How Writing Thank-You Notes Can Help Writer’s Block (Hope’s Hacks)

This month’s cure: Thankful for Writer’s Block

What the cure is: Writing thank you notes during periods of writer’s block

Why the cure will help: As someone who has struggled with severe depression, I know it can be hard to roll out of bed. Let alone try to write my word count goal for that day. But I discovered that doing kind acts for others, such as writing them a thank you note, can chip away some of that de-motivation.

Here are some ideas for whom you can write a thank you note:

To a Family Member: Let’s be honest–our families, whether they know it or not, play an integral role in our writing careers. Children have patience (sometimes) when we need to eke out those last 100 words for the day. Spouses provide encouragement when we receive yet another rejection note in the mail. There’s at least one family member (or friend who is basically a family member) along the way who has held your hand in this writing process. Clap a thank you note into that hand.

To a Writing Mentor: Whether this person participates in your weekly critique groups or you met them at a conference, this mentor has believed in you from the very first. You can tell how much they believed in you by how much they massacred your writing with red ink. For all the time they put into helping you refine your writing, put a little time back and write them a thank you note.

To an Enemy: This one sounds counterintuitive. Even if you do write this note, you may not want to send it to them–awkwardness can and will ensue. But if you do choose to write this one purely as an exercise, it could help chip away at that writer’s block (often it can be caused by discouragement or rejection from an enemy, for instance has hindered your progress and your writing). Thank them for the roadblocks. You’ve become stronger because of them.

To a Character or Interviewee: In fiction and nonfiction alike, there’s always more than one voice in the story. Even if you write a book with just one character, they have some distinct differences from yourself. In the case of nonfiction, you need sources and interviewees to develop a solid book full of clout. Whatever the case, write a thank you note to some of these influential sources. In some cases, especially in fiction, this can spur the writing juices again.