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Many writers aren’t good at anything much apart from writing. They pride themselves at it. It’s in their blood, they tell themselves. It’s their soul, they tell everyone. It is what they were born to do. Then the writer’s block hits and life becomes meaningless. They sit with their fingers on the keyboard or palms on the notepad and wonder what is the point of their existing anymore.

Few however, kill themselves over it. They have come to realise that the block is inescapable and have ways to counter it. As in many other fields in life, what is required is that you don’t stop. But that’s too general a solution, isn’t it?

I thought I would tell you what I do when I am faced with an empty screen, a keyboard itching to be touched and no inspiration at all.

Read it aloud: If I am stuck in the middle of a story or article, sometimes it helps to read aloud what I have written so far. I often find that the problem is a technical one rather than inspiration-related. Either I have mis-plotted myself into a corner, or I have convinced myself that I have reached a dead end and the sentence I am at doesn’t lead anywhere.

Sometimes reading aloud helps you fix the flow of your writing. Much of the writer’s block is illusory and the writing in question only suffers from stagnation. Once you have removed the hurdles, you free the mighty river inside you and it flows effortlessly right to the end.

Get nostalgic: Come on! You can always write about yourself. If you are uncomfortable showing it to others, you don’t have to. Although chances are, once you have indeed finished writing about the bananas your grandfather used to force-feed you when you were a kid, you would feel a sudden urge to read it out to everyone you know.

There is something about your past that is beyond the technicalities of ‘proper‘ writing. And waise bhi, if you don’t write about your life, who will?

Write porn: I know this is something of a jump cut after the family-friendly notions I fed you in the last paragraph, but it works. There are some things you can (at least I can) always write about, no matter what. Nostalgia is one of them. So is sex. (Who said pervert? Who? Who? Show yourself you BEEPing, BEEP. Everyone knows I like fantasy!)

You don’t need to be a grammarian when writing porn. Just pull out stuff from the musty old shelves in your head labeled ‘keep away from mom’. You can afford to displease the select few who look for literary fiction on porn sites.

If you are a prude uncomfortable writing about sex, try and figure out your own list of things that you can always write about, no matter what (I have got to get that copyrighted).

Start with a quote: Sometimes I am not stuck in the middle of anything. Instead, I am looking for things to write about. I have exhausted the list of ideas I had jotted down in my diary (and was too lazy to pen down that wonderful story idea I had while strolling in the mall because I was… err… distracted) and am at a total loss.

At times like this, a book of quotations comes in handy. I flip to a topic of my choice and look through what Samuel Johnson, or Bertrand Russell, or Dr Radhakrishnan said. I take that as my base and launch my rockets. It works like magic.

You can even make this work the other way around. Suppose you want to write something about religion but don’t know which way you should drag the monster. Look up a quote on religion you like and start with that idea.

Seriously, I sometimes feel most great people’s lives are made worth it by the quotes they left us.

Write something else: This fixes motivation issues. Sometimes you just need to start writing and you can’t start because you are taking your subject too seriously. Write down something frivolous. Perhaps a rant about whoever is driving you crazy (in any sense of the phrase) that particular day. Or a list of things you want to change in the country. Disposable stuff like that.

Don’t take this personally, but I am writing this article to get out of a block I encountered halfway into a fantasy story I am working on these days. I knew you would understand. Thanks!

Take a walk: This is very me-specific really. I find a walk not only invigorating, but also a source of ideas. And I am not even talking about taking in the scenery and things like that. The mere act of walking is utter magic. It totally fires me up.

Sadly, I annoy many people. They don’t get it. “Why can’t you sit down?” they ask. What do I say to them? Gah! I can’t sit down even if my life depended on it. Sleep, yes. But sit still, with nothing to do? Unimaginable.

A preemptive measure: What if you never came up against the writer’s block? What if you could keep it at an arm’s distance and never have to deal with it. Easier said than done. But we can always try.

In this respect, I cannot over-emphasise the importance of listing your ideas. I have lost characters, civilisations, and really kick-ass bits of dialogue because I let life get in the way. Convince yourself of the fact that nothing is more important than the idea. Write it down the moment you get it and never lose it. Little scenes I wrote when I was in primary school have become stories on this site. Please, please carry a pen and a notebook on you at all times.

Finally, please understand that none of the above make me writer’s block-proof. While I would love it if these tips work for you, they are by no means definitive. Merely consistent techniques that have worked for me over the years. Good luck figuring out what works for you!

Posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 11:33 am and filed under writing.

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