We are, at our most basic, storytellers. Not just as writers and authors, but as humans. We have a thing for narrative, and it's how we make sense of the world. It's natural, and it's comforting.
It's also a great way to jumpstart yourself out of writer's block.
One thing I notice about myself is that when I'm feeling blocked, it's often not so much that I don't have anything I want to say, but that I am hung up on feeling like I need to say it THE RIGHT WAY. Even though I objectively know that I can edit it as much as I need to later, I want it to come out polished and sparkly. I get hung up on the formatting or the specific details rather than going after that flow state where the good stuff is born.
So, I talk to myself. I tell myself a story. When you can't write them down, it can help to tell it to yourself out loud. I don't even need the story to be related to the book- I'm just trying to get myself telling a story rather than stressing about writing or details.
Here's what I do:
1. Place: I find a place I know I won't get interrupted. Sometimes that's a quiet room, sometimes it's a public park.
2. Voice Memo: I use voice memo on my iphone to record myself telling a story. It's awesome because you can hold the phone like a microphone and it's simple to use. Press record, talk (the audio pickup is great), and then email it to yourself or just keep it in the auto-library on your phone.
3. Imaginary audience: I like to pretend that I am telling a story to a friend or work colleague. That gives me shape for the conversation, speaking to one person rather than to myself or some vague imaginary audience. Is it a little weird? Sure. But isn't everything when you think about it too hard?
4. Listen for inspiration: You don't need to listen to the whole story you tell. Just until you feel inspired to start writing. Maybe that will even happen when you are telling the story. If it does, turn off the story and start writing!
Image source: Franklin Park Library via flickr
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