SCABs

What to write when you can’t write – By @lcmsca2020

Writers Block – What to write when you can’t write

I’ve been wracking my brain all day for what to write this on. I’ve gone for a walk for inspiration, I bought myself a pomegranate and wild fig scented candle to try get the creative juices flowing. I even went over old SCABs from previous intakes for inspiration. Yet nothing has sparked inspiration, I find myself devoid of topical matter and staring into the abyss of a creative rut. Writers block I believe its called, so I guess I’ll just write about that. 

I guess the thing I am wondering, and stupidly have never asked either the mentors or visiting tutors, is what the hell do you do in the advertising industry when you have writers block? A cut throat industry at the best of times, what happens when your output craters and you find yourself unable to come up with anything, or anything you feel is of sufficient value to actually contribute to your work. Other than feel a deep sense of existential dread of course…

Its the thing about creative pursuits I guess, you’re opening yourself up to complete and utter failure and that failure is totally on your back. When you think about it, it’s bloody daunting isn’t it? Creative blocks are something that I am familiar with, having been a musician in my life before SCA. I think everyone has a kind of mana meter for creativity, and it works in mysterious ways. Sometimes depleted for months on end, and slowly refilling after a long and anxiety inducing process. Other times (I’m hoping this is one of them) its a quick day or so, feeling in a bit of a funk you can’t quite make things click. 

I wanted to look at what the internet suggested for writers block, these seem to be the most popular suggestions:

  • Go for a walk.
  • Eliminate distractions.
  • Do something to get your blood flowing.
  • Play.
  • Change your environment.
  • Read a book.
  • Freewrite. 
  • Listen to music.
  • Brew some coffee.
  • Create a routine. Many famous writers have daily routines to summon the Muse.
  • Spend time with someone who makes you feel good.
  • Call an old friend.
  • Brainstorm ideas in bullet points.
  • Read some inspiring quotes to get you started.

Funnily enough some of though look eerily similar to suggestions and techniques made by a certain SCA dean, further confirming my suspicions that he is doing some voodoo reprogramming of our brains, making us unfeeling advertisement producing machines capable of dropping a strap-line at a moments notice, but maybe that’s just the paranoia.

So what have I learned, well I probably need to do more than go for a walk if I want to really kick my mind into gear. I really wanted to try and do as few written SCABs as possible. Break the format so to speak, but my creative inertia has hampered me with this one. Oh well try again next time I guess?

I wanted to end with something inspirational, but it wouldn’t really be a SCAB on writers block if I did that. So yeah, I guess this is the end? Bye.

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