Writer’s Block? No More! Embrace Chaos Mode for Creative Flow

How to tap into and develop your writer’s voice

Photo by Ashlyn Ciara on Unsplash

Writing in spew mode is chaotic but can help you unearth your writer’s voice. You’ll be amazed at what you sound like on paper. Be prepared.

It is nothing like how you sound when interacting with others in real life. Your writer’s voice is distinct and has a life of its own.

Did you know your writer’s voice will sound different depending on the medium you are writing on as well?

I carry a little scratch pad I picked up for pennies at a local everything store. I scribble down little random thoughts I have in it. They are mostly rants, to be honest. But it’s good for my mental health. That small square pad is filled with my angry rants. It is very cathartic, really. Much better than a therapist.

That little pad holds no judgment. It just accepts what I put on its face as truth. It doesn’t tell me to fix my tone or that it is not politically correct to think in such a way. And once that little pad is full. I burn it down to ash. I set those nasty, angry thoughts free. I wash the ashes off the driveway. May they rest in peace.

Not everything in that little pad is angry and rage-filled. There are moments of gratitude and happiness. There are bits of paragraphs for articles or twists of phrases for articles I’m working on. Those pages I rip out and keep.

Then there’s writing on a keyboard. Again, your voice will sound slightly different than writing on paper. I find myself self-editing automatically when I write on a keyboard. I’m not sure why.

I can’t just leave a misspelling unfixed. I have to backspace to fix it before moving on. But that little backspacing to edit has caused me to break my typing rhythm.

I needed not to break stride. That’s when I stumbled upon a way to hack this bad habit, which is to type while looking out the nearest window.

Everyone can type without looking, mostly by this point. Remember typing class?? I feel old as dirt, so I remember taking a typing class. It was a class where high schoolers were taught the right placement of fingers on a keyboard. Hahahahah. Kids these days know how to type before they know how to write their names!

I digress. Here are some exercises that have helped me develop my writer’s voice.

7 Exercises to help you unearth your writing voice

1. Freewrite (aka write in spew mode) on paper
   Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and write whatever comes to mind without stopping or editing. Focus on letting your thoughts flow onto the page without judgment. This exercise helps you tap into your natural writing style and uncover your unique voice.
2. Freewrite on your keyboard
   Fire up your computer or iPad or laptop and start spewing using the keyboard. Don’t question it. Just do it. Do not stop to backspace and fix spelling error or syntax mistakes. Just power through that 5–10 minute limit.
3. Emulate your favourite authors
   Read extensively in the genre you want to write in and identify authors whose voice resonates with you. Try imitating their style and tone in your own writing. This can help you expand your vocabulary, experiment with different sentence structures, and develop a sense of your own voice.
4. Write about personal experiences
   Draw inspiration from your own life and experiences. Write about a memorable moment, a person who has impacted you, or a passion you hold dear. Your personal experiences often reveal your authentic voice as you write with sincerity and vulnerability.
5. Create a character with a distinct voice
   Develop a fictional character with a strong personality and unique way of speaking. Write a scene or dialogue from their perspective, ensuring their voice remains consistent and engaging. This exercise helps you understand how voice contributes to character development and storytelling.
6. Write in different genres
   Experiment with different writing genres, such as fiction (easy), non-fiction (like these Medium articles), poetry (I suck at this one), or creative writing. Each genre has its own conventions and style, and trying different forms can help you discover the aspects of writing that resonate with you most.
7. Read your work aloud
   Read your writing out loud to yourself or to a trusted friend or colleague. Listening to your own words can help you identify awkward phrasing, unclear sentences, and areas where your voice shines

As you've explored, spew mode, or freewriting, is a powerful tool for unlocking your writer's voice. By letting your thoughts flow freely without judgment, you are finding your voice of creativity and authenticity.

Remember, your writer's voice is a unique fingerprint reflecting your personality, experiences, and perspective. It sets you apart as a writer and makes your work resonate with readers. No one is like you!

So, embrace the messiness, the imperfections, and the surprises that spew mode brings. Let your thoughts dance, splatter, stumble across the page, and you might discover a voice you never knew you had.

Get started now:

1. Grab a notebook or open your digital word processor.
2. Set a timer for five to ten minutes.
3. Start writing without stopping or editing.
4. Focus on letting your thoughts flow freely, even if they seem like rubbish.
5. Don't worry about grammar or spelling.
6. Just keep writing until the timer goes off.
7. Repeat this exercise regularly to strengthen your spew mode muscles.

Write every day using spew mode as a warm-up. Like seasoned athletes, writers need to warm up their muscles, too. You'll find that your writing becomes more natural, more authentic, and more engaging. There will be less blockage because that 5–10 minutes has unclogged all the static from your mental space.

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Happy writing!