Ad Librum Aeternam

You know how sometimes, despite our persistent Writer’s Block, we try to force ourselves into finding ideas and then become depressed, even angry when nothing’s come up?

Or how even sometimes we do not suffer Writer’s Block, but are just too exhausted, crumbling under problems or mind states?

Well, here’s a genuinely strange way to uplift your mood and make ideas blossom that I’ve had the pleasure to experience many times before sharing it with you – I love to give accurate information: a PlayStation advertisement. Now, don’t go and say this isn’t relevant to our case because it is, trust me. Being quite the gamer I am, I stumbled upon this new ad for a console that is dear to me. Not only did I enjoy its image quality, the music is in itself empowering and so is the whole speech, plus the acting, the man’s bearings, his connivance with you and his tone of voice simply subjugate you and make you even believe what he’s telling you is true – because, well, it is! That is, also, taking into account the imagination, truth and action of one of the best ads I’ve ever seen.

Now, now, I know some of you will argue saying ”yes, but it’s an AD, how is an ad going to help me write?!” or ”It’s for video games! There’s no way it can be relevant to writing!”, but you’re not winning.

Why, you ask?

Watch it once fully, then you’ll understand. Thereafter, simply press ‘play’ again and open Word, never looking back at the video. The music, words and meaning will simply rise up in you, making your blood boil, your face lighten up and your ideas blossoming quickly so you can harvest them with your text editor and beautiful words. It’s like a clean high for a minute – if you need to, just press ‘play’ again and nod throughout the video as it reaches your ears. It’s as if this precise ad aims at our feelings and emotions of grandeur, making us, writers, feel almighty and realize even more deeply that, indeed, we are gods when writing, reading AND playing video games – do you see now the relationship? Everything we do or decide comes true in these stories. Why? Because we can and want it to. It’s as simple as that.

Now, go! Watch the video and enjoy the boost of energy, joy, optimism and realization it gives us (even the title is greatness-spurring ;)):

Don’t we just all hate it when writer’s block befalls us?

Indeed!

But here’s a tip I’ve experienced many times:

Most people now write using Microsoft Word or any other text editor, thus putting the traditional paper and pencils method in the corner. However, when assaulted by writer’s block, I’ve noticed that changing from one medium to the other actually helps! I’m one who simply never leaves home without my notepad (if not a huge notebook) and at least one pen (but there is usually more than one lurking at the bottom of my bag), even though it’s now contrary to ‘standards’. Also, when I’m really stuck, sometimes using a pencil instead of a pen triggers some new feelings and emotions, making it all easier to flow…

For those who are like me, I suggest to first try the ‘pen-switching’ method, in order to spur some old ways and sensations. If it still doesn’t work enough to your taste, no matter how hard it is (trust me, I understand for writing on the computer isn’t what I call ‘writing’ to me, but to each his own!), turn on the computer, take a seat, and stare at Word. More than once have ideas, images or only fragments of sentences and single words popped up in my mind and I could already imagine them on the page – no need to say I wrote them all down quickly, making sure to render the closest image of it. Some might say ‘Myeah, well, there’s still nothing to me!’, well, to them I’ll say to not concentrate on ‘making a story’ or ‘having to have ideas’, but simply calm down, take a deep breath – no matter what rush you’re in -, and let your emotions and mind guide you. As you go on, you’ll notice you’ve already written a paragraph describing your precise mental image or word, which you could, of course, integrate to your current story.

Step by step is the way, I’m telling you!

Now, for those of the majority who spend their time on Word and seem to not be able to have any new idea or continuity to their story, I’d say: forget technology even exist and go buy a notebook with pens or pencils (I suggest you use the latter if the first hasn’t helped at all or not nearly enough), push away your computer and go sit down at a table with your new artifacts. You won’t even need to focus on having ideas or feelings for emotions will do it all on their own. As you scribble on the paper, using the traditional pen(cil), the scratching of its tip and the ease of mind one gets from it will spur images or words without needing to think hard about it. They’ll just appear; of course, you have to write them down, even if it seems pointless, because you’ll soon notice the story will progress or, at least, have descriptions written and new sentences or concepts to add to it.

Spirit sometimes rejoices of change – routine is often a dead-end for ideas.

Try this and tell me if it works for you  !

                                                                                     – Ad Librum Aeternam,

Catherine G.V.