iBlog7: Writer’s block
Wikipedia defines writer’s block as “a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work.”
But this definition limits the definition to those who are writers by profession, and we, bloggers, are “writers by passion” and there are some, especially the “real” writers who do not (want to) see bloggers as writers too.
All I can say is that, writer’s block is to writers as athlete’s foot is to athlete. And you know you don’t have to be an athlete to have an athlete’s foot, right? So there.
Anyway, I’ve found a better definition of writer’s block, which goes
You know how it is when you are writing a blog post, it’s like you’re talking to an imaginary friend… you’re talking to yourself… you’re talking to the voice inside your head… and when you have writer’s block you don’t even hear those voices.
Is writer’s block serious?
The effect of writer’s block to some may take days… weeks… months… and even years…. I even read an article that says that there are some who even abandoned writing altogether because of writer’s block.
That is sad… but I guess not as sad as this picture
Seriously though, we are all prone to it. I don’t think there is an exception. We all get writer’s block. In fact, it’s very convenient to blame it on writer’s block.
We bloggers often use writer’s block as an excuse just as women often headache.
Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of that myself… writer’s block, I mean.
But, how do you deal with writer’s block, really?
Here’s a good suggestion.
Anyway, there are really different approaches to dealing with writer’s block, and not one can be considered more effective than the other, it all depends on the person and his personality, reactions, etc.
But to be able to deal with writer’s block, one must first understand what is causing it in the first place. Here are just some of the causes (mostly from personal experiences) of writer’s block:
Extreme Emotions
These are the depression, anxiety, or sadness. It could also be anger, angst, pain, or fear. It can even be happiness or excitement… anything that is too much is not really good.
-Â Â Â Use the feeling as an inspiration to write
-   Dig deep within… pour out… share
-Â Â Â Do not be conscious about grammar, context, spelling, drama at this point ( you can always EDIT LATER)
Some of my better poetries where written during bouts with depression.
Self-doubt / hesitation / Ignorance
The fear of rejection creeps in and eats you out even before you start to write.
-Â Â Â Research / read
-Â Â Â Compromise
-Â Â Â Decline
Social media (Facebook)
In my recent post, “Facebook killed the blogger,” I mentioned some reasons why this social media platform has been eating much of the blogger’s time, like: it is interactive, you get immediate feedback (Like/Comment), everybody’s there – friends and relatives who are not bloggers. If you want to bounce back to blogging:
-Â Â Â Turn-off/log off from FB when you want to write. You know those notifications can be very tempting
(because you know you will click it when you see those notifications)
-Â Â Â you may want to disable email notification too
Distractions
Separated from Facebook intentionally because some would not readily admit that FB is a distraction. What could fall in this category would be: work/studies; personal concerns, like family, health, finances, lovelife, etc.
-Â Â Â Set your priorities. It is advisable that you finish your work/studies before starting to write so your mind would be free from distractions.
-   Deal with your concerns first. It won’t go away by ignoring it.
Procrastination (Laziness)
Putting it off on a later time because maybe you can easily do it… whenever you wanted to. Or you enjoy too much doing other things.
-Â Â Â Admit it. Arrest it.
-Â Â Â Find/think of something that could motivate (reason for writing)
-Â Â Â Start writing
-Â Â Â Procrastinate later!
Burn-out!!!
Because you love blogging so much, you tend to do it… even overdo it. You do it almost everyday, until one day you wake up and you find yourself not wanting to do it anymore. It happens – to the best of us.
-Â Â Â Get offline
-Â Â Â Do some physical activity (e.g. exercise), learn a new hobby, have some recreation, or any other activity that has nothing to do with blogging.
-Â Â Â READ. Great writers are always good reader (books, magazines, signboards, menu, etc.) Reading exercises the mind
-   Remember the pen and paper? Yes, they still exist. Try writing, physically, on paper using a pen. It is different when you are “actually” writing from that of typing in the keyboard.
-Â Â Â PUBLISH A BOOK. Maybe you already have some materials that you intended to publish in the past. It would be a great time to resurrect that dream. You will be encouraged to write because you will need additional materials to finish the book. And the feeling of having a book published, even just the thought of it, gives you a different kind of high.
It was during a blogging lull when the dream of having my poems publish in a book was revived. And there wouldn’t any better time, because I met a publisher – from our place, who would help me realize my dream… and so, REFLECTION was born. It is my very own poetry book and it will be released in May 2011. Watch out for it.
So there you are, just some of the causes of writer’s block or “perceived” writer’s block and some possible measures to counter them. Perhaps there could be other causes, and definitely more techniques of overcoming writer’s block.
But the bottom line, you the blogger, must have the resolve to stop writer’s block. Look around and find the inspiration that can get you going. Topics are aplenty. Write about something on the first object that you see, or write about why you cannot write. It would at least get your mind to start working again.
And as I said… START WRITING!
Tags: blogging summit, burn out, College of Law, iblog, iBlog7, Malcolm Hall, procrastination, Roy dela Cruz, social media, text, UP Diliman, writer's block, writing
Sir, your talk totally opened my mind to things that I don’t realize as “writer’s block” but apparently are.. such as facebook! hehe
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, more so your personal experience and take on the subject matter..
P.S.
When I’m writing this, I logged out of FB and twitter.. lol
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:02 am
Thank you very much Jeffz! Glad you liked my talk… and even applied it
keep on blogging
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Thanks for sharing this sir!!! Great to also see you personally with your family…Till next blogging event…
Will also support your book launch as I love to read…
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Hi Jinkee! Nice meeting you too. Thank you very much for the support
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Congratulations Sir Roy for the great talk!
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Thank Fitz!
pero ang daya mo e, late ka e lol! (joke)
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Sir Roy, I regret not attending iBlog7. Di ko kayo napakinggan.
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Hi Nice! Oo nga e, I was hoping to see and the rest of the guys again last Saturday… feeling ko tuloy, binoykot niyo ako
(hehe… pa-guilty ba?)
Anyway, sabi ko nga, wala naman kayo masyado na-miss. Mga punchlines lang haha…
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Hello Sir. I like your presentation at iBlog7. And you’re very funny too! ^_^
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Thanks Meynard! Sana lang may napulot kayong makatuturan
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[...] iBlog7: Writer’s block by Roy Dela Cruz [...]
Roy, you rock man! there’s a video of your presentation out there. check out viloria.net.
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Hi Novz! Thanks! Pero ang daya nyo naman e, no-show kayo. Buti pa si Yatot, full support
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One of the best talk in iBlog7, super enjoy Sir. Winner!
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:29 am
Thanks Daryll! Hopefully, may natutunan kayo
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Hi, Roy! It’s my first time here on your blog! Nice meeting you…Hehe. (Read your “about me” page and sorry about your wife.
)
Anyway, it usually happens to me. I just didn’t know na “writer’s block” pala tawag dun. Hehe. Thanks for sharing!
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Hi Honney!
Thank you very much, and for spending time even to read my about me page
Hope you were able to pick up something with sense haha….
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Thanks for uploading your presentation. Someone writing for a living for the past 30 years needs such lifting moments. It’s nice to find another person also doing some old fashioned and odd things like writing on paper, reading anything (including menus, road signs, etc) for a break, and even drinking (a little). Thanks again.
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Roy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:58 am
I am much humbled by your acknowledgment, considering you have been writing for a living. Thank you very much for appreciating my talk.
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Thank you very much, Kuya Roy… Writer’s Block: When your imaginary friends won’t talk to you. It’s Brilliant. I love it. =)
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Roy Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 7:15 am
Hi Theresa! Thank you very much! But of course, like what I said, I researched that one on the net
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[...] to feel this way and he gave his suggestions how to counteract with this issue. I got this link to his blog for me to be reminded. With him also is his family who support [...]
No mention of reader’s block at all Roy:) Where the ardent recipient is unable to leave a comment from fear of blog-snobbery and FaceBook psychosis—not that you’d ever forget about the lowly readers:) Some of us have followed your blogs for a while Roy, without being bloggers or writers. Some of us simply enjoy reading the angle you put on a thought, story or missive, it’s like viewing the same old sunset but from a new location and surrounding , suddenly it’s wonderful again. Your writing breaks down life life like light through a prism and putting everything in it’s place.
I don’t know much but it seems like whenever you’ve been stuck, you reach down and write something personal, something that embarrasses me or allows me to feel better or superior about myself and say “I’ve never done that, but I’m not going to brag. I’ll count my blessings, pet my dog, cross my fingers and kiss my kids.”
It’s about time you put your poetry to paper formally Roy–us readers will now be able to purchase it and put it alongside our other conquests of ownership and we’ll comment as snobs and royal-flummery if guests express they’ve never heard of the vaunted Roy Dela Cruz!
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Roy Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 6:57 am
WOW!
Never thought I would have that much an impact on you (or any reader, for that matter). You always make me feel good with your comments, Dave
Modesty aside, I honestly believed I’m an average writer. Not really good enough, just average, with lots of areas to improve on.
Thank you for making me feel bigger that what I am.
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Hello Roy,
Everyone is saying “Sir, you rock!” LOL..I hope your head still fits in your hat and it has not grown bigger than it should…he he he..but , I am one of the few (yes, I’m presumptuous) who can say that “Hey, I’ve known that guy, when he was still begging. he he he….Nice to be in the company of a renowned iBlog speaker. Congratulations Roy, another feather to your cap. Go gather more!
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Roy Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:48 am
Hi Jena!
Don’t worry, my caps still fit me lol! I was just lucky to have very receptive audience
Of course, Jena. Nothing’s changed. I am still, and always will be, the struggling blogger. I still have a looooong way to go
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Loved your definition of it, I do feel the same way most of the time.
Anyway, what I personally do is to first make a rough draft of my post, which makes it easier to complete the entire entry, as I’ve already planned out the pattern of the post as well as the points and words that I need to use in the content.
Excellent tips by the way.
- Jason
Jason Acidre´s last [type] ..How to Get Natural In-Content and Editorial Links
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Roy Reply:
May 2nd, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Thank you very much, Jason!
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