Overcoming Writers Block and Getting Out of a Creative Funk

Tips to Overcoming Writers Block and

How to Get Out of a Creative Funk

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For a while, when people asked me what "I did",

I would answer, I'm a Mom and a blogger.

The Mom part always felt good to say.

But, from the look on the asker's face,
I could always tell the blogger part had them confused.

You blog?

And people care?

Now, they never say those exact words,
but its usually written all over their faces.

Instead they say, Oh how nice for you.

One time I even got up the nerve to say: I'm a writer.

But I cringed later as I thought about those words being uttered,

and I felt like a fraud.

How could I call myself a writer?

I'm not contracted with a publisher,

I don't use complete sentences,

I have no formal training,

I don't know the first things about grammar

and I make mistakes.
Bu then I thought about it some more,
and I realized if I want to be a writer,
then I need to own it.

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For me, there is a strange contradiction when it comes to writing 5-7 blog posts a week.

#1 It's Hard: Often times I get writers block and struggle for topics to discuss.

#2 It's Easy: Yet, the more I write, the easier it comes.

So I guess it goes something like this:

• It's time to write, so I sit down at the computer, no topics in mind.
• I randomly select a topic, and start throwing a bunch of blah, blah, blah down on the screen.
• I finish my blah, blah, blah, take a step back and re-read the post.
• And then, out of nowhere I am suddenly inspired with the true topic I should be writing about. 

This is my creative process, it all happens pretty fast, and its therapeutic.  It's how I discover what thoughts lay deep within my mind and my heart. Very often a post will start out as a simple update on the adventures of Baby W, and then, somehow it transforms into a life lesson I have learned as a new momma, as a wife, as a friend, as a blogger--and usually I have no idea how I got there. 

That's the beauty of creative writing for a blogger {as I see it}.

It's on your terms. 
You don't need to hold a degree, or be the worlds best speller, or even be grammatically correct all the time {I certainly know I aint'}. You just need to find the style that gives your story a voice. 

For me, that style is casual.  I like to write to you as if we were cozied up in my living room, sipping hot cocoa {or a frozen lemonade} and eating chips and salsa, just chit chatting about life.  I use words such as "like", and "awesome", and "rad"--terminology certain to warrant the sweeping red pen of a college professor. 

But I'm not writing for him. 
I'm writing for me. And for you. 
And if we can't be in the same room enjoying an afternoon chat over chips and salsa, I still want the conversation to feel like that's what we're doing.

This might be your style too.
It might not.
Either way, we all have moments where we struggle to find our voice, struggle to channel our creativity. And there are a few tips I have discovered that help me get out of my slump.

Here they are:

1. Bring Your Camera Everywhere
My friends laugh at me, because literally everywhere we go I take out my giant Nikon camera and snap away. And I don't just take pictures of the seemingly important stuff. Nope, you'll find me snapping away at Baby W enjoying his snack, or the way his toes looked curled up in the grass, or how his little lips look all puffy when he takes a nap.  Being picture-taking-obsessed has taught me that these little fleeting moments are the the important ones. These are the photos that I will pour over when I am old and gray reflecting on the good'ol days.

2. Let Your Photos Inspire You
As I said, I take pictures of everything.  And often times, when I sit down to write, I spend the first few minutes browsing through recent photos I have taken.  They inspire me.  A picture of Baby W enjoying a giant pie inspired this post.  An old picture of me as a teenager inspired this post. Pictures of Baby W's mess inspired this post.  Pictures evoke feelings, and feelings can turn into words that mean something to you and your readers.  If you don't have any recent photos, go through some old family albums and be inspired by your past.

3. View Life As Your Next Blog Post or Writing Topic
I realize this may sound completely lame, and perhaps even sad.  But let me explain.  Blogging has given me a new appreciation for even the simplest pleasures in life--I often see things through the lens of my camera and through the story that I will tell about the picture.  I see the complete beauty in an afternoon walk, where once I just hurried along until Baby W fell asleep in the stroller.  I go to the farm with Baby W and am excited by all the colors of the produce, and even the smell of the animals.  I grab hold of these feelings, even take pictures of them, and then store them away for a future blog post.  It makes for a much more "fun" and "happy" Momma.  *Note: Even with this fluffy new attitude, I still have my debbie downer moments, no doubt about it.

4. Keep a Notebook On You
I have a small pad of paper that I write down post ideas as they come to me.  I used to try to tell myself, you don't need to write that down, you'll remember. But I never do remember.  So now, I write them down.

5. Ask Friends or Family
I can't tell you how many times I have said to Ben, Hun what should I write about tonight? He always gives me a handful of ideas. I rarely use what he suggests. BUT, nearly every time, his ideas have inspired another thought in my mind--many that have turned into some of my favorite posts.

6. Use Popular Prompts
There are many popular topics out there that other bloggers have already written about.  And it's not plagiarism if you take that same topic and write your version.  For example, I wrote a post titled, Letter to 16 Year Old Me.  Your post would be completely different than mine, but you could still get ideas from this same prompt.  Other topic ideas: Life List, Awkward & Awesome, Things You Should Know About Me if We're Gonna Be BFF, Favorite Childhood Books.

7. Go Shopping and Read Magazines
I don't mean go buy a bunch of stuff, although go for it.  But I often get out of my creative funk when I go shopping.  For example, I was inspired to create my feather extension headband when I went to the mall and saw all the feather dangle earrings.  And I was inspired to create my pom pom necklace when I saw the fabric flowers on t-shirts at Old Navy.  Also, magazines like Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Woman's Day and Better Homes & Garden always have fun DIY ideas to help inspire your creative minds.

So that's it.
Those are my tips.
They don't always work,
but most of the time they do the trick.
So go on and be a writer.
Own it.
Your words matter.

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