Writing has been a passion of mine since I was in first grade. It’s just something I have always loved to do. Now that I have an audience, even if it is a group of girls who I absolutely love, it’s terrifying knowing that my work is being judged and critiqued. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love all of our editors, and I became best friends with a previous editor, but it’s so terrifying knowing someone is reading your work.
Over the summer, I have typed so many articles and immediately deleted them, feeling like I hated them. It seems super easy to write about what you want to, but when I placed my fingers on the keyboard, it just wasn’t quite there anymore. I wanted to write about all my cool tattoos, how I’m doing post-breakup, what it’s like being a part of the Disney College Program, etc., but I felt like my brain just locked my fingers in place when I began to type. For those of you who love to write and are going through the same things I am, here are some helpful tips on how to get out of the gutter with your writer’s block.
One of the first things I started doing when I realized I did not like having an audience for my articles was writing in a journal. I could be myself and nobody would ever read it. By doing this, I found my voice again, and realized that I really love my sarcastic and blunt way of writing. My professors have a love/hate relationship with it, but I truthfully love it. It was great to be my only audience, especially after a long day of working in one of the busiest places in the world.
Something else that I tried was prompt writing. In my own words, it’s when you’re given a prompt to write about. You can find these anywhere, but I prefer Pinterest for mine. I find it really soothing to complete these prompts and then have them for later, just as fun activities that I completed along the way.
Along with prompt writing comes remembering your muse. Why did you start writing to begin with? For me personally, I started writing because I talk a lot and I like to get all my emotions and feelings out there. I also love the little sarcastic tone I have to my writing. Writing should never really feel like a job, and I hope it never does for those of you who aspire to be journalists or the next Nicholas Sparks.
Always remember that people want to read your work, they want to hear what you have to say. Don’t let “stage fright” take away the things you are passionate about. Kick that writer’s block to the curb.