We have all experienced it. Sometimes, it’s called writer’s block. So, today, we will try to address the situation: What to Write About When You Have Nothing to Say. I have collated a few steps to do so we can snap off this phase and write something of substantial value.
You’re on the computer late at night, everyone is asleep, and your page is blank. Your brain is blank. You sit for a moment. Maybe even make a cup of coffee, hoping to stumble on something to write about on your way to the kitchen. But nothing. Next thing you know, it’s already 3 AM. What to do?
Identify the Problem
We have our limitations, and these limitations help us improve our creativity. However, how do we choose what limits to impose when we write, not only for the sake of writing? Word count, page length, read time, word choice, etc. – these too overwhelm us. So what really is your issue? Identify it.
Solution
How do you find something to say? You narrow it down, and you try to be specific. Do not think about whether your audience is going to read or criticize it. You have to stick up for yourself.
Brainstorm
Think about topics that you know so much about or have experience in. List them all down. Do not limit yourself. If you know about sewing, list it down. If you go to a place and order the same thing every time, write it down. My list includes gardening, growing up as the eldest child, dealing with sucky superiors for years, working at home with your kids around the house 24/7.
Choose 5 and jot down memories associated with them.
Once you have identified your mastery-level topics, choose a couple of those to explore further. Brainstorm memories that first come to mind about those topics. Personally, it’s working from home with my kids around the house 24/7. I have so many good and bad memories, and I’ve realized, the bad ones make interesting topics to write about. Another is working with sucky bosses for years and how they have molded me to be a better person and paved the way for me to become a comfortable Stay-At-Home-Mom. And an earning one at that!
Pick one memory and reflect on the lessons or how that memory relates to your life now.
Ask yourself what you have learned. What do you think about it now? How can this memory help you in the future? Reflection is a large part of writing. This activity would depend mostly on your ultimate goal. What are you going to write? Is it a short essay or a longer narrative?
Start Writing
Start writing bullets down. You should now be able to start with your outline. Again, do not worry about how it will turn out or who will read it. Just write your story the way you want it or the way you remember it. Later on. As you revise it, add in your reflections as you may deem fit. Add in more sensory details like how noisy the kids are when you are just trying to write. And how your sucky boss made you feel like their life has a bitter aftertaste. You are a writer because you are writing your own story.
Do not forget that this whole process is not going to be easy. But also, it does not have to be impossible. So there you have it. The simplest steps you can do to address that writer’s block. What to Write About When You Have Nothing to Say is now a myth. Just remember to do these steps whenever you hit the wall.
