Dealing with Writer’s Block

            At some point it is going to happen, you have a game to coming up in a few days and you got nothing. People are relying on you to have another scenario created, hopefully as good as the last one, and you keep starring at a blank page just hoping an idea will spontaneously appear upon it. This is the moment you yell to the gods “Why did I sign up for this? Am I crazy?” The short answer is yes but this problem is easily overcome with one or more of the tips I will outline. As a man currently deep in this issue with my own game I felt it was important to elaborate on this issue. Fear not, the problem is not a severe as it would first appear.

            The real trick is to clear your mind. That worry you have built up will not help you. Instead of thinking about the game you will spend the whole time thinking about the repercussions of not being ready. For some this is easier than for others (I fall into the other category) but this is the first step to finding that missing piece that will break the creative gates wide open. If you can just clear your mind and refocus on the task at hand, more power to you, but as I’m not that way I know that others will be unable to do so. Here are a few more tricks to free yourself from your own anxieties.

            Listen to music, preferably with a similar theme or feeling to what you have to write. Music is a real simple distraction that doesn’t take away from being about to sit and think or write. By feeling a few of the emotions that will come about from listening to music you might find yourself better able to tap into the world in which you have created. With all the portable devices that play music anymore you can use this method in conjunction with a few of the other tips provided. I tend to have preferred Pandora.com stations I create for various games since I use this method more than any others.

            Find a suitable change of scenery. Staring at the same four walls, if it isn’t working, probably won’t suddenly start working. Go out and find some other place that might have more visual stimulation or just some other place that has a mood you wish to tap into. Try a few places if your first idea doesn’t work out until you find one that just works. As strange as it may sound I’m a big fan of wondering around cemeteries when I get stuck since they are generally well-kept, quiet, and if I get stuck with a character name then there are several name ideas engraved into stone all around me. I’ve also had a lot of success that laundry mats. You never know where inspiration will strike so be open to new places.

            Change your mental state. Now I don’t want to be the guy saying that drugs and alcohol are great or that they make you more creative but having a drink or two can help clear your mind or come up with different ideas. I’ve written some of my best action scenes with this method, however it doesn’t work very well for the finer details. If you use this method I also recommend going back over what you wrote down (hopefully you remembered to do that too) to make sure it still sounds just a great to you as it did when you first came up with it. As Hemmingway said “Write drunk, edit sober”.

Get some exercise. This might seem like strange advice but it helps. I’m not saying you have to go out and get your pump on, just do something that requires some movement. Getting the blood flowing is a good way to kick your brainpower up a notch. I’ve always been a pacer which tends to help me out a little. For me this tip is more about clearing your head than finding new creativity.

Talk with other people not involved in the game. Sometimes all you need is to blurt out whatever is on the tip of your tongue and see if it sounds as good out loud as it does in your head. Having someone else to listen makes you A) seem less crazy and B) gives you the chance to see the reaction on someone’s face as they listen to you. They might also think of something you didn’t which will add a new dimension to your game. I’ve worked with a buddy of mine to help another friend write a game for his group and the finished product is still talked about among that group even several years later. Collaboration has the added benefit of preventing your ideas from stagnating and being redundant.

With any luck these tips will help you when you need it most. The main trick is to find some sort of ritual that works well to get your creative juices flowing and repeat it every time you run into writer’s block. Once you have it figured out, writer’s block will no longer be an issue.