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Home  Browse All Articles Feature Articles Unblocking the Creative Mind
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Unblocking the Creative Mind |
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Written by Jenese Morris
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Tuesday, 17 October 2006 |
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When it comes to writer's block, you are not alone. Find what works for you no matter how crazy it may seem to others and just get back on track.
There is nothing like a great idea to encourage non-stop writing. That is how you feel in the beginning, anyway. You are so excited about whatever writing project you are tackling, and that excitement lets you feel that no matter what, the ideas will continue to flow and your creative juices have no limits. Ha! How many times have I been at that very place?
The way I feel sometimes, I think I can write a book, a very big book in weeks - a couple months, tops. I will be bursting with ideas complete with what seems like an endless drive to sit and write until the project is all over. Maybe sometimes it happens for some writers, who knows. But they will also tell you that writer’s block is a reality for the most experienced writer.
Writer’s Block – you know, that place where there are no more ideas, no more drive to write, often only a tiny spark that reminds you that you actually are a writer. At times, not even the spark is present, which leaves you wondering, “where in God’s name did I get the idea that I could write?”
There are so many different reasons why you could experience this dilemma. Maybe you have something on your mind that is consuming your energy, you might be experiencing depression, stress, even laziness. It could also mean that you just need to rethink the original ideas. So before you destroy all your hard work and become disheartened and decide that the writing gig is not for you, why not first try to identify what the problem is, try to fix it by yourself or get the necessary help to get back on track. That is the first step.
What happens if you have cleared your mind, de-stressed yourself, garnered a boost of energy but still the ideas are not forthcoming. Where do you go from there? I am sure that writers all over the world have found various ways of unblocking their creative minds, and that is important for you to know. The familiar adage “different strokes for different folks” is definitely true in this instance. There is no one way to fix this. The good news is, it can be fixed, and that’s what you need to hold on to.
So how do I unblock my creative mind? I read. I watch a movie. I meditate. There is no specific order in which I do this or what time of day or night it's done, nor do I apply all three in a given day or night. It all depends on how I feel and what works at the time.
Say I am working on a script for a documentary. After doing all the research, I am all pumped up and ready to go. And for sure, it starts out great but half way through it is just stops ‘jelling’. No amount of tweaking can restore it to its potential glory. That’s when I just take a deep breath, save what I have done so far and turn off the computer. One thing I have learned over the years is not to try and ‘flog a dead horse’.
I just leave it for awhile – and this could mean a few hours or days - and I pick up a magazine or a book and I browse or read. What is key is that whatever I choose to read has nothing to do with the project, nothing whatsoever. Often I find that I will see a picture or a word, and the light bulb goes off and just like that - I’m back, ready to create a memorable script. The same thing happens with movies; I love animation, so I will just get lost in laughter and relax.
Meditation works for me through many challenges. I find that long term silence opens the mind in ways I didn’t know possible and reveals creative possibilities. If I were to analyze this process, I would say that I just step back from the project....way back, allow my thoughts to be consumed with something else and let my mind work its natural magic.
The important thing is, do not allow writer’s block to deter your progress. Once you understand that as a writer you will sometimes experience this, you will realize that you are not alone. All you have to do is “weil an com again,” I say to you in true Jamaican patios, which means that you should not be afraid to start again. Don’t give up. So, find the way that works for you, no matter how silly it may seem to other people and just get back on track. Don’t ever let writers block defeat you.
Believe me, if you are a writer, it will pass.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 October 2006 )
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