How I Discovered the Unconventional Secret to Battling Writer's Block: Comic Sans
Examining Typeface Effectiveness: Does Using Comic Sans Improve Writing Quality?
In the heat of last year's NaNoWriMo, I stumbled upon an intriguing post while procrastinating. This post claimed writing in Comic Sans could alleviate writer's block.
Desperate for a solution, I decided to give it a shot. To my surprise, it worked remarkably well. I aced my NaNo goal, reaching 50,000 words on November 25th. The post mentioned a guy who said writing in Comic Sans makes words pour out like a rocket, and honestly, it felt just like that. I'm typing this very article in Comic Sans on Google Docs, and my fingers seem to be conjuring tiny cartoon rockets worth of words. I've been stuck for a week!
But why does this work, you may ask?
Here's a gif that sums it up:
Comic Sans makes writing less intimidating.
Typically, when we're asked to pen essays, dissertations, or any work to be evaluated, we're required to use sophisticated, professional fonts like Times New Roman. However, drafting in Comic Sans makes the assignment much less overwhelming. It makes writing a book—yes, a book!—more feasible.
Every writing session I had during NaNo, I ensured my previous day's work was in Times New Roman to monitor my word count. Yet, switching to Comic Sans was like inviting my inner editor to take a hike. I believe that the font's unrefined, whimsical nature grants the brain permission to unleash more creativity more quickly. It's easier to get words on the page when you're given the green light to produce terrible, imperfect words.
I also see considerable benefits in drafting in this font first and then revising it to something refined, like Times New Roman, for editing. When we stare at a section of text for too long, it becomes difficult to self-edit. Switching to Comic Sans for drafting and then back to Times New Roman for editing will signal the brain that it's time to edit, and the change in font will help you catch errors you may have missed before.
So, does this trick work for everyone? I'm curious to know if you've given it a spin. Write your next assignment, project, letter, or even a missive to your grandma in Comic Sans. Does it spark your creativity? Does it help you produce words like a gushing geyser? I'd love to hear about your experiences with this seemingly counterintuitive writing hack.
Perhaps experimenting with writing novel drafts in Comic Sans could enhance your lifestyle by making the writing process less intimidating, thus aiding in the production of fashion-and-beauty articles or home-and-garden blog posts. Moreover, drafting in Comic Sans for creative writing may grant the freedom to express ideas in a more spontaneous and unconventional manner, which could potentially breathe new life into your writing endeavors.
