What is Writer's Block and how to scientifically overcome Writer's Block
Suppose you are talking to your best friend Misti. Then you just thought of something to discuss with her but suddenly you forget the thing. The topic is like dancing into your belly but you are not able to utter it. You are trying so hard that only splitting your hair is left, but you can not remember the thing you thought of telling Misti. We all can relate to this type of experience. This is a kind of blockage in our mind(or brain), that interrupts our communication.
Writer's Block is also a kind of blockage that holds writers from continuing their work. In such a situation, a person especially an author(later we'll discuss-it's not only the writers) feels distracted and can not focus on her/his writings. This is a kind of 'lockdown' that your brain goes through. And every time the writer goes to write s/he faces problems, s/he can not resonate himself with the work.
The writer always thinks that he is not doing well and whatever he's writing is not worthy. The brain tells that he can do much better and his writing should be perfect. And in order to make his writing perfect he revises his work multiple times and gets lost his creative instinct to write down his idea.
Before we solve the problem
People who write(like me) knows how the 'feeling of writing' is. It may be a fiction or a non-fiction, first the idea comes to your mind what you're going to talk about in the book. Then you sit down with a pen and paper to write down the idea. The most important thing you have to understand is that, our brain just creates some fuzzy or shadowy images(more specifically, chemical signals) of what we think. Our brain does not produce books, music, art or anything like that. A good piece of novel is not just the plot. A book is a combination of many elements; and writing down the idea on paper is just one part of the whole process. Here I do not want to go deep about the process, every writer knows that.
But here I want to share with you some useful tips and tricks based on scientific researches that if you apply them practically, I can assure you 200% that you will overcome Writer's Block.
So how can we (scientifically) escape writer's block?
1! Anyway you have to write:
Once you have understood that our brain does not function in words, you can overcome writer's block very easily. The most most most important thing that you have to remember is that you have to write down your idea on paper, no matter how weird the idea is. Anyway you have to write. Just write the first draft anyway, because you know that after writing the first draft the manuscript will go through many many corrections and editing. First draft is not the final piece. So why write the "perfect first draft"?
2! Decode your own brain:
So your will provide you certain signals. We do not know when the next idea will pop up in our mind. For example, you've written two chapters of your first draft. Now you are thinking how to organize the beginning of third chapter. But you got no idea and left the writing desk. Now while you are eating or walking outside or in the pool, maybe you catch a certain idea. It happens, isn't it?
So in this situation what you should do? In this type of situations, you need to write down the idea as soon as you can. Because if you leave the idea probably you are loosing it forever. And this is called decoding. You need to decode your own brain as soon as possible. Just write, just write down. Or you also can draw something on the paper so that you can remember the idea later, you can draw some signals, whatever you want. Just don't let the idea be lost.
And this brings us to our next point, which is perfectionism.
3! Don't be perfect:
This is the main reason why writer's block happens anyway. A portion of your own brain tells you to be perfect. But you also know very well that you can not be perfect in this first stage of writing. So what you can do now?
Just don't be perfect. Only because of making the manuscript perfect you are loosing your valuable creative juice. So do not let it happen. Protecting yourself from writer's block you have to combine all the points here I am discussing. And not being perfect with your first draft is one of the few steps.
Tell your brain that it will get enough time and chance to be perfect later, but for now give the most priority to your creative instinct.
4! Move your Ass:
Maybe you are thinking what's in your ass! LOL! But wait. I am here to guide you.
Sometime, when you are busy and you are writing for so long or perhaps your mind is very congested with other things, your brain feels difficult to produce great creative things. And also it blocks your natural authority.
In such condition, one thing that might help you the most is doing some warm exercise and moving your body. I am not talking about mediation or spiritual quest here. You can do them later. But here I am talking about some exercises that will burn your calories and charge you up. You can use yoga or other free hand exercises. When you move your body(or ass😂)
your brain starts functioning like monster.
Science shows that, when we
exercise your brain releases
serotonin(which is the key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness),
dopamine(the most important chemical which improves neuro-transmissibility and controls emotional responses).
Your body gets warm, your brain gets a power boost, all your muscles are active, your nervous system is active. Now you do not encounter writer's block or even procrastination. Happy writing!!!!
5! Make new room:
By making new room, I mean to say creating some space. Where you use to sit everyday and write hugely contributes to your writing mood. So changing your writing environment can improve your ability to cope up with writer's block. Even very small changes like organizing your desk little bit, decorating your desk, putting some beautiful indoor plants onto your place will help great.
Our brain does not like the same boring and dull place to live. Our brain needs some refreshment too.
What science has to say
Throughout the history, various scientific researches have been conducted in the world. Many experiments have done. And what the scientists have found is very interesting.
What they have said simply is that - writer's block does not only happen with the writers. It happens with all the creative people. And the blockage is not writer's block, it is actually creative block. So it is very common for all writers, artists, musicians, dancer and even it is very common for normal ordinary people.
What are your lessons
* Writer's block is a mental condition where creative people loose their focus
*People try to be perfect with their works
*Writer's block does not only happen to writers, it can also happen to other creative people
*Writer's block is not a mental disease but a temporary 'creative lockdown' in the brain
*Writer's block can be easily removed by doing exercise, listening to music, playing, reading books, outing with friends or just by arranging a get together with family
*If you are a writer and facing writer's block, you can write the first draft(how much imperfect it may), and later you will make it perfect
P.S- The only person who can make you out of the hard situation is only you. I know some people face real problems regarding this, but we all have to remember that this blog won't help you unless you are willing. So as I promised you at the beginning of the blog that I can assure you 200%. It's true.
The only thing you have to do is to believe yourself and have to will to overcome your brain's trick. You can trick your own brain with your own trick so that the brain works for you, and not against you.
If you feel this blog helpful, please consider sharing this with a lot of friends because many other people can have the benefits of this blog.
Take love, thank you.
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