Fighting Writer's Block With Music

By Ellie Drabnis on May 30, 2016

Writer’s block: a feeling writers of all trades know too well. Whether you’re a reporter, a student or even just someone who writes for fun in general, the chances are you’ve tangled with the notorious writer’s block at one point or other.

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Everyone seems to have their own strategies for dealing with it. Those strategies might range from writing the first thing that comes to mind and keeping on as if there’s nothing wrong to completely ignoring writing until that special spark strikes again. But, that very writer’s block might prevent clear and coherent thoughts, and not writing at all and waiting for ‘the right moment’ to strike once again is counterproductive.

To get those gears in your head turning again, music is the way to go. You’ve got the music, so now what? Now comes the fun part: The Shuffle Challenge.

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What is a Shuffle Challenge? Well, besides a great way to beat writer’s block, they are a personal challenge of sorts and the perfect platform to get your writing groove back.

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They go like this: First, you get together your writing materials, whatever they may be. If you’re a paper and pencil type, equip your notebook and chosen writing utensil. But, if you’re more technology-oriented, then get your tablet or computer ready.

Next,  you need to decide on a specific topic to write about. This can be anything from a television show you enjoy, a character you’re fond of, your best friend or maybe even some feeling you want to get out.

Then, set your music player of choice to ‘shuffle.’ You are to stick with the shuffle setting for 10 songs.

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For each of these 10 songs, you must write about your selected topic within the allotted time which is the length of each song. No songs are to be skipped. But, if you are not fond of a song or if the song is a very short soundbite or a cartoon theme that is too short, then and only then may you skip it. The music being on shuffle provides enough of a platform for your little writing snippets to vary in subject matter despite being focused on the same general big-picture-idea.

And, let’s say you don’t necessarily finish up one of those mini-stories but you want to keep going because you had so much more to write. Congrats! You have just defeated the notorious writer’s block.

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