by Eleanor Forrest

So- creative block, isn’t it wonderful?

I’ve had a lot of trouble thinking of how to start this, but isn’t beginning always the hardest part? I am tired. Reading week didn’t go as well as I planned, I have multiple random tasks about half-finished, and I currently have three messages from different people that I have put off responding to. Yeah, that sounds about right.

It’s because my executive functioning has been horrible lately. But wait, what does that even mean, you ask? Well, executive function is a group of mental abilities that affect one’s working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. These abilities are responsible for our ability to handle many aspects of our lives such as paying attention, organisation, planning, starting and completing tasks, and even emotional regulation (Herndon, 2018). And it is something a lot of people with neurodivergent conditions struggle with.

Because of my imagination and my very noisy mind, inspiration is very rarely something I lack. There are so many things that are important to me and I want to write about, yet the cruel irony is that because my thoughts about these topics are so passionate and nuanced, just thinking about the process of putting them into words feels like climbing an entire mountain. Unfortunately, I’m sure upon reading the definition many people would wonder to themselves “but isn’t that just laziness”? I assure you, it is nothing of the sort. Simply, it is one’s brain becoming unable to break down the steps needed to complete an activity, and no, it does not just affect tasks that are boring or unpleasant. I used to think I was the only person in the whole world who could procrastinate playing video games or watching tv, just because my console or laptop was on the other side of the room and getting up felt monumental. It will even affect one’s ability to take care of their basic needs, such as eating, sleeping, and so on. Whilst executive dysfunction is a hard thing to explain to someone who does not experience it, I will try: it feels to me like wading through thick sludge, or like when the air feels so heavy that you can’t breathe, or like running up a steep incline, exhausted. It feels like hitting a brick wall inside my head and being unable to find a way around, or that my brain is too full of air to even feel tethered to reality, let alone work on anything complicated. 

However, the truth is that everyone can have trouble with their executive function from time to time, and I wonder if a lot of people’s experience with creative block is at least partially related to it. But no need to fear, for I am armed with years of experience and an armada of weapons to tackle it. 

First of all, it is important to take care of yourself before anything else. Unsurprisingly, lack of sleep significantly affects our executive functioning abilities among other things (Loria, 2014), and I have noticed a huge difference in my mental health and my productivity if I have slept well. Of course, this is often easier said than done; I actually struggle to get to bed at a decent time because -believe it or not- I have a hard time completing the tasks necessary in order to go to bed in the evening because I am tired. So, I end up sleeping later, and I am more tired in the morning, and then I struggle with the tasks the next day brings, and the cycle of stupid continues. But moving on, exercise is also important, and going outside for a little while each day improves our concentration a lot. In fact, apparently even looking at a picture of nature or staring out of a window can help, as does building a routine, and having friends or family work alongside you and remind you to do the things you need to do. 

All of these techniques are wonderful, but the truth is that sometimes we might have to be more creative. You see, the way our brains work doesn’t always make much sense, and the things that work for other people don’t necessarily work for us. Maybe that’s why I’ve seen so many people share their utterly ridiculous tips on how to work around executive dysfunction, and they are amazing; how about using a physical barrier in front of your door instead of a sticky note that’s easy to ignore? How about setting a pot of water to boil because a normal timer feels too arbitrary? How about listening to the loudest and most abrasive genres of music possible whilst working because they’re effective at clearing your head and drowning out your thoughts (I am in fact listening to hyperpop as I write this; I know that listening to music with lyrics whilst reading or writing is supposed to be distracting, but for whatever reason, nearly any song with a high BPM motivates me when nothing else works). Last but not least, have you ever tried beginning an essay with “buckle in, motherf*****s”? Seriously, a lot of the time starting a written piece of work is so hard that writing nearly anything will do the trick, just as long as you delete it later! Or if all else fails, you can always eat an entire bag of tortilla chips whilst you work. I am not endorsing this strategy, only bringing attention to the fact that it exists. 

At the end of the day, however, it is also important to remember not to be too harsh on ourselves. As much of a cliché as it is to say, the truth is that neurodivergent or not, we are all going to have our bad days and things we struggle with. Our own definition of growth and success won’t always be the same as everyone else’s, either, and that’s absolutely ok! Of course we won’t all be exactly the same; the work that we do as writers and artists is creative by nature. 

I’m happy with myself right now, anyway. I’ve had a lot happen lately that has been difficult to deal with, and since my partner and I have been arguing more frequently these past few weeks I have noticed myself feeling so much worse. At least I managed to turn the thing that was causing me to struggle into this entry, even if it took me two days. Isn’t that amazing? I’m amazing.

References:

Healthline, (2022) ‘What Is Executive Dysfunction? Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment‘. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/executive-dysfunction#outlook (Accessed 10 Apr. 2023).

Loria, L.F.F., Kevin (2014) ‘This Might Be The Easiest Way To Boost Concentration And Memory‘. [online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/boost-concentration-and-memory-by-going-outside-2014-8?r=US&IR=T (Accessed 10 Apr. 2023).

Tanzman, L. (n.d.) ‘Sleep Deprivation: A Roadblock to Improving Executive Function‘. [online] http://www.beyondbooksmart.com. Available at: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/sleep-deprivation-a-roadblock-to-improving-executive-function. (Accessed 10 Apr. 2023).

Due to Aki’s profession as a coach and guide for writers, I was anticipating this particular event with great anticipation. After sharing a bit about her own work history, Aki discussed her current position with The Literary Consultancy.

Because I am a practical person, I appreciate Aki’s explanations and detailed explanations. Aki gave us some great advice about working as a writer and touched on ways for improving our writing for publication, or at least increasing our chances of being published.

She first talked about her work with The Literary Consultancy, which was great to learn about and to know there are institutes that can help us now, but I think even more after graduation. There are a variety of ways TLC can provide knowledge, such as blogs, helpful links, special workshops, and inspiring speakers. The information starts from writing practice advice to updates about the publishing field. Of course, as Aki herself admitted many of the more useful services are given with paying for a membership. However, in my opinion, that is money worth spending. From my personal experience, what I fear most after graduation is the lack of a framework that keeps me “in shape”. This is as well as draws inspiration and encourages me to keep writing even if it’s not for submission.

In the second and major part of the presentation, we were given writing exercises and advice to help us improve our writing. In this part as well, I was impressed with Aki’s approach. As opposed to other speaker’s events we’ve attended in the past that was more like an open conversation, and mere sharing of professional experiences and lessons, Aki presented us with exercises and explained their purpose. Developing your mission statement is the first and most significant exercise. It sounds like an easy task, but once Aki raised the question I was baffled, and I still am. The other questions she asked us to answer were, what is the goal of our writing? Why do we write about the stories we do? Once we understand the answers to all these questions our writing will be more focused, better, more cohesive, and stronger. Other very helpful tasks that Aki left us with to help us focus are to think of specific “goals” or tasks to do for our writing each week, and on a larger scale think of goals to do for your writing this month/year.

At the end of the session, we had plenty of time for Q&A. This raised many useful sources and ideas for sites or forums which are helpful for networking and searching for future jobs. Aki’s presentation was effective and concise, yet I felt it was full of useful content and left me with food for thought that contributed to my writing afterwards.

The term writer’s block has always felt ill-fitted to the feeling of not being able to write. The imagery elicited by the word block is one of a straightforward obstacle, of something clear and robust in vision, something surmountable. The semantic associations of this phrase, of identifying the limitation as a solid object, feels far from the sensation of fog that plagues my brain when I feel unable to write. It feels more like I’m inside the block, and like the block is made of glass, and like I can see the expanse of the whole world outside of the block but can’t contribute to it, can’t understand it. The world of my characters, of my own inner richness, of my reality, becomes totally incomprehensible in a way that isn’t abstract and taunting. Every attempt to make sense of it ends up becoming a spiral of stimuli that takes me in circles but never to any words or newfound understandings. Because, to me at least, that’s what writing is: assigning meaning, making connections, recognizing patterns. It works in tandem with the way I live, and understand the grand complex thing that is my life, which makes the moments of non-writing feel like moments of my life wasted, undocumented, unhonored.

And of course, if the lull itself isn’t enough reason for panic, there is the fear that I’ll never pick up the pen back up again. To a certain extent, I believe in the importance of creative discipline and its role in combatting the issue of non-writing. Rhetoric is a skill, as is the development of vocabulary, and of utilizing literary techniques. Practicing these skills, even if it results in blocks of texts with only one good line, are useful in developing writing overall. The mind is, at least on a very basic level, a machine that needs maintenance and benefits from routine. Discipline in all facets of life is paramount, and that idea is only reinforced to me more and more as I grow older. More often than not, it is better to have written something bad that will never see the light of day than to have written nothing at all.

But in that same essence, the observation that can take place in periods of non-writing is also a skill to be developed. Taking lapses in creativity as pockets of opportunity rather than displacement or suspension has transformed the way I react to them, and the reinforcement I feel every time I do inevitably return to writing affirms that it is something essential to my being. And for the static time in between, whether it be days or months, nourishes me subconsciously and make that return feel as invigorating as it always does. The clarity i’m provided by the silence of my own mind creates the fertile soil necessary for any comprehensive words or ideas to grow.

It always come down to a matter of balance, as all of life does. Thankfully, I have the entire rest of my life to continue writing, and not writing, and learning something new each time around the cycle.

By Sajida Aktar

Erika Hesketh is currently the director of the Poetry Translation Centre, a small charity based in London that celebrates contemporary poetry in translation around the world, particularly focusing on translating Asian, African, and Latin American poets into English. Throughout her years of experience, she has highlighted three professional milestones that have made the most impact in her literary career.

Standing on the shoulders of giants

Hesketh started her career at Bloomsbury publishing where she was able to secure a graduate job as a diversity trainee. This was a new role entirely and was initiated by the Art Council who wanted to place non-white graduates into publishers around the UK. The intent behind this was due to the lack of diversity for non-white graduates in publishing based on a 2004 report.

One of the important figures that supported her in this role was Bill Swaingsing, who was her first outlet to literature and translation. Through him she was able to learn about the magical process of translation between two languages of the same book. One of the first books that enlightened her interest in translation was No et moi by Delphine de Vigan.

Developing a theory of translation

She transitioned from her role as diversity trainee to editing books of translation. Her role involved working with texts on page which enabled her to form ideas of language as a material, one where it was a property of itself and noticed that languages behave differently as a material.

She highlights that the publishing industry comes with gatekeepers and they are often paired with biases which are the decision factors in what books get sold and distributed. This can create a lot of inequalities in diversity and inclusion. She mentions that to make change, the biases must be challenged.

Taking a risk

Eventually she moved on to working for the Southbank Centre, specifically for the London Literature Festival. Through this role she was able to understand the importance of inclusion and noticed that freedom of expression is a continued issue that needs to be worked on collectively. Her advice regarding methods to get new books translated is through prizes and grants.

Erica was able to have a diverse range of experience in her career and closes off with a statement about the 2004 report, as 15 years later an update was made. She highlights how some things have moved forward like the fact that there is a greater diversity within authors who are being published. However at the same time there are problematic issues that are more in-house that haven’t improved since 2004. One being the lack of diversity and people of colour who make up the staff teams within publishing, especially those who are making the decisions at a senior level.

Thankfully there have been a few recent changes, for example Dialogue Books, a small publishing group who focus on, ‘shining a spotlight on stories by, about and for readers from LGBTQ+, disabled, working class and Black, Asian and marginalised communities.’, have recently become a division within Hachette. Due to this, future prospects are looking progressive but there is a need for activists and advocates to continue pushing for an all-round collective change in representation and inclusion.

Here’s the thing about writer’s block: I don’t tend to make an effort to get out of it. Writing, to me, can never feel forced in that way– I don’t feel like I do my best work when I’m forcing myself to sit and do it. I, with the short term memory of a goldfish and the attention span of a golden retriever, will type the same words over and over again to reach wordcount, and then never look back. So when I say I don’t make an effort to escape my writer’s block, I mean that I am both stuck in the executive disfunction of it, and that I don’t think escaping my writer’s block is actually going to give me the writing that I desire.

So here’s what I do, this is the goldfish trick.

There must be certain things you and I enjoy outside of writing: if not for peace of mind, then maybe just to avoid complete isolation. Maybe it’s browsing the internet, maybe it’s drawing or baking or making music. Myself, I’m a pinterest gal at heart. I love reading, I love music, I love doing the most random things that take the shortest amount of time. Maybe think about what you like doing, or just check my little list a bit further down and go to town.

The goldfish trick is to trick one’s brain into low-level productivity. It’s to do all the same stuff you’d normally do to procrastinate (and God, am I guilty of doing uquizzes to procrastinate). Except, you’re going to relate your procrastination to the writing work you’re putting off until you’re enthusiastic about writing again. You’re going to incorporate the characters and world you’re building in your dreaded writing into your every day. You’re going to trick your brain into doing the work you didn’t even know you could do (and, as it turns out, this work is great for characterisation too!). Here’s some ideas:

• Take buzzfeed quizzes. Spoil your inner millennial and take all those quizzes with outcomes that seem random at best. However, do it as your characters. The results of the quiz might be silly, but the questions will still get you thinking about how a character might respond.
• Pinterest, pinterest, pinterest. Build your written world from other people’s pictures. Collect the little village your story takes place in with pins. Make your characters little boards of what they’d find pretty, or what you think describes them visually.
• Spotify. I can’t think of any person who doesn’t have a music service of some kind within immediate reach. Make playlists for your story, your characters, your locations, anything you feel inspired to make playlists for (repeats are allowed!).
• Read books! Read the genre you’re writing, read books your characters would, read anything you need to research and are actually interested in. To write is to read, so even to read a random journal is to get a step closer to your goal.
• Collect all the little information that can be collected in bite-sized moments: go onto Wikipedia, go on baby name websites. Nothing needs to take more than five minutes, and sometimes you’ll find you’ll spend more than five minutes doing it because you’re actually enjoying yourself.
• And when in doubt, book yourself a holiday to get away from it all. Not really. Just go onto booking sites and see what the world looks like, what you could take from it. Look at hotels and think which one of your characters wouldn’t settle for anything less than a four star place.

Little bits add up. Knowing your character’s favourite food might not move your story along, but knowing them might give you a great idea of where to go next. Maybe you’ll learn something surprising about your setting, story or characters along the way. Just keep tricking your brain until you find that little nugget that makes you go ‘hey, maybe I should actually write this down’.

It’s not writer’s block if it’s ‘research’ (or buzzfeed quizzes).

Go out little goldfish, the world is your oyster.

by Marco Cassata

Ella Dorman-Gajic came to talk for Westminster’s writer series about her career as a playwriter. Besides plays, she also wrote screenwriting and poetry. I met Ella last summer when the university organized classes for all Westminster students interested in writing.

Her work was staged in numerous theatres such as Omnibus theatre and The Old Red Lion. She had a very challenging beginning as much of her work was disrupted because of the Covid pandemic, but she persisted. She tried to get promoted on the internet – as many plays were recorded and played online during the pandemic. She gave us a lot of tips to begin our career as playwriters such as looking at opportunities online – and don’t be afraid of the load of work behind the application as these will pay in the end!

She also suggested attending meetings with other writers to get feedback but also to get opportunities. That’s what happened to her. During one of these meetings, she met someone that was interested in her work and decided to produce it.

Then she gave us some quick prompts for beginning a play. I remember these as the same ones she used last summer. The exercise was very simple, but at the same time so good because by doing these, characters, locations and scenes can be set quickly and then carried on.

This was an amazing talk, and I was happy to have attended it.