How to Shatter Writer’s Block: 10 Tips That Work

How to Shatter Writer’s Block: 10 Tips That Work

by | Oct 29, 2017 | Writing

How to Shatter Writer’s Block: 10 Tips That Work
29
OCTOBER, 2017
Samuel Osho
Staring at a blank page all day can be very devastating. You have no clue about where to start your article. It’s a painful ordeal; a condition that imprisons the mind from grasping the right words. Writer’s block – it’s the rigid partition that stands between a blank page and a completed work. Every writer at one time or the other will face writer’s block. It’s a feeling of getting stuck and lacking the energy to perfectly express your thoughts.
Looking at the long list of celebrated writers, from Socrates to Ernest Hemingway to Stephen King, almost every great writer engages in a vicious battle with writer’s block. Apparently, you are not alone but only the resilient and determined minds win. If award-winning writers have won the battle, you too can shatter your writer’s block.

First of all, I want to make some clarifications. Often, what you call a writer’s block is merely an outward manifestation of two popular demons. And they are as follows:

  • Procrastination:
When you keep putting off what you should do and validate every decision of delay with an excuse, it’s called procrastination and not a writer’s block. Deadlines are usually the wrong sources to look for an inspiration. Inching closer to a deadline before writing can make you prone to a myriad of mistakes. However, there are situations when your mind needs to undergo an incubation period before the writing ideas are fully formed. More like, I am allowing the turkey to marinate in the spices.
  • Perfectionism:
To be honest, on several occasions, your problem is not writer’s block but an obsession for perfection. You are just dissatisfied with the quality of your work because you want a version close to perfection. Perfectionism is a dangerous path to follow as a writer. Attempting to be perfect in your first draft can be counterproductive.

 

Writer's block - it's the rigid partition that stands between a blank page and a completed work. Click To Tweet
So, what is a writer’s block? It is that moment when you feel a clog blocking your creativity tap; a fog shielding you from the rays of inspiration. For others, it’s a period of separation from the proverbial “muse.”
Now to the meat of the day, let’s explore several ways of shattering writer’s block. These are some methods that have worked for me in the past and are still yielding results. Anyways, it’s not a formula but I invite you to also try out some of these methods.

 

It's a period of separation from the proverbial 'muse.' Click To Tweet
The Top 10 Tips That Work

1. Take a walk

Yes, go for a walk! Hit the road and enjoy the warmth of nature. Deliberately observe the things around you: the swaying trees, the flying birds, the whistling of the winds and the sounds that make nature beautiful. In the midst of this new adventure, you can find an inspiration, a spark and probably a ceaseless flow of ideas for your next piece.
In the midst of this new adventure, you can find an inspiration, a spark. Click To Tweet

2. Have a shower

I know this sounds crazy but it works for me. Stay in the bathtub and just see if you can realign the ideas and thoughts of your writing. Taking a shower can calm your nerves and serve as a source of rejuvenation. Get out of the bathroom and grab your pen.
Taking a shower can calm your nerves and serve as a source of rejuvenation. Click To Tweet

3. Listen to your favorite music

Good music is therapeutic – a good medicine for the soul. Having my ears locked with the sounds of my favorite songs usually gets me into a spontaneous mood – a room where many creative things are possible. For me, gospel songs and classical music have magical effects on my brain.
Good music is therapeutic - a good medicine for the soul. Click To Tweet

4. Talk out loud to yourself

When writing on a specific subject, once there is a detour from the main point, you tend to delete but this is impossible when you are talking. Speaking to yourself has a way of tunneling deep into your mind to excavate everything you need for your writing. I do this a lot; I speak to myself in front of a mirror and in the midst of my speech I find the flaming torch. When talking out loud, I suggest you record your speech because you may want to listen to it later.
I speak to myself in front of a mirror and in the midst of my speech I find the flaming torch. Click To Tweet

5. Eliminate all distractions

It could be very hard to accomplish a goal when you are wearied down by a host of distractions. Social media and the Internet can be very distracting when you intend to write. If you want to write, then focus on writing. Apps like Cold Turkey and Freedom can assist you in killing your social media distractions.

Social media and the Internet can be very distracting when you intend to write. Click To Tweet
“There’s no such thing as writer’s block. That was invented by people in California who couldn’t write.” – Terry Pratchett

6. Free Writing

Forget about the rules, just write. Write whatever comes to your mind. Don’t judge yourself. Look beyond the mistakes and errors; flow with the tide of your spontaneous thoughts and enjoy the cruise.
Forget about the rules, just write. Click To Tweet

7. Browse through your photo album

This sounds insane but it usually works for me. I take a walk through my photo album on Google Photos and try reliving some of those memories. It’s a lovely journey – it brings smiles and makes you appreciative. While going through the album, several thoughts will queue up and you may just find one that will inspire your pen.

 

I take a walk through my photo album on Google Photos and try reliving some of those memories. Click To Tweet

8. Read inspiring quotes

The world is a home to a bunch of inspiring people. When you deliberately go on a search to seek insight and inspiration, you can take solace in the library of quotes from your role models, mentors, and motivators. These are some helpful resources – Brainy Quote and Goodreads.
The world is a home to a bunch of inspiring people. Click To Tweet

9. Visit a new place

Go for sightseeing. Visit new places that interest you and endeavor to relish in the fun every moment brings to you. Go to the museum, historical sites, galleries and much more. You may just find the muse while taking a snapshot.
You may just find the muse while taking a snapshot. Click To Tweet

10. Change the writing environment

This works for me like magic. I recently found writing in airport lounges very interesting. You can change where you write. Try writing in the following places: a coffee shop, a restaurant, a library, a bus station, and a park.
You can change where you write. Click To Tweet

Photo by Lukas from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-view-of-human-representation-of-grass-296085/

 

Furthermore, there is a wide variety of apps that can assist in shattering writer’s block. Some of the best in the market include:
– Story Plot Generator (free, available for Android)
– Writing Prompts (free, available for Android)
– Prompts ($2.99, available for iOS)
– Rory’s Story Cubes App ($1.99, available for iOS and Android)
– Verses ($1.99, available for iOS)
– Instant Poetry (free, available for iOS)

 

In conclusion, the hard truth is that writer’s block is often a self-inflicted disease. It can be cured when you decide to write. Yes, just write until it makes sense to you.
It is your turn to share with me. I am curious! How do you overcome writer’s block?

How To Be The Best Version of Yourself Without Burning Out

How To Be The Best Version of Yourself Without Burning Out

by | Oct 22, 2017 | Personal Development, Productivity

How To Be The Best Version of Yourself Without Burning Out

22

OCTOBER, 2017

Samuel Osho

The reason why you will empty your pockets to acquire a milligram of diamond and trample on a tonne of molded clay is because your instincts are configured to appreciate value. The stark reason why you place printed papers called currencies in vaults and dump another random paper in the sitting room for everyone to see is value.

 

You are your most valuable asset. Your life, your mind, your brain, your body, and your skills are the most valuable things you have. In this fast-paced world, your ability to grow, to learn, to become better is unlimited. Simply put, you can be the best version of yourself if you are willing to make the investments. In fact, it is a rule of thumb in personal development as clearly stated by American bestselling author Brian Tracy that anyone interested in a lifelong success should endeavor to invest at least 3 percent of their incomes into their lives for deliberate learning.
Every human is like a script or a slate. What people get to celebrate is the value you add to that script. It is not how old or archaic the script is, it is a matter of how valuable it is. Hence, it is a struggle to move up the ladder of success when you fail to constantly add values to yourself. When you experience promotion in your place of work, it is simply an appreciation for the worth of the value embedded in you.

 

Every human is like a script or a slate. What people get to celebrate is the value you add to that script. Click To Tweet
Anyone who embarks on the journey of life racing like a deer without restraints but forgets to constantly increase his value is aiming for a catastrophe; it is a race to embrace disgrace. It will lead to a burnout.
Therefore, it is highly imperative to explore ways by which you can add more value to your life without experiencing a burnout. I will share three habits of highly valuable people that have been proven to yield bountiful results over the years.

 

In this fast-paced world, your ability to grow, to learn, to become better is unlimited. Click To Tweet

The Three Super Habits

Read Good Books

One of the smartest ways of standing out of the crowd in your chosen field is to read good books. Reading good books is probably one of the cheapest ways to garner knowledge. Some of the world’s highly successful people have one common habit – reading. The world’s richest man, Bill Gates, reads an average of 50 books every year. Another shining star in the billionaire’s club, Warren Buffet is a chronic reader, he once confessed that in the early days of his career, he spends 80% of his day reading. That’s huge! The list of lifelong bookworms is endless – Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Charlie Munger but they seem to be some of the world’s smartest investors and inventors.
One of my mentors once shared with me that the first thing he consults when faced with a challenge is a good book that offers a proven solution. Good books provide answers to your questions; they offer comfort amid chaos. When you have answers to the questions of your colleagues and clients, you become “the chief consultant.” As a result, you ultimately become outstanding in performance and effectiveness. That’s the way to be the best.

 

Books can change your life. Huffingpost contributor, Himay Zepeda, authored an article that enumerated 7 ways books can change your life. He shared passionately about how reading good books can add confidence, self-knowledge, humility, empathy, and joy to the life of a voracious reader. In fact, American author, Anna Quindlen wrote a book titled “How Reading Changed My Life” to show the world that reading has the power to change lives.
Conclusively, the smartest people read good books. Smart people look for shortcuts and reading is a way of condensing timeframes. They don’t just have a pile of books on their shelf but they read and practice the new things they learnt. Knowing more increases your earning power and sets you up to be the best.
Action Point: Surf the net and look for books that can broaden your horizon in your chosen field. Buy them, get a comfy place, get a marker and start reading. 
Some of the world's highly successful people have one common habit - reading. Click To Tweet

Take Online Courses

Education is no longer locked in classrooms or serving a prison term behind university gates. Technology is constantly removing all the obstacles that hinder access to quality education. The Internet is a treasure trove of resources that can enhance your competencies in any chosen field. Education just got cheaper with the availability of different online learning platforms. If you can’t afford college and university tuition fees, you really don’t need to break the bank to gain mastery of some certain skills. The Internet can be your teacher even if all you have is YouTube.

However, asides from YouTube, the emergence of massive open online courses (MOOCs) is a gamechanger that has the capacity to positively impact the learning experience of Internet users. The popular MOOCs include the following: Udacity, Udemy, Teachable, Skillshare, Shaw Academy, EdX, Coursera, FutureLearn, Class Central, iVersity and much more. These sites serve as homes to a host of courses ranging from data analysis to human resource management to programming to photography to fitness. Using a keyword search, you can find one or two courses that will add more value to your life and career. Majority of these courses are self-paced which means you can take the classes at your convenient times.
Action Point: Visit at least three out of the digital learning websites mentioned above and register for a course that really resonates with your passion.

 

Good books provide answers to your questions; they offer comfort amid chaos. Click To Tweet

“I constantly see people rise in life who are not the smartest, sometimes not even the most diligent, but they are learning machines.” – Charlie Munger

Find Mentors

English Mathematician, Isaac Newton, has this to say about mentoring: “If I have seen farther than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” In a world where everyone claims to be self-made, mentoring is gradually fading away and it is one of the profound ways to forge ahead quickly in life. Your mentors can be your role models but not all your role models are your mentors because mentoring requires an active relationship between both parties. Mentoring creates a channel for the smooth exchange of ideas and insights between a mentor (usually an expert) and a mentee (a young professional).

 

In addition, it is possible for you to have more than one mentor, you can have mentors for different areas of your life. You can have a leadership mentor that helps in building your leadership skills. A tactical mentor can assist in improving your entrepreneurial skills so you can make better decisions as a business owner. A spiritual mentor can be of great help in ensuring you have a sound spiritual and emotional health. There are some classic examples of mentoring or “apprentice pairing” that we often overlook and they are as follows:
  • Socrates mentored Plato.
  • Aristotle mentored Alexander The Great.
  • Thomas Edison mentored Henry Ford.
  • George Wythe mentored Thomas Jefferson.
  • Benjamin Graham mentored Warren Buffet.
  • Steve Jobs mentored Marc Benioff.
  • Larry Page mentored Marissa Myers.

 

 

Unfortunately, mentoring is becoming unpopular because people think they can handle all the pressures alone. They are too proud and think they don’t need the help of anyone. Some even think it is a sheer waste of time and efforts. Some just loathe the idea of staying accountable to someone else. You can learn many things that are absent on the Internet from an experienced mentor. Mentoring is a support system when it seems like everything is going haywire. Don’t carry the burden alone but seek help by finding a suitable mentor.
However, to maximize mentoring, you must be willing to step out of your shell, be proactive and ready to invest in a healthy and active relationship. Do your personal homework before asking questions. Ask questions only when you are genuinely not clear on what step to take.
Action Point: Get a mentor in your chosen field today. If you find it difficult to locate one, use online services such as MicroMentor, Allen Mentoring, Envelop, Mogul, and iMentor. Connect with a mentor today and add more value to yourself. 

 

 

You can learn many things that are absent on the Internet from an experienced mentor. Click To Tweet
Roll up your sleeves, lace your boots and take a deep breath as you add values to yourself – a value added is a step closer to success. Read good books, enrol for online courses and find inspiring mentors.
Let me know your thoughts, which of the three action points do you want to implement right away? How has any of the three action points helped you in the past?

 

Six Golden Rules That Will Change Your Writing Forever

Six Golden Rules That Will Change Your Writing Forever

by | Oct 15, 2017 | Writing

Six Golden Rules That Will Change Your Writing Forever

15

OCTOBER, 2017

Samuel Osho

Writing is a craft, which means it can be studied, understood, and learnt. It’s natural for you to feel inadequate after reading the works of some excellent writers. But here is the good news, you can be a better writer if you are ready to do the work.
After wrestling with a bouquet of books, I encountered several authors who gave their best to make words look more than a compendium of alphabets. George Orwell is one of such beautiful minds that blessed the world with greats gifts such as Animal Farm, Nineteen Eighty-Four,  The Road to Wigan Pier amongst many others. His exceptional use of allegory in Animal Farm made him stand out amidst his peers.

 

However, not many people know his real name – Eric Arthur Blair. In fact, his tombstone bears “Eric Arthur Blair.” But even in his death, the world continues to celebrate the works of Orwell for his ability to explain social injustice, autocracy, democratic socialism to the common man. This is a popular quote from his book, Animal Farm: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
In “Politics and the English Language,” an essay published by Orwell in 1946, he handed six golden rules to all writers of English language. These six cardinal points can guide your choices of words and embellish your works with brilliance.

 

After applying these six rules to my writing, my paragraphs started shining. I thought of sharing them with you, so you can also start cooking irresistible meals of literature for your readers.

 

Writing is a craft, which means it can be studied, understood, and learnt. Click To Tweet

The Six Golden Rules

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print

This a priceless advice for writers that want to produce outstanding works. Does Orwell mean I should come up with new literary devices despite the inundating volume of works in print? Yes!  And you can do it. You only need to pay attention to the concepts of these literary devices and craft ones peculiar to your work. In summary, Orwell wants you to know that cliches make your work look watery, ordinary and common.

 

In a more practical sense, avoid using the following expressions: “apple of my eye,” “birds of a feather flock together,” “ideas in motion,” “life is a journey,” “the light of my life,” “necessity is the mother of invention,” “sweet smell of success,” amongst many others. Craft new expressions using your originality and you will be amazed by the effects created.

 

In summary, Orwell wants you to know that cliches make your work look watery, ordinary and common. Click To Tweet

Never use a long word where a short one will do

As rightly put by the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare: “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Every writer must work towards brevity; put your thoughts across to readers in a lucid manner using the right words. Use words that can shorten the length of your text. Be concise and clear.

 

In all, never put your readers in doubt as regards the meaning of your thoughts. Take a look at the following examples: “Obama is a bold speaker” instead of “Obama is no longer shy when speaking.” “He is fearless” instead of “He is not afraid.”

Every writer must work towards brevity; put your thoughts across to readers in a lucid manner using the right words. Click To Tweet

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out

When you are in search of inspiration and your mind is aimed at reaching a certain word count, you may be tempted to use all the words that come your way. Have you noticed that if you take a second look at your written piece, some sentences will survive without “that”? After the first draft, peruse your work and cut out unnecessary words.

” As rightly put by the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare: ‘Brevity is the soul of wit.’ Every writer must work towards brevity; put your thoughts across to readers in a lucid manner using the right words.”

Never use the passive where you can use the active

Masters of forceful writing make use of active sentences. They are powerful and not as weak like the passive ones. If you want to be direct and grab the attention of your readers from the first sentence, employ active sentences.

 

Orwell means you should say, “I shall always remember my first visit to California” instead of “My first visit to California will always be remembered by me.”

 

Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent

Writing is a form of communication and understanding is key. What is the essence of writing articles that are incomprehensible? Use simple words and avoid scientific words whenever possible. It will facilitate the comprehension of your readers. If it’s academic writing, you can use professional terms. You really don’t need to use words like “status quo,” and “lingua franca” if they can be replaced with English equivalents.

 

Masters of forceful writing make use of active sentences. Click To Tweet

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous

Rules are guidelines and they offer guidance. But why don’t you attempt breaking one of these rules? Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken if you want to soar on the wings of creativity. Have fun with your imagination and make sure you have a concrete reason for breaking any of these rules.

Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken if you want to soar on the wings of creativity. Click To Tweet
In conclusion, stay away from popular metaphors, say goodbye to passive sentences, shun foreign phrases, seek brevity and feel free to break any of the rules. Apply these golden rules from Orwell to your writing and watch your piece glitter like gold. That’s it for this week.
Let me know your thoughts about this post. Which one of the six rules is your favorite? Which one of the six rules do you want to apply immediately to your writing?

 

5 Reasons Why I Love Writing

5 Reasons Why I Love Writing

by | Oct 7, 2017 | Writing

5 Reasons Why I Love Writing

07

OCTOBER, 2017

Samuel Osho

Interestingly, you know the favorite spot in town where you have your lovely restaurant. It’s the home of your favorite meal and you can’t just stop telling your friends about it. There is a reason why your taste bud is married to the sumptuous dishes of the restaurant.
I believe there is a reason why you sit stuck in front of the TV when it’s time to watch your favorite show. The excitement fueled by the suspense gets you fixated for as long as the stream of pixels flows.

 

When you are feeling depressed or your emotions are out of balance, you just have this only activity that turns you on. For many, it could be getting entertained with movies, games, or even cruising to their favorite spot in town. For me, I turn to where I can find myself again – writing.
I like delicious meals but I love the artistic decoration of letters birthed by intelligent minds. I like the captivating soap operas and the Hollywood thrillers shot in the field of adventure but show me words molded in the castles of knowledge and I will fall in love once again.
It’s a fact that I love my pen and I get seduced by words that dance deep into the core of the soul. On this path paved with letters and words, I have found my sweet love. My pact with writing is not for fame or influence, it’s an undying passion. I feel at home with myself when I punch the keys to express my naked thoughts.

 

Writing helps in drawing inspiration from nature.

In his bestselling book, The War of Art, American author, Steven Pressfield, said: “Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
It took me almost half-a-decade before I summoned the audacity to call myself a writer. The consciousness was awakened when I saw my writing as a gift. I hone my skill daily because I want to decorate the gift and make it more appealing.
I write for the love of the craft.

 

It took me almost half-a-decade before I summoned the audacity to call myself a writer. Click To Tweet

The reasons why I write

To inspire

Our brains are wired in a way that there is always a place to insert the plugs of inspiration at any time. I love to inspire others to achieve a goal or pursue their destinies with reinvigorated passion. Words are powerful tools for inspiration and motivation when they are in the right hands. I am strongly against the popular opinion that it is only depressed and frustrated folks that need inspiration, we all need bundles of inspiration at different stages of our lives.
Inspiration is in similitude to a spark, a trigger, a stir, an awakening, a prompting that pushes you into the course of action. I just love to see the glitter in the eyes of my audience while speaking and I enjoy the seraphic smile etched on the faces of my readers when they see my words. The sensation is heavenly!
Over the years, I have built social media pages with a collage of quotes, snippets and short posts that will get you fired up. At other times, I would even deliver spoken word poetry just to inspire someone out there, it’s my simple contribution oozing from a genuine heart. I authored this blog post so you can also write yours and share your beauty with the word.

 

Inspiration is in similitude to a spark, a trigger, a stir, an awakening, a prompting that pushes you into the course of action. Click To Tweet

To educate

The advent of technology has taken education beyond the four walls of the classroom. According to an American author, Alvin Toffler, “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write but those who cannot learn, relearn and unlearn.” Active learning shows that we are alive and concerned about growth. In my short life, I have had the privilege of teaching students on several occasions in a classroom, I have reached out to many more using digital tools. Right from inception, my innate passion to write withstood the storms of depression because the goal was to educate others through various ways. From sports to politics to writing, the drive was to create value and make readers more aware of the possibilities of their potentials.

My pact with writing is not for fame or influence, it's an undying passion. Click To Tweet

To share my story

Stories have a unique way of showing the treasures you have found in your journey and illustrating the pleasures and pains that have wrestled with your soul. I remembered when I did a series of how I fell in love with writing on Facebook in 2016; it was an interesting outflow of my thoughts about my vicissitudes in the route of literary brilliance. The series mirrored the everyday scuffle of every determined writer with letters. My face was carved in shades of smiles when I saw a lot of my readers inspired to do more. In the end, the sole of aim of sharing my stories has never been to impress anyone or score ego points but to educate my readers. The validation of my claim unfolds itself in the bevy of lessons delicately placed at the doorstep of my readers. An example is a post authored to help people seeking postgraduate admissions in Canada.

” Inspiration is in similitude to a spark, a trigger, a stir, an awakening, a prompting that pushes you into the course of action. ”

To reach out to others

About 7 billion people are on the face of the earth contributing their distinct verses to the unending poetry that makes the world a beautiful place. In the past, reaching out to the world was strenuous and exhausting but the birth of technology is breaking the barriers. Technology in a subtle but profound way is pulling than walls of partition amidst countries and people.
Though I am presently out of Africa, I reach out to others in Nigeria and in different parts of the world via my writing. I reach out to comfort a weary soul, strengthen the feeble knees of others, offer a helping hand to the frail, and encourage the faint-hearted. Words have the capacity to heal and perform miracles – they birth smiles even millions of miles away.

 

I am a smiles contractor and I deliver my goodies via words…

To mentor others

To be honest, teaching others what you know has a multiplier effect. It expands your capacity, it enriches the wells of your insight and proliferates the portals of wisdom resident in you. It’s very likely for you to nurse thoughts that validate your emptiness and you think of yourself as having nothing to offer others. I was in that class until I took a bold step and I realized that I have what others are looking for.
At the beginning of 2017, organizing the online writing movement, Writathon, was a way of mentoring others and sharing with others out of the little things I have learnt. In that period of arduous work and mental exhaustion, I learnt many new things about writing too.

 

 

I feel at home with myself when I punch the keys to express my naked thoughts. Click To Tweet
Today, I am grateful for this gift that gives me the permission to express my unique identity, one stroke at a time.
This piece will be incomplete without letting you know how special you are. Seeing you read my work is a great motivation and it’s the goal of every writer to have more readers. Thanks for the support.
And there you go, it’s your turn to share with me the reasons why you write. What drives the letters out of your pen? Why do you love this passion that occasionally makes your brain to writhe in pains?

 

 

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