If you’ve stared at a blank document and the words weren’t flowing, you’re not alone. Mark Twain sometimes had that experience in front of a typewriter, and Geoffrey Chaucer with an empty parchment and a quill pen. So then, what do you do if you’re blocked while up against a deadline, trying to get that business presentation done, finish the doctoral dissertation about vegetable symbolism in Hamlet, or complete your Jezebel article about how chewing gum contributes to toxic masculinity?
The creative process
It’s important to understand a writing project’s phases:
- Planning
- Writing
- Editing
Planning is where you develop a general outline. This may be the essentials of a plot, or the points you’re trying to make in a monograph. This phase also includes research. If it’s a story, you might also detail the characters, to sketch out their personality and history enough that they’ll come to life. It doesn’t need to be too extensive, though ideally, you’ll have enough information about them that you can imagine a conversation with them or know how they’d react to any given situation.
Editing is pretty self-explanatory. This involves checking the spelling and grammar; no word processor will catch every mistake. Also, that’s where you sharpen up the style, and fix any problems in logic and consistency. Editing is vital to perfecting the quality, but make it whatever you’re doing when you’re not in writing mode.
Writing is the most important part. This is what produces all those words. When a project starts, you have nothing written down, and this is where many people get blocked. Although planning is the first on the list, most likely you already have at least a basic idea of where you’re going with it. Also, it’s sometimes difficult to get into writing mode, which is another reason to prioritize it.
Creative flow
Fortunately it’s not this tricky, usually!
Most writing happens during creative flow. It’s not exactly a trance, but it’s somewhat a different state of consciousness. This takes place in any artistic endeavor. If you’re out on the town and vibing effortlessly, that’s essentially similar. Being blocked in that scenario is the all-too-common experience of wanting to be social or chat up someone but having no idea what to say. Creative flow is necessary even when writing software.
If you’ve got the inspiration fully in gear, then you’re putting ideas down as fast as you can type. I’ve had the experience where stories basically write themselves. Not being able to enter creative flow causes the dreaded writer’s block. Until your first draft is done, or nearly so, then always try to catch the inspiration where ideas coalesce into words almost magically.
What planning and editing have in common is that they’re fairly analytical and detail-oriented. Thus, for the most part, the left hemisphere of the brain is engaged. On the other hand, the writing phase is mainly a right-brained activity. That’s where the artistic functions of the mind happen. So this is a very different process from planning and especially editing.
Note well, it’s pretty hard to get both hemispheres of the brain fully engaged at the same time, unless you’re good enough at meditation to levitate or whatevs.
Get in the right mindset
You can stare at this trippendicular fractal until inspiration arrives.
You must shift gears mentally, so to speak, to enter creative flow for the writing phase. Again, this is what gets your first draft finished, so catch the inspiration whenever possible. This is the trickiest part. This doesn’t just happen on command, any more than you go to sleep at will.
The right mood music may help, something suitable for the task. (With my latest novel, listening to Espirpe Imperial, Division 250, and Celtica really put me in the right state of mind.) If the lyrics get distracting, find something instrumental or in a language you don’t understand well. The ancients invoked the Muses to get into the spirit of things; do that if it works for you.
When you’re in creative flow, it’s easy to get distracted. Set aside some time when you won’t be disturbed. Grab some munchies and your favorite beverage, so you won’t have to get up for it. Set aside extraneous worries or other thoughts, and focus on the project at hand. If necessary, tell anyone else nearby to let you finish your task. If they won’t leave you alone, persuade them to enroll in STFU.
Since most writing these days is done on computers, it’s difficult to avoid distractions. Therefore, you’ll have to discipline yourself. Keep off of the email, video games, stock charts, tentacle porn, and all that when you’ve set aside some time. Turn the ringer off on the phone, or put it in another room if you’re still tempted to check it.
Editing must be done with a clear head, or else you’ll make mistakes. On the other hand, creative flow can happen even when you’re tired. Some writers even prefer to get drunk. (Back in the day, many favored absinthe, though it’s hard to get it quite like they used to make it. The scare stories about it were fairly overblown.) All that is up to your personal discretion. However, it’s advisable not to overdo the bug juice or rely on it as a crutch.
Igniting the spark
Mehr Licht!
So you’re staring at a blank manuscript, and the words aren’t coming off of your fingertips—what then? Rack your brains and write down a sentence or two. Surely you can think of something—anything. Then see if you can get something else down. Take it as far as it will go. This is what shifts the gears. Soon you’ll get a paragraph or two. With luck, words will start flying off your fingers. Run with it as fast as possible!
Note that it doesn’t have to be in any particular order. Speed is what counts. Don’t dwell too much on fixing mistakes, or that will knock you back into edit mode. If the ideas start coming faster than you can get them into sentences, jot down the ideas elsewhere so you can pick up the thread later.
It’s not possible to knock out a novel in one sitting. (With my latest, fourteen chapters and 88K words certainly didn’t happen overnight!) So eventually you’ll have to stop and pick it up later. Reigniting the spark is a little easier when you have something in writing already. You can begin in editing mode, putting things in order, making transitions from one block of finished paragraphs to the next, and otherwise polishing up what you already wrote. When you start getting thoughts on where else you want to go with it, then kick into writing mode and start creating new paragraphs.
Sometimes you’ll have to step back to planning mode, if you need to work out something with logic or direction. That’s fine, but as soon as you come up with some ideas you can write down, then hit it. If necessary, you can go to another writing project, returning to the first later. If all else fails, then start doing some boring, repetitive task that you’ve been putting off for a while. Mull over your ideas while you paint the living room or whatever.
Most importantly, have fun with it!
Don’t miss Beau’s book catalog. Good stuff!
Read More: 60 Myths On Memory, Learning, Sleep, And Creativity
great article, thank you.
This is the sort of how-to article that makes RoK shine. Thanks, OP!
I would add the old advice that if you’re stuck, go on to the next chapter or topic then return later. In writing, I found starting with an summary intro, then the conclusion/any reference list, THEN writing the body worked well.
Boys, I see these tips also applicable to good game/frame.
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Fight the femcunts of Toronto. Theirs your inspiration.
Big Red should enroll in STFU too 🙂
You’re right. Many of these femzombies from Canada need to be met with a barrel of an AK or Taurus and click on site.
Toronto woman actually fakes her bruises to falsely accuse an innocent mulatto Dominican man of a sex crime:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sex-assault-dominican-republic-1.4843351
I hope that someone in that country sends her to the Atlantic Ocean to feed the fishes.
^ I see a growing demand for armed security and guns in Toronto.
Write something. Write anything.
It doesn’t have to be related to the project your are working on now. It can be about anything. Real or hypothetical; even your fantasies.
Maybe, when you write out a thing that has been running around inside your head for a few days, months, or years; that “block” has been removed. Now you can return to your main objective.
That works for me.
Good article. It basically covered the process of writing more than writers block. No matter. Article is valuable.
Red wave. West. Mid-term. Watch!
Get “fuck you” money. Quit the rat race.
Okay.
I’ll reveal this.
The number one way I conquer writers block is this:
Write down everything I have learned about “fuck you” money. The history, theory, and concept, of “fuck you” money. How to get it. How to keep it. How to invest it. How to keep it coming. How to enjoy it.
This site looks like Cosmopolitan these da
Fuk u then, fagget. This article gives good advice f9r us people that are interested in writing. Cosmopolution is a shitty magazine for cocksucking bimbo air-heads, just like your momma.
Darn it, I should’ve included “Twelve Tips On How To Wrap Your Boyfriend Around Your Little Finger”. I knew I was missing something…
When I get writers block I usually find a cheat motel/hotel a good distance out of town and make a quick road trip. I’ll eat at local restaurants (I am talking real American country places not yuppie “farm to table” restaurants urban liberals open up in resort communities). Talking to the locals at the bar is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. So is also just turning off the day to day distractions of the same old lights and sounds.
This article is decent but we need to remember that not everyone is a skilled writer and if writers’ block is consistently tripping up the man doing the typing, he may want to find other means of expression.
Speaking of writing, I am not really sure how to interpret the fact that ROK hasn’t put out one piece in response to the political left’s attempt to smear a man and ruin his life, all without one shred of evidence. The site has done some excellent work on #MeToo, and a follow-up would be timely.
Chew on this: Kavanaugh was #1 in his class, about as “All American” as they come, and bragged about being a virgin into his 20s and the many *non-sexual* friendships he had with females. Knowing that, what do you suppose they’ll do to anyone who follows the advice of guys like Roosh? Tom Leykis? MGTOW’s?
And what about those who aren’t PUA’s or interested in the gender wars? What about anyone who believes in the presumption of innocence? Or skeptics who (rightfully) lack belief in extraordinary claims without proper supporting evidence? How are their positions going to be received by what the New Left is evolving into?
Oh, and in other news, the state of California just passed a law that *mandates* that at least one woman must sit on the board of directors for any publicly traded company that operates in the state. (Look it up, I am not making this up).
For the guys sitting at home thinking, “Well I didn’t sexually assault anyone, so this won’t affect me… Logic and reason dictate my beliefs, so this won’t affect me… I do my job well, so this won’t affect me… ,” it’s time to wake the fuck up. The crosshairs of the Radical Left are slowly and deliberately moving in your direction…
By the way… what I wrote was an example of a writer intending to write a few sentences, then getting carried away and going overboard. It was a comment board hijacking, without question.
I disagree with some of your Kavanaugh points but found your post pretty valuable. One man’s hijack is another’s gem. Keep it up.
All men used to be created equal. Now, they’re created guilty.
Writing is a craft, and the “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” rule does apply. Still, there are times must do their best – term papers and work projects, for example.
As for Kavanaugh, I haven’t been able to research that one too much yet. I’ve heard wildly conflicting stories about it. The left’s narrative is that he’s a monster who forced himself on a fifteen year old. Other sources say this was about a wardrobe malfunction during a college drinking game, which is hardly remarkable and even less lurid than the Clarence Thomas “pubic hair on a Pepsi can” business. (I suspect that’s closer to the actual truth.) Naturally, it surfaces during the nomination. It’s an important subject, and I’d like to write about it, but I have no idea when that might be.
Regarding California’s Board of Directors rule, that one is easily circumvented. Just have someone declare himself genderfluid, then show up to Board meetings in drag like Corporal Klinger. According to Current Year leftist rules, he’s now a “woman”, so there’s nothing they can do about it. The results would be entertaining 🙂
Mr Albrecht, I’m not shedding many tears over the impending demise of ROK, but for what it’s worth, you’ve been one of my favorite writers and contributors. I’d call you a writing craftsman. I hope you can continue your insights and craft with venues that can appreciate what you have to say.
Like the bouncing cross hairs at the start of James Bond movies….
Things fall apart. The world has turned upside down now.
Clean-cut, moral Americans who were taught to hate Communism, be hard-working, be responsible, respect free speech, support religious freedom, defend gun rights, oppose warrantless searches, seizures, and torture must be in a state of shock to watch the USA become Socialist. How could Americans go to the same schools and have such different beliefs?
You know that you live in the Twilight Zone when Americans support tyranny.
The USA is now an immoral bankrupt warmongering police state flooded with illegal immigrants.
Americans scream homosexuality should be illegal because the Gestapo belongs in the bedroom.
Americans insist pot should be outlawed since Prohibition worked so well in the past.
Americans say trade wars are good because closed borders turned North Korea into a stunning success.
Americans think the US was always immoral because the USA doesn’t have churches.
Americans say debt doesn’t matter because it is not real money and doesn’t need to be paid back.
Americans think endless wars are fine because US bombs are just gathering dust.
Americans believe being molested by the TSA is good since they have nothing to hide.
Americans insist that the US never should have fought the British during the Revolutionary War.
Americans feel that the Nazi boot that crushes your face is much more comfortable than the Communist boot.
Americans say the minimum wage should be raised because you can get rich by decree.
Americans think guns should be banned because nothing is more important than safety.
Americans believe the desires of neighbors are more important than the rights of property owners.
Americans think either that the USA is the country with the most freedom in the world or think that the US was always a police state.
The US deserves everything coming to it.
How can Americans sleep at night while the US collapses or look in the mirror now without feeling utterly disgusted and ashamed?
“US people think the US was always immoral because the US doesn’t have churches.”
What a BIG joke !! In this Country, there are a minimum of 2 to 3 God damn churches in every God damn locality !!
So what does that have to do with anything?? Many of these churches are liberal mainline Protestant churches with social justice theology replacing early Christian faith. Many others are emerging evangelical Protestant mega churches with feel good theology and feminized worship. Big deal!
You can drink some suds and pull each others’ puds.
Thank you so much! This article is fascinating.
Thank you so much, I’m a highschool student. Currently I have a huge writing project in Norwegian class, so I think this is going to help me out alot.
It’s so sad to see good men ignoring their biology like this! Biologically, men are designed to be hunters, not writers! Writers sit around and act differently than Gd designed them to, while hunters use their natural capacity. Everyone knows that they are irrational, and only good at hunting animals (that’s why their brains are so similar to animals). Don’t believe me on that last point? Just go to a football game and listen to the hooting!
Anyways, it is one of the major problems with modern society that men are forced to abandon their natural roles as hunters and stay at home to do desk work and made decisions that impact society, when their brains are too irrational to handle it.
Writer’s block is a real problem. I write for a blog sometime, and it is a real pain when you are all ready to write something, but you are stuck with no idea. Sometimes I am just full of ideas, and sometimes I am a dumb person. I have been reading a lot of guides on Writer’s block, and I think yours one is well written and practical. I’ll try and follow all your suggestions.
Thank You