#{paper talks}

Oh my gosh, Anon-san, thank you so much for this! Always feel free to leave comments in the askbox, ESPECIALLY when they are so kind and sweet.

I know that for me, sometimes it’s hard to get an impartial, third party perspective on something that’s causing stress and anxiety. My goal has always been to offer a space for people to come and talk about their problems without judgement while getting honest, thoughtful advice. Sure, there are plenty of situations that are outside my realm of experience, but I really hope that people walk away with at least some food for thought, even if it’s just…snack-sized.

And really, it just feels good being able to be there for people. (Albeit slowly but surely – for that, I apologize. Cin and I both have full time jobs and side projects, but we are making our way through the inbox! Hang in there, folks!)

So, thank you again! It means a lot to hear that it is appreciated <3

- Paper

As Paper so eloquently said, If people can visit the blog and then feel like a little weight was removed from their shoulders: we’ll be very happy ! 

Always happy to be of services and offer solace for many who are possibly alone outside of the web. 

Never hesitate to send an ask , we’ll always be happy to help out if it’s in the realm of the possible.

Thank you so so so very much for such a kind ask! 

Heya, Anon-san! Sorry this took me a little while to respond to. Rest assured, I’ve been thinking about it for some time because it’s something that I have absolutely struggled with.

A lot of people approach writer’s block (and other creative blocks) like it is a wall that has magically appeared out of nowhere. They want to know what weapon to use to knock it down. They don’t care who built it, they don’t care where it came from, they don’t care what it’s made of. They just want it gone so they can move on, because...well, there’s a huge wall blocking their path.

But the thing is that it’s important to stop and consider what is causing the block before you go about trying to tear through it.

In my experience, blocks can be rooted in a few large areas. Here are a few tips on how to deal with it:

Depression or anxiety: the brain’s chemicals are way too occupied with being distressed to want to be creative.

Take care of your mental health first. Talk to someone. Seek help if you are able to. Meditate. Take your meds. Be kind to yourself, because if you are going through this and know that you have a condition, treat yourself the way you would a sick friend. Don’t beat yourself up; it will just make it worse.

Fear: there is something that is holding you back from telling a story. Maybe it’s fear that you aren’t good enough to tell it. Maybe it’s fear that it’s a story already told too many times. Maybe it’s fear of being judged or ridiculed or ignored.

Most of the time, this fear comes from an external force. Maybe it’s someone who told you once that you suck. Maybe it’s just ‘society’ and the culture you live in. Take a moment to say - yes, even out loud - “I hear you. I know you’re there, but I’m not listening to you. I know you’re not going to go away, but I’m still doing what I want, regardless of what you say.” Practice focusing less on others and more on yourself. You can’t control what other people think of you. You can only control how you react.

Being overwhelmed or stressed out: you have a lot of shit going on, a to do list as long as a state line and so many works-in-progress that you can’t even remember everything you want (or need) to do.

Get stuff done. Immediately. Don’t wait. Don’t sit on it. Don’t stew on it. Even getting a handful of small things done on your to do list can jump-start your motivation. Keep a running list of your projects along with things you absolutely have to do and refer to it frequently.

Lack of interest and inability to let go: sometimes you start a project that you were very excited about, and then it just falls flat. Maybe you lose interest because you sit on it too long. Maybe the story just isn’t blooming. And, what’s worse, you feel stuck because you don’t want to admit that it’s dead (and perhaps you feel guilty working on anything else).

Finish things. Once you’ve decided to do something, do it. Get at least a draft done and then take a look and see if it’s worth working further on. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. If it isn’t, put it to the side, save it, and acknowledge that it’s over. Move on. And if you say to yourself, “But I want to finish this,” then really consider why you aren’t just finishing it. Is there something that needs to be changed? Find the reason and decide from there.

I encourage people who are blocked to take some time and journal about it. Unplug, clear up your head and just jump into writing about it. If you feel like you can’t even do that, try voice recording or talk-to-text and pretend you’re talking to a good friend about what’s on your mind. You may find that there is something deeply personal that is holding you back without you even realizing it.