These Are My Five Tips For Dealing With Writer's Block
If you're dealing with writer's block, try what I do.
So, as most people know, I’m a prolific writer. What I write in one day takes a typical person one week. In a lot of cases, I’m the type of person that tends to live a life of chaos.
Right now, I’m exhausted. I’ve been working two full-time jobs and also working on a crazy project. I’ve also had to deal with the death of a close friend, bailing another friend out of a DV situation, and more.
You might be wondering how the fuck I manage to keep on writing, all things considered. Believe me, it’s not easy. Part of it is sheer discipline. It’s not easy to write stuff up daily and you have to actually be dedicated to it.
The other part? Well, I have some methods I use. If you’re feeling stuck or just feeling out of it, these tips will help smack you back to life.
Light a candle, incense, or do a simmer pot…and then clean your area.
So, the first thing I do is I give my home a very thorough cleaning. It sounds weird, but I noticed that my productivity shoots through the roof when I’m in an environment that is clean, ambient, and pro-creativity.
I first noticed it when I worked at my last office writing job — yep, at Vocal. While I can bitch and moan about a lot of things related to that job, the offices that Vocal had were gorgeous. And they were clean.
They always smelled fresh compared to where I was living at the time I started. They also were filled to the brim with paintings and neat accents. In one office, you could enjoy the view of the George Washington Bridge.
There was something about that clean, clutter-free environment that just worked so damn well with my mind. I actually found myself able to focus better. It also helped my work go faster.
Needless to say, I started cleaning as a way to boost my home’s productivity too. Here’s my own little ritual:
I go to a spiritual store, Target, or 5Below to get incense and candles. I also stock up on items that I generally use to clean the home office, too. If I need new pens, notebooks, or props for a shoot, I pick those up too.
Every morning, I start my day by cleaning everything in sight. I make my bed, wipe down the tables, clean my writing assistants’ litterboxes, and give the office a quick sweep n’ sort.
I light a candle or incense for the entire duration of my workday. If it’s incense, then I generally try to light three sticks or cones a day. If I’m in need of some good mojo, I also make a quick prayer to my deities.
On a similar note, I regularly try to rotate some of my artwork and faux flowers in my home. It helps both me and my husband stay stimulated while we work in our respective parts of the house. (We both work from home.)