The Cure for Writer's Block

Ever had writer’s block? As we all know, it’s that extra-annoying symptom in which not even the most seasoned novelist can place a single thought or word on paper. We’ve all had it at one time or another, regardless of our profession, unless one of us happens to be Stephen King. Becoming a fluent writer was one of the resolutions I unknowingly skipped on New Year’s Day a few weeks ago. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who would love to keep record of all my creative thoughts and ideas before they get permanently stuffed in the mental attic, but the unnatural blend of cultural norms, high expectations and rapid-fire deadlines placed on us makes this goal a little more than challenging to achieve.



Just when I thought this week’s post would be topic-less, a small article featured in a specialty magazine I subscribe to caught my eye. It was no more than three sentences long and the text size almost required a magnifying glass, but its message was as clear as daylight. The news bit, promoting a print graphic novel version of a web comic that established a strong cult following, began with these words: "Created by a five-year-old and illustrated by his 29-year-old brother…"



Simply by analyzing the miniature thumbnail of the comic’s cover art, I could easily tell that an insurmountable mass of creative energy had been put into the production of this daring project, and yet all the planning was brilliantly executed without any hesitation or restraint. What I saw was a small sample of a child’s imagination at work and its limitless potential. Most parents will agree with me on this. They’ve heard their child, just as I’ve heard my two kid nephews, talk about the wildest fantasies and scenarios. They further express their vivid thoughts in their drawings and playtime activities and harbor enough raw creative energy to create several novels, twenty summer blockbusters, and five Grammy-winning animated sitcoms, give or take.



Yet, there are so many children in this country alone who are unable to express their thoughts into action or words; approximately one in 100, on estimate. Imagination is an essential part of mental development and a powerful cognitive tool that is often overlooked, and those who suffer from autism also suffer from not using it. Try to wonder what kind of stories and ideas they would share with us if they were able to tell us what was on their minds. Thankfully, we don’t have to just wonder anymore.



Executive functions and cognition, essential for imagination, are two areas in the learning curriculum that are being taught to clients enrolled in treatment programs by behavior specialists and therapists. As treatment methods become more detailed and individualized in the years to come, these children will hone their creative abilities to their fullest potential. So stick around; they could make writer’s block a thing of the past.