How does a writer tell a story if they can’t think of one to tell?
Sometimes I write poems for lack of a plan. Poetry gets words on paper, like brainstorming does.
When a writer experiences writers’ block, here’s a bridge.
This week I scribbled out two poems; one about California, and one about the noise of the internet and social media. Both resulted as neither clever nor concise. But words on a page keep the practice of writing in place.
Next, I reached for a good book.
When I began blogging last summer, it coincided with reading Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World by Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson. The authors encourage bloggers, most specifically in writing to bring God glory. This means rather than blogging to build a platform, it’s writing to spread beauty and truth while checking motives and seeking God in prayer. I regularly need reminding of that perspective.
These last few months I've blogged. In the process, I learned two things help overcome writers’ block: schedule and sense.
Writers can schedule time to write. Even a worthless poem counts as dedication to the craft and the habit of writing.
Writers can make sense of life around them by reading quality books or articles to fill up the mind and enhance output.
This week, writers' block caused me to reflect, and to reach for Benjamin and John’s book, one highlighted through and through with wisdom (not just for blogging) but also for the writing life.
Writing Prompt: If your words are few, try writing a short poem. Don’t worry about rhyme patterns. Focus on a theme or a story, and use descriptive verbs to exercise thinking like a writer.