 Action/Adventure: May 05, 2021 Issue [#10736] |
This week: The Dreaded Writer's Block Edited by: NaNoKit  
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Writer's block happens to the best of us. But now what?
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about getting back into writing.
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It’s happening again. That thing that many of us dread and few of us manage to evade forever – the writer’s block.
I have experienced it on and off. Sometimes it only lasts for a few days, or weeks, but at its worst I struggle to put pen to paper, or pixels on a blank document for months and even years. I’m going through one of those lengthy spells now.
There are as many reasons why someone no longer feels inspired to write as there are people. Probably more. It is very likely that a global pandemic hasn’t helped. Nor has it helped that over the last couple of years several people I have loved have passed away. As we speak, one of my uncles is fighting for his life in an ICU in the Netherlands. Sadly, the doctors are running out of treatment options. Difficult decisions may have to be made the coming days.
Lockdowns have encouraged many people to get creative in one way or another. Some have discovered new hobbies, whilst others have found a renewed joy in projects long abandoned. It is like the old saying – every cloud has a silver lining. For others, however, it has had the opposite effect. I guess that I am one of them.
That doesn’t mean that I won’t write again. As I mentioned above, I am no stranger to the writer's block. I am of the firm opinion that if you are a writer, you’re a writer for life. There may be times when you cannot write for one reason or another, but that doesn’t mean that that’s the end of it. Inspiration will strike again.
If you, too, are experiencing a block, here are some tips that may help you:
 Some people find it helpful to sit down and write something, anything each and every day. They set themselves a target of x amount of words and no matter how they feel, no matter if they feel inspired or not, they are determined to reach it. This kind of discipline can be difficult to achieve, but amongst those words they sooner or later find something that sparks off a bigger project to pursue. It is a strategy that does not work for me – I am not at all disciplined enough - but it may well work for you.
What I find helpful is to lower my expectations. This, too, is difficult, as I can be a bit of a perfectionist. I have had writer's blocks because of that perfectionism, which created a fear of not living up to certain standards. It stopped me from experiencing any and all joy in my writing, and that joy is what matters, isn’t it? I had to remind myself firmly that it doesn’t matter if what I write is not perfect. That not even the best author in the history of authors would have created perfect pieces all the time, and especially not on the first attempt. Being realistic, I am not the best author in the world anyway, so why make it this difficult for myself? I can write stuff and see what happens. If it has potential, I can edit and improve it. I do not have to share it with anyone if I don’t want to. Having an audience is great, and helpful, too, but in the end I write for the love of it, rather than for anyone else.
Likewise, it is good to read the works of authors we admire. We can learn a lot from other writers. We can pick up on and try new forms and new techniques. You never know where this acquired knowledge will lead you. The trouble comes when you compare your work to theirs and feel discouraged. If you worry that you’ll never be as good as those authors. What I wrote in the paragraph above applies here, too: enjoy what you do. That is what matters. Each and every author has a different style, has different strengths and different weaknesses and that’s okay. There will be people who love what you do. Most importantly, you love what you do. Don’t give up on that.
I have had people criticise my work because it’s not artsy enough. I have had authors believe that they’re so much better than me, because the subjects I write about aren’t always serious, and I like the light and fluffy as well as the dark. Again, this does not matter. We can learn from constructive criticism, sure, but we need to always keep in mind that tastes differ and the opinion of this person or that person is hardly the be-all and end-all of valuable advice. Don’t change your work to please others. You will learn and grow in your own way and at your own pace.
If you’re ready to write again, but you are not certain where to start, why not look around the various contests on this site and see if any of the prompts give you that creative spark? Don’t feel daunted – you don’t have to enter if you don’t feel ready. You’ll know when it’s time to upload something new to your portfolio. And that new items or not, this community is always ready to cheer you on.
NaNoKit
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Some contests to inspire you:
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The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team
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