7 Do's & 3 Don'ts to Detour Writer's (or Artist's) Blocking

10 Ways to… is a hundreds of millions results title in the Internet. Every question has an answer and every situation has at least 10 ways to avoid it, or to prop it up.

I’m not an experienced blogger, in fact I’ve just started. As for the drawing thing, I’m self-taught. Naturally, the net has become my best friend and adviser. Before I started my blogs, I spend countless hours on searching and haven’t stopped since. Except information, one can find inspiration too. In writing short stories, for example, the web is an over flooded source of inspiration. The same when it comes to drawing. Nonetheless, there will come a day (or, if the case is more serious, several days) when nothing around you, the net including, can sparkle an idea for a story or for, at least, a pre-sketch. Therefore, before you lose your mind and damage your self-esteem by believing that you lost your talent or, even worse, you never had one, get up from your desk and do something. Anything will do!

The Do’s

1.     Get far away from your desk and your working place. Stop staring at the screen of your computer, or the blank paper of your sketchbook. For starters, staring is not polite. Second, trust me nothing will magically pop-up. On the other hand, if something do pop-up inside your head, then pc and blank papers would be exactly where you left them, awaiting to be used.

2.    If you can’t just turn your back to your work and walk away, then let’s take it one step at the time. You still need to get up, but you don’t have go away. Grab your cleansers, some cloths and put your kind of music, loud. Clean and organise your working ground meticulously. Get creative with biscuit cases or cans to organise your craft, write in calligraphy sections for your notes, garnish your notebooks, or sketchbooks. Don’t look at the time, spend it with grace.

3.    When I was searching for tips on writing I came across with list’s of 10’s from several writers. Roddy Doyle, Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter, wrote, “Do, occasionally, give in to temptation. Wash the kitchen floor, hang out the washing. It’s research.” Need to say no more!

4.    Make love with your partner and not in everyday’s way. Stay in bed, chat, share a cigarette if you smoke, wine if you don’t and make love again. You will be fresh as new afterwards.

5.    Organise a night out, preferably with people that don’t share profession. Make sure you won’t have to drive and that you’ll have a magnificent hangover the next day. But, before you leave the house bring forth your sparkling self.

6.    Exercise or go for a walk with music in your ears. Don’t take your work with you. Just a small notebook will do, but carry it in a manner that you will forget its existence. If inspiration knocks you on the head with a hammer, leaving you no choice then, and only then, take it out.  

7.    Take a long bath. You’ll need bath salts, if you don’t have any now is the time to buy some. You’ll also need candles, wine and, most important of all, music. Even more importantly, don’t think about your work. Turn off the lights and relax.

The Don’ts

1.     For goodness sake, don’t deal with your finances. If you’re not, yet, a success a blocking period is the most unsuitable time to do the calculations of your earnings. Even succeeded artists or writers don’t earn enough to boost their self-esteem on bad days by doing the maths.

2.    Don’t go to the movies, if you are a writer. You won’t be able to enjoy the film. You’ll be constantly trying to find inspiration in every single scene and line, even subconsciously. The same goes for artists and galleries.

3.    Whatever work you managed to do at the beginning and during the blocking period, do not throw it away. At least, wait for the blocking to go away and then you decide. Personally, I never throw away any kind of work, even the bad ones. After all, it’s still my work. Besides, everything we do has a part of us and you never know when you’ll need it, even for the plainest walk down the memory lane.