Getting over that block.

You know when you’re at that point in your life where your brain refuses to be creative at the most crucial times? Like, you have your essay’s deadline tomorrow, but your head is clean out of ideas and prompts. It’s the time when your hand wishes to do something useful but your mind refuses to cooperate, leading to irritation at yourself.  then it eventually ends up being a miserable cycle of uselessness which defeats the urge to do something creative. We refer to this gap in the creative grind as a ‘block’. It is commonly known as a ‘writer’s block ‘and an ‘artist’s block’. The frustration over being unable to keep the flow of inspiration going is palpable and difficult to overcome. Whether it is for an artist or writer, it doesn’t matter since blocks like these can hinder anyone in any field.  

Since I am currently going through an atrocious Writer’s Block that ruined my schedule, here are some do’s and don’ts that I gathered for all those fellow writers, artists and basically anyone Who wishes to be creative but fail to do so, this article is for you to go through.

The Don’ts:

• Don’t force yourself to do that same thing: moving away from your workspace often gives your mind a breather (even if you think you don’t deserve it). Stop antagonizing over your upended schedule or your unfinished work. Forcing yourself can often lower the quality of your work and make you feel even more discouraged than before.

• Stop comparing yourself with others: this one is impossible to listen to but it really is a necessary tool if you want to avoid a bigger block than before. Our pace in keeping up with our jobs is different. So what if she is up-to-date with her work and is in the employer’s good books? You need to focus on your faults at your own speed. That pay rise can wait for a while.

• Don’t overthink: Need I say more here? We all do that a lot. 

• Don’t annoy the people around : because that won’t do any good to you if even your family is affected your ‘block’.

The negatives are straightforward and common but the positives too are the same. 

• Drabble with your words (writers only): take any plain, old book and write whatever comes into your head. A meaningless string of words will do too. I always end up writing about characters from a novel series or even just a video game. Stuff like these are not for the world to see, so it gives you a little bit of freedom and security to let yourself lose into the fantasy you create. When you keep writing like that, ironically your writing will improve and a little spark will start forming in your head. These drabbles don’t have to make sense at all. It does not have to be the most magnificent piece of writing. Here is an example: 

But perhaps I was mistaken by her ladylike grace, for I had not expected her to be a warrior with those gentle eyes. Can someone really tell that she wields the claymore with a grace befitting a noble lady? Her eyes reflected a fiery soul if one paid attention to it but the words from her were delicate and soft. This woman in her knightly armor, with those betraying eyes and bewitching looks…can she really be trusted by the Traveler in my turf? 

“Keep an eye on that blue-haired foreigner”, I commanded my right-hand man. He looked at her and his eyes widened.

“But Commissioner Kamisato, that woman belongs to a noble family in her country. It would be treasonous to do so to a trusted official, no?”

Trusted? This woman…who glared with anger at any spot of kindness, who had the aura of ice, who saw through my facade as an assassin who mercilessly purges those who threaten my land…this woman? The Acting Grandmaster trusts this volatile individual? That would definitely mean she is an interesting lady. A thorn in my way if she intercepts my plans.

“I will do it myself then”, my soldier missed the momentary smirk I had, bowed and left. 

The grass crunched beneath me as I walked towards her silhouette. The blooming sakura adorned the atmosphere in their scent and those dainty petals. As I walked towards her, her beauty became more evident and lovely but when she sensed my presence a little sooner than ordinary, the air was charged with hostility and disdain.

“Greetings, Lady Lawrence”, I bowed respectfully.

“Good afternoon, Lord Kamisato “, she bowed in return, “Please call me Eula”.

Does that make sense to you? Of course not! So keep writing!

• ·         Keeping in touch with your interest: sometimes, all you need to do is read more books, follow more artists or watch more stuff related to your interest. Doing this may or may not give you an idea but it certainly offers you more opportunity to learn from others.
• ·         Engage in other activities: try to do a workout at home that gets your body sweaty and your heartbeats racing. At least your physical health will be kept in check. Involve yourself in the kitchen with your mother. Arrange the utensils, prepare the afternoon tea or even just prepare the raw materials for cooking. It really isn’t so bad. A little annoying if your mother doesn’t let you have your way in the kitchen but karmic points for at least helping her.  Sweating it out with household chores is a must for a change of pace.
• ·         Eat healthy: train your body to crave healthier foods instead of cold coffees. I only ever used to eat dates during Ramadan and now I randomly go through two to three dates if I am hungry. The same goes for bananas.

Well, these are some of the tips to remember when you are frustrated at your creative gap. Sometimes I generate posts like an AI bot but sometimes, I have to redo several drafts to post one measly article that looks like absolute rubbish in my eyes.

“And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah — then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.”

                —      SURAH AL-TALAQ (65:3) — THE HOLY QURAN

Of course that period is difficult when your interests are the reason for your monetary and financial means, but we are humans in the end. And as humans, we are bound to trip. We trip, we get hurt, we get back up and we move forward. That was the original purpose of our creation. To see how we react in the face of calamity.