Finding Inspiration

By Daniel Yocom

There are different aspects or reasons for writer’s block. Because of that, there are different types of writer’s block. There is the need to just get started, turning away from outside obstacles, developing outlines, and the list can go on. I am thinking about a particular type of writer’s block I recently suffered from and how I found a point of inspiration to overcome it—how to describe activity in the scene I was writing.

I have struggled with this area before because I want to make sure my vision comes out on the page. It can be hard when you are writing about something you have never done or a place you haven’t seen. I am certain that is why we are always hearing the phrase of write what you know. A recent event helped me to find a way around my particular problem and I think it is something else we have heard, but it had gone from my thoughts.

Recently I went on a road trip to Southern Utah. The trip was to see places we hadn’t seen in years, and to experience other activities we had not yet had the pleasure of indulging in. While driving and talking about what we were seeing out of our car windows, I had the inspiration of how to complete a piece I had been working on. It gave me the ability to move beyond the block I had been facing. The funny part about this was the fact that it wasn’t associated with what we were doing at the time.

We almost always do research for stories, articles, essays, adventures, and whatever else our writing path is taking us. This is a positive and good way of overcoming writer’s block. What I came across was a little different from doing research, I stepped away from doing the research I had been conducting. I allowed my creativity to develop without pushing it. I was able to step away from the stress of the moment, free my thoughts, and take away the boundaries I had been imposing on myself.

This reminded me of the story of sharpening the axe. Pushing forward without sharpening our tools can lead to our tools getting dull and we are unable to do the work we want to be doing. That is what was happening to me. I like working on a selection of projects at the same time (my brain works that way). However, I was getting so caught up in the tasks I hadn’t been taking time out for my mental health, relaxation, and allowing my internal self to regroup. My thought process was getting dull, and I wasn’t coming up with the inspiration of how to describe something that none of us could have ever seen, and I hope no one ever does.

The point of all of this is a simple one. There are times when writer’s block comes because we are mentally tired. Be willing to recognize it when it happens. Be willing to allow yourself to take a break from the work you currently have, or even a break from writing. Give yourself the opportunity to find something that makes you feel good. Find something that provides you with the energy to look at the page in front of you in a new light, or maybe even the old light with a new bulb.

Each of us has our own ways of inspiring our imagination, creating a positive mental state, helping us get back on track to what we want to be doing. Here are some examples from people I talked to: Go for a drive, take yourself out to lunch or dinner, go for a walk, play with the pet or the children, draw, exercise, listen to music. You may want to try something new.

Find your personal inspiration.

These are some pictures from our road trip. I hope they inspire you.

About the Author

Daniel Yocom writes about geeky things because people say to write what you know. Their love of the geeky, nerdy community dates to the 1960s through games, books, movies, and stranger things better shared in small groups. They’re an award-winning writer and editor of short stories, books, and hundreds of articles published by blogs, magazines, and gaming companies.

They enjoy attending conferences, conventions, festivals, sharing on panels, and presentations. They are serving on the boards of the LTUE Writing Symposium and the League of Utah Writes as the president of the Infinite Monkeys Genre Writers chapter. They also serve on the Selection and Awards juries for the FilmQuest Film Festival and as the Panel Coordinator for the SaltCON Tabletop Gaming Convention.

Dan wants to help others reach their goals as creative people.

Join them at www.guildmastergaming.com.