Writers Block: Here We Go Again
The frustration of not knowing what to write
For the first few weeks writing on Medium, I had a wealth of ideas. I have and a notebook and every time I think of a new idea I write it down. This notebook was abundant with brilliant ideas that would wake me up in the middle of the night and I could not wait to delve into transforming those into pieces of writing.
After my initial fruitful period, I have now stumbled upon an obstacle: I have run out of things to write.
I think that there is constant pressure on writers to be writing about such prominent and groundbreaking topics. As writers, we are often told for our work to stand out and be successful, we should write about personal experiences, trauma or controversy. The problem is when you have exercised writing about all of the awful things in your life, and you have shared your risky opinions on politics, all that is left is to write about mundane topics.
Not everyone is going to have a plethora of intriguing personal stories or hardships to recount, which is why we should release ourselves of the pressure of having to always write about something exciting or shocking.
You are a writer- your art is how you put words onto paper (or computer screen), the talent is in the formulation of what you are trying to say, not necessarily the statement.
If you are good at what you do, you could take a seemingly simple idea and turn it into a masterpiece. Write about evergreen topics, such as writing itself, or being happy or even unhappy.
You do not need to be the CEO of a billion-dollar company or the daughter of a world-renowned actor to talk about your life experiences. Whilst yes, these people can give fascinating insights into their glamorous and fast-paced lives, sometimes normality can be just as interesting.
I’m not sure if it is just me, but sometimes I revel in the mundane, I adore reading about people with normal lives just like me. Whilst we love to read about those with surreal lives, we also love to read things we can relate to.
Write about your struggle with comparison to the other mothers at school, or lack of motivation when you’re working from home. An article about how you’ve decided that you will no longer iron your clothes, despite the social expectation to do so, will provide an entertaining and insightful read if it is written well.
Let’s stop perpetuating the idea that we always have to write about something astounding or revolutionary, let your writing be surprising by illustrating the mundane in a beautiful way.
When I found myself in a drought of ideas, I took the struggle of not knowing what to write and turned it into a piece of writing. To improve as a writer, we must constantly practise our art. So keep writing and writing, even if it is about the tough decision of what to eat for dinner. If someone likes your work then great! If they don't, then you know that you were simply practising your skills. Don’t let a lack of radical topics stop you from progressing, keep writing about everything and anything, and the creative juices will begin to flow again.
