Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and anxiety all set in. It’s a period where there is no creative flow.
You may be thinking, “I was nailing my word count. So, what’s the problem?”
As I mentioned, I thought about this, and I saw the trap I was setting for myself.
I focused on the word count. Day after day, the word count, the word count, and the word count.
Intellectually, I knew I was achieving my goal, but it didn’t feel that way. My mind, more specifically, my subconscious, had a different idea.
If you look at writer’s block, the burnout, as a symptom. It’s your mind’s way of telling you something isn’t in alignment.
You see, deep down, the subconscious only experienced this as a treadmill exercise. The word counts. Deep down, in the mind, things are not so linear. It doesn’t connect A to B, then C.
The brain is amazing, but it can miss a few things, and the mind is something else.
I decided that a word count was the daily goal, but my mind didn’t see it that way. All it saw was an activity that never ended with no reward. I knew it was a new day, but my mind, the subconscious, only saw the same thing.
I had to ask, why did I write? The desire to write was always there, and that’s why I took it for granted. I never explored this and just started writing.
So, I went deep into myself and discovered something so simple.
My initial desire to write was part of my being. It wasn’t to hit a word count. It was something deeper, a part of my core value.
Like I said, burnout, writer’s block was a symptom, and my inner self was trying to tell me something.
I hadn't picked the right goal
By turning inward, I discovered that which drove me to write. Answering this, I found my real goal to write and make sure to remind myself of it whenever I’m writing. This became my new goal, and as long as I can feel this when I write, I achieve my goal.
Yes, it takes practice and commitment, but the results are better.
These are some of the things I tried to look inward. Try them and find your creative self.
Down Time
The first thing to consider, are you scheduling downtime? Writers are bad when it comes to doing nothing. This is not social media time or some other pursuit. This is true and proper relaxation.
You see, the brain cannot distinguish between work you do and other tasks you do like social media or something that demands time. It seems odd, doesn’t it? The brain sees work as work.
Don’t fall into the writer’s trap of the pseudo-prestige, of working long hours and short on sleep. I’ve seen writers gather and compare- compete for the most extended writing hours and lack of sleep each has achieved.
I bet you’ve seen this as well.
Sleep
Sleep requirements are different from person to person, most adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep to be at their best.
Sleep is important. Science has studied it, and there’s a lot of information about its importance, more than I want to get into here.
Let’s just know for our purpose of writing, it refreshes you. Sleep achieves this by removing, from the brain, metabolic waste products faster than when you’re awake.
In deep sleep, your brain starts to become active again. Its electrical activity is similar to when you are awake. This is when most dreams happen.
Dreaming helps tap into your subconscious. Your dreams effortlessly incorporate elements within the mind, from your wakeful state, in ways that would not be possible any other way. Sleep helps you enter a dreamy state full of vivid imagery if you can hold onto it. That’s why many writers keep a notebook and pen at their bedside.
It’s essential to stick to a consistent sleep schedule. An erratic sleep pattern can leave you feeling unbalanced. Pick a bedtime and stick to it as much as possible. It helps to regulate your body’s internal clock, so falling asleep on time becomes more natural.
Meditation
Another way to relax is through meditation. In sleep, you experience this relaxed state as you drift off to sleep. Meditation is another way to discover calm. There are many forms of meditation, and its practice varies, so it is hard to precisely define what it is and what you should do. There are many sources of guided meditation on the internet. Check a few and see what works for you.
This is my meditation practice at the start of each day and before I write. I’m sharing it with you. Use it, add to it, and in other ways, make it your own.
I take a deep breath and fill my lungs with air.
Then I hold my breath (without closing my throat) for a moment.
Then let my breath out naturally, without forcing it.
I repeat this a few times while I recall why I write. The core value.
I pull on my inner vision of the question at hand. I let the mental pictures flow through me.
All the while, taking comfortable deep breaths to hold for a moment and breathe out naturally.
I let my inner pictures scroll by freely in my mind without thought or judgment.
I repeat as long as the pictures continue to drift in and out of my awareness.
Almost lastly, I inhale deeply and let my breath out and prepare to write.
As I let my breath out, I lift my hands and let my fingers brush the keyboard.
Taking another breath in and holding it, then breathe out.
I let myself take a moment to be aware of how the keys feel.
Then, I push the first key down and feel the slight pressure it provides.
Then I go onto the next key and the next and enjoy the feel of each key as I push it down.
I continue with my writing.
During this practice, I don’t feel I am moving through the different brain wave levels or networks in play. Instead, I notice the results. I let this experience flow through me unhindered. There isn’t a wrong way to do this.
As I begin to write, my immediate world, my first goal, is to push a single key on the keyboard. The reward is the slight pressure of this key, the audible click. Each key, as it’s pushed down, provides the same bonus. Then I just keep going and enjoy the sensation of each pushed key as I write.
These small increments, touching each key, hearing it, provide satisfaction while writing, confident that I am moving towards my goal, to finish this story, and many more.
Thus, and I think this is important, the project of writing a book reduces from being a huge task, a daily word count, to the satisfying feel of pushing each key down.
That’s the goal now, that’s the reward, and it’s the daily habit.
Social Pressure
It’s nice to have friends. But, are you trying to conform to their expectations for you? Do these expectations cause an over investment of your time? Are you busy being busy, doing a rush job at your writing, and cutting into your sleep time? It’s time to get the people in your social circle accustomed to the fact you are a writer. Writing takes time, creativity, rest, and scheduled breaks. Yes, your real friends will get used to this.
Another social pressure is your desire for success when you want to show the world that you can do this. This kind of ambition can only take you so far because, as a result, you overtax your own creative gifts and fortitude.
Consider if being busy is an easy way for you to not deal with issues like writing. If so, take some time for yourself.
Solitude
Think of solitude as a creative endeavor, the art of spending time with you. You’re creative, so you’re more than halfway there.
There are benefits to the alone time but, you’ll need to nix the distractions like smartphones and TV.
To begin to discover who you are, you need to be focused.
Try simple things like enjoying your living space or glance outside your windows to see if any nature has taken up residence on the other side of the glass.
A walk in your neighborhood or local park can give you downtime to enjoy your solo adventure and provide your mind a rest. Start by looking for the smallest thing you can wonder about.
Embrace your solitude. It’s your time to refresh and recharge your spirit.
As your thoughts begin to ponder the world around you, spikes of new creative ideas that pop into existence will surprise you. Keep your notebook handy, it’s okay to jot these down.
Solitude simply means quiet time and enjoying the small things around you. Whether you’re inside or outside, close your eyes and listen for the faintest faraway sound you can hear. What do you think that noise is?
Solitude can help you improve your creative life. Learn to embrace it. The more you try solitude, even in small bites of time, you’ll feel your creative self, ready to come out and play.
Pep Talk
Practice getting in touch with yourself will help you overcome burnout, or writer’s block. Try one of the above techniques daily. The more you practice, it’s easier to be genuinely you.
You’ll find that in time, because you’re a creative, that you’ll become especially adept at this. You’ll train yourself fully to utilize your creative brain. You’ll be conscious of your inner self and simultaneously be aware of the outside world. Your creativity merges that which is external and internal as it moves you between these two realms.