Cures and Ideas for Working Through Writers Block

This is my last and final hub of my 6 month HubPages Apprenticeship Program here at HubPages. Ironically, the last few hubs (articles) that I have written, have been written under what I would call a severe writers block. In fact, my writers block is so severe right now that it was hard for me to even sit down and pay attention to write this one last hub.

I have even thought at some points in the last couple days that I don't even love to - nor do I want to - even write anymore (I know deep down in my heart that's not true though, I'm just in a burn out state at the moment)

So how have I coped with writers block not only in the HubPages Apprenticeship Program or at other times throughout my writing career?

I have fought my way through it is about the best way I can sum it up. I sucked it up, tried desperately to search for subjects to write on, and prayed for direction.

I have never been one to bow down to that thought that says, "I can only be creative when I'm in the mood". Heck, if I only wrote or created things when I was "in the mood", I would no where have accomplished the body of creative works that I now have.

I think, and this is just my personal opinion, that a creative individual must find some discipline in their creativity even when they don't feel like it. That's not to say that there are not those special times when your creativity is just flowing and things are going better then normal, it's just a reflection of my own personal journey as a creative soul.

Right now, for me though, all I can think of is that I'm just plain burnt out at expressing my thoughts on paper (well in my case the laptop keys and screen, you writers know what I mean) I don't feel like writing and I don't feel like thinking about what to research next. I am anticipating and expecting - and ready - to move onto my next creative pursuit, whatever that may be (I have no doubt it will be sometime creative, it's just my nature to be busy with some type of creative pursuit, whether it be photography, painting, gardening or maybe even throwing myself passionately into my next career move)

And yes, of course, I will still be writing. There's no doubt about that. It's a part of who I am.

I will always be a writer.

So to make this final hub worthy of the apprenticeship program in that it is not just a hub about my personal thoughts, I better offer up some type of advice for those of you out there that may be battling a similar writers block.

Perhaps it's a minor block, or not, but you are irritated or depressed that it's even there.

But take heart, being the compassionate person that I am, I feel for you. I really do. But, you can make it through this, it's just going to take some mental adjustments. Here are some ideas for helping "cure" writers block from someone who has been "there and done that".

So we all know that writers block is not a sickness, or an illness - it's a condition. According to the dictionary, writers block is a "a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece of writing."

Aha, so it's psychological. I should have figured that much.

So what things can be done to help someone with writers block? What magical cures and revelations await thee for thy failing pen?

Here are some ideas:

• For me, sometimes I think writers block is just plain ole boredom. I don't know what I want to write about next and I'm kind of feeling stale. So once in awhile, to combat the boredom, I decide to mix it up by writing about something new that I've recently done that was fun (a good example of this is a hub that I recently wrote about making Christmas Santa Hand-Prints I made with my grandson) Making these hand-prints gave me the idea to write and share about this fun project. So my advice? Look around you. Maybe something new you have recently done in your life could be the source of inspiration for a new topic to write about. Like they say, life imitates art. So maybe you can switch that up and have art imitate something in your own life.
• Get out of the funk! Sometimes I have to physically remove myself from my current surroundings and go find another place to write. I have written hubs in the backseat of my jeep in front of my house, in the McDonald's parking lot (free wifi), at church in the sanctuary (oh, so very nice and quiet), in the church parking lot in the pouring rain (once again in my jeep), in parks (wrote in Word then pasted into the hub later on), in my backyard, and many more places I can't even remember. Oh yes, and one more, I even wrote in a hotel room in Las Vegas one time when I was a columnist (deadlines don't care where you are)
• Take a vacation. Get off the Internet for awhile, maybe even days. Take an Internet Fast (I've wrote about this too) With so much information coming at us left and right, no wonder we get writers block sometimes! It's just plain information overload! Clear your head from as much communication sources as you can. Connect with family, connect with nature and get away from that "smart" phone and computer for awhile.
• Try not to get despondent over the state of your writers block. Now that we know it's psychological, it could just be your bodies way of saying your mind needs a break and there's nothing wrong with that. I have the next few days off for the most part so I may even take off for a couple days to Monterrey to rest my body and my mind. We all need breaks.
• Brainstorm with other writers either here at HubPages or on FB. There are no better people to talk to about writers block than writers themselves.
• Check out what contests HubPages has running for the month. Some of my best hubs have come out of these contests, where I got out of my comfort zone and wrote about things I would not otherwise have wrote about (plus there's that money incentive and some friendly competitive spirit which is fun)
• Go check out some questions that people have asked on HP. I have written hubs based on a question that I felt I had some good answers for (this also is a good feeling knowing you are helping someone else)
• Most of all, be kind to yourself! This too will pass!

As I wrap up this last hub for the rigorous 6 month HubPages Apprenticeship Program, I feel like I am on the last leg of a long journey. I feel like a runner who can see the finish line but is very fatigued and tired, and pushing through just to get to that finish line and end the race. Being stubborn the way I am, failing at this point or giving up was just not an option, just as the last few hubs have not been optional. I decided that I will finish, even if it means struggling up to the finish line with a headache and body ache in tow.

So I am almost there. And when this last hub is written, edited, finished and published, I can rest. Rest in knowing that I finished the race.

There is no big prize awaiting me except for in my own mind, knowing that I didn't give up. I fought my way through it and one day. the words will come flowing out like they have for me in the past.

And in retrospect, this hub didn't come out half bad which shows to me that yes, I can write, whether or not I am suffering from "writers block". I just have to believe in my heart and mind that I can do it and get through it. The only block we face is in our own mind.

And remember...once a writer... always a writer.