FADE TO BLACK :

Blink blink blink goes the cursor, against that empty ocean that is the white background of Microsoft Word. Writer’s block is a tricky b*tch. Block is something that affects all creatives differently; working a unique numbness in to each of them. Heres my advice on how to beat it back.

I spent the good part of 2019 simply unable to write, incapable of doing it.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to - But rather felt that I physically couldn’t - like I had lost the ability entirely. I described it to those around me as an “impotence” . Writing is something that was so very mine, and something that let me express myself which had now turned into something that had to be forced. I squarely tie this in to my break up with my girlfriend at the time, and only now, a whole eight months on, after finally feeling a little bit better, do I understand that the two things correlated: I’d felt that an independence was robbed from me; like I had forgotten entirely how to do it alone and how to write, how to exude because I was far too unwell to cope and unsure of what real life was like on my own anymore.

But with that, I’d like to continue the break up metaphor - and yeah, this definitely isn’t going to make you feel better, pal - but your writer’s block will go… it’s just a matter of time. Yup, I hated writing that as much as you hated reading it.

X NEVER MARKS THE SPOT

I’ve found that mind maps are a great way to get your creativity out and to explore where a story might go. I mean, big chunky felt tip colours, bright garish highlighters even, that branch off and go in random directions as you and your characters find out just the way they’re going. What you write on on your mind map could lead absolutely nowhere - Honestly, it could be total garbage even - But in a moment like this the absolute garbage may even be helpful, because you can differentiate between what does and does not stay in your next draft. A3 paper is recommended for this particular task. Don’t skimp.

I’d advise to even do this for your lesser characters. Something director/writer Wes Anderson has always done so well in his work is providing a voice for scene stealers (have a look at this ranking of every single character in Anderson’s movies, rating them - there’s 160 possible characters there). By fleshing out the more minority characters it should help build your own fictional universe.

build your story around your characters

Another one is to write out your characters’ backgrounds. Where did they come from? Why are there accents that distinct? How has it shaped them? This is a great exercise in creating your characters, or at the very least perhaps getting to know them. I think by looking back in this way at their history it may be able to help you move forward with your story. Create and write their parents. What was their upbringing like? You know why Luke is so darn messed up? Just look at his dad.