What to do when your mind is totally blank...
@moonlight_sonata (56)
Philippines
June 9, 2012 3:30am CST
I need help. There are some instances when I'm writing a novel and my mind goes absolutely bank. It's like staring at a clean sheet of paper with your pen poised expectantly over it and yet having no idea where to start or what to write. It's frustrating. This has happened to me several times. I don't really know... maybe I'm just stressed out.
2 people like this
19 responses
@nagatron123456 (888)
• Philippines
2 Jul 12
I felt this sometimes specially when I am alone and mo one gets to talk to, but everytime my mind goes blank I turn on the TV or play games on the computer so my mind won't stop. It is unhealthy if your mind consistently goes blank and I don't want that to happened so I do something about it.
@nagatron123456 (888)
• Philippines
2 Jul 12
I would to add also, if your mind goes blank when you are writing, that means your mind needs a rest or a space to relax. When you are thinking too much, it usually goes blank if you can't think of anything. So try to relax and think a bit and push your self too hard.
@preciousjayje (125)
•
9 Jun 12
Yeah you are right. Maybe you just need to unwind. Breath fresh air and have fun. Stop thinking of any work yet just aim to clear your mind. Your mind isn't that blank I think, it is just full and need some space for you to think well.
Enjoy writing :)
@jcordova888 (156)
• Philippines
10 Jun 12
Sometimes, we need to let the mind rest and let thoughts gel. Beating deadlines can bring on stress, so what i do is allot enough time for creative thinking, so ideas naturally come. Before writing, I also make sure I've eaten and have an ambience conducive to thinking. How do you create an ambience conducive to thinking and writing?
@acer5540 (354)
• China
19 Jun 12
I always have this problems,when i was in school, writing always made my mind blank...
All i do, is put down my pen, stand up, walk out for a second, to see if i have inspiration after back. If not, go on with other work first.
I ever had watched a movie ,there was a song called "WAY BACK INTO LOVE",the actress writ words for the song, she just use this way, not write when she is blank, not work when there is no inspiration.
Relax,hope you will walk out form the blank.
@phoenix35 (384)
• Philippines
12 Jun 12
I usually experience this whenever I am eager to write. I can't do anything, so I quit. I take a break for a day to a week then I just find myself finishing something successfully. However, if I am doing several articles, I just do them in random. Whenever, I find myself trap on one article, I switch to another, then another. It's a slow process but it works for me.
@thewonderboy (7501)
• India
19 Jun 12
There were many situations my mind go totally blank. This usually happens when I am writing something. I mostly used to take a break from writing when my mind is totally blank. Taking breaks help me to get refreshments and after sometime I will be able to continue my writings. So I believe breaks are very important to my works and my tasks.
@riempie9 (1021)
• South Africa
12 Jun 12
Don't force your writing. It has never worked for me. When you're stuck, switch off, go into the garden for 15 minutes and potter around. If you don't have a garden, listen to some music. Tailor your music to our mood; you will feel inspired to write. Don't stress about it.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
10 Jun 12
I'm a writer too, and there have been times for me in the past when I'll go through periods, often quite long periods, where I can barely write more than a word or two, simply nothing is there, the inspiration, the energy, gone. It doesn't happen these days; although even at that, I can only write when I'm in the mood; when I've enough energy. My advice would be: forget about writing when it happens; do something else creative. Wait for the inspiration to return, as I feel certain, it eventually will. At least, I hope so. But the important issue here I think is, what you are going though is 100% normal for a creative person. So, don't worry too much about it.
@derek_a (10874)
•
10 Jun 12
Hi... I have found this blank mind a problem many time when writing.. I write blogs, webpages, articles and have written a couple of fiction books. I tend to get to the point where my mind goes blank or even my mind starts playing tricks telling me that I am wasting my time! This tends to come with most artistic disciplines.. I have found an interesting website that addresses this problem, that you may find useful. Here is the URL that is not a referral link - http://www.fearofwriting.com/ I hope it is of some help to you, but IMO, there is a lot of good information there.. _Derek
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
11 Jun 12
Most of those who write tend to feel that they don't have any ideas to write about every now and then which is normal. It's like we just reached a point that we seem to need to step back for a bit and look at what we have already made. Perhaps a good editing would stir some ideas. Or perhaps doing something entirely different would help ease the mind a bit so that new ideas can come up without you expecting while doing that entirely different thing. Most ideas are sparks of brilliance whenever we are relaxed or at ease than pressuring ourselves to produce something when our creative minds have already been stretched too far, the other good ideas can't catch up.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
10 Jun 12
This is known as writers block.It happens to most writers even famous ones.Suddenly the mind goes blank and no ideas come out.Instead of wracking your brains the best thing is to relax, go for a walk,listen to music or watch a movie, go shopping or go for a short trip,just to freshen the mind.Always carry a jotting pad with you because you never know when a brainwave may strike you.Sometimes the block may last for a couple of hours or a day or a few days.However there will come a time when something happens and you get the thread and all of a sudden you are back.
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
9 Jun 12
When my mind is totally blank, I stopped. If I'm home, I rest or sleep. When I'm at work, I just stare at my PC and pretend to be working when in fact, I'm resting. Writers need good inspiration to be able to create a good writing piece. And when we are not into it, better stop. Do something else that can help you regain that passion to write.
@Adang1988 (31)
• Philippines
10 Jun 12
Whenever I feel like writing that's the time I begin to write. There were days when we don't feel like doing it. It's when those moments when we can't even put our emotions into writings due to some circumstances that even words couldn't give reasons especially when things are not easy to understand. What I do? I let my mind rest (that's necessary) and when I feel better that's the time I begin to write. Never squeeze out everything. Happy writting!
@desertperch (8)
• United States
9 Jun 12
Try sleeping, or stroll down the park, get some fresh air, observe those people having fun at the park, go people watching observe what they do, what are the emotions that they portray stuff like that, or go and watch a movie, maybe you could get some ideas there. The main point here is that try to forget everything about your novel and seek ideas outside.
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
9 Jun 12
once you feel this block or blankness of ideas, it is wise to have a stop and break for whatever you are doing. have a coffee, walk, talk with people, get back that energy again to supply the flow of ideas. in no time, you will find yourself immersed and swimming with ideas and creative energies.
@allknowing (136369)
• India
9 Jun 12
A writer needs a free mind that is not shackled with any issues that need sorting out. Till such time these issues are hanging fire you will not be able to write. I go through it myself and so I know. Get back to writing after you have settled whatever you need to settle.
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
9 Jun 12
I would give your novel a break. Leave it for a while. If you feel the same way about your ability to write then that is different. Write somewhere else, like here in mylot or write random thoughts for a page or two. Sometimes those thoughts will tell you something about what is going on with you or they will get you back on track. We do need to rest sometimes though.
@karstine29 (694)
• Philippines
9 Jun 12
It also happened to me so many times already. That feeling so empty. Hmm.. maybe you're just stressed. Anyway, whenever I feel this, I just go to my bed and sleep. Or sometimes, I listen to my favorite songs and get back my mood.
@aribdee (133)
• United States
9 Jun 12
It also happened to me. Especially if I'm writing reports and I can't think of anything. But, in the end I still have something to write on my report. All I do is just look in the outside my window and all the words are popping out on my mind. It's weird though but hope this works for you. :)