Writer's Constipation: What it is and How to Cure It

Just about every writer knows the pain and agony of not being able to translate a collection of thoughts in the mind into a string of words that follow a logical flow. When there is so much going on in the brain that nothing lines up and actually escapes to the paper, the phenomenon is known as writer's constipation. Just like that other well-known form of constipation, there's a lot to work with, but it isn't going anywhere.

Writer's constipation is much like writer's block, but with one important distinction. When a writer is blocked, he or she cannot think of anything to say. Essentially, the muse has gone out for coffee and nothing is coming to mind. When the writer is going through a period where there is plenty to work with, but the task of getting the flow of words going is impossible, that is true constipation.

The interesting thing is that many of the methods writers use to get past writer's block also work when dealing with this co0nfusing jumble of ideas that are stuck in the brain. While results vary from one writer to the next, these strategies are well worth trying.

Take a Walk

Nothing gets the creative juices flowing again like getting away from the computer and changing your surroundings for ten or fifteen minutes. Walk to the corner and buy magazine or get a cup of coffee. Stroll through the park, or do a little window-shopping. The idea is to stop trying to force your ideas to line up and begin popping out. Once you relax a bit, there's a good chance the words will begin to flow once more, much to your delight.

Grab a Bite to Eat

Sometimes a trip to the deli for your favorite sandwich and something cold to drink will loosen things a bit. Resist the urge to take along your laptop; the idea is to get away from your troubles, not take them along. If you happen to run into your muse sipping contently on a green tea latte when you enter the deli, shoo her home and tell her you'll be along as soon as you finish your sandwich.

Talk to a Friend

Often, spending a few moments in conversation with a friend will break the barrier and allow your thoughts to begin arranging themselves into some type of coherent pattern. Talk about anything but the assignment that is the source of your angst - the weather, what's happening Saturday night, or anything else you can think of. The breather will do you a world of good.

Just Write

When all else fails, just write. Don't even try to think, just start writing. Whatever words come to mind, type them on the screen or scrawl them on your notepad. Worry not one whit about sentence structure, split infinitives, spelling, or even if the words make any sense at all. This approach sometimes helps to break the dam that is holding in all the good stuff, and after a few minutes you notice that some of the spillage is beginning to take on some form of logic. Besides, the stuff that is nothing but incoherent junk today can be mined for new ideas tomorrow.

Writers, like most creative individuals, seek to constantly hone their craft. When writer's constipation interferes with that honing, frustration is soon to follow. Don't let the temporary situation undermine all your good work. Take control of the situation, get rid of the blockage, and let the good times roll.