Writer’s block is the worst. It happens to the best of us writers. Your mind has blanked, you’re frustrated, and nothing is coming out no matter how hard you try to force it. Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but here are some tips you might try.
- Stop trying to force it. Maybe the idea needs a little more time to develop in your mind. Be patient, as impossible as that sounds. Work on something else in the meantime.
- Eliminate your distractions. Word has a great focus function I use when doing my second round of edits.
- Go vacuum your living room or clean your kitchen counters. It gets your mind off the frustration and gets you doing something active so when you come back, you’re in a different mindset.
- Go for a short walk. Let your mind wander. I come up with my best ideas when I let my mind wander—usually in the shower or on a walk.
- Set a writing routine. If you set a routine you follow every day, you’re conditioning yourself to write at that specific time. Granted, this isn’t always possible if you have a full-time job without a set schedule or have little ones at home.
- Write every day. It doesn’t matter what it is. Just write something.
- Change your environment. If you’re sitting at a desk, go outside or sit in your favorite armchair.
- If you write on a computer, try going old-school and writing with pen and paper. It’s a more tactile experience. Be funky and use colored pencils.
- Listen to music. My favorite when I’m trying to concentrate is instrumental, typically a violin or classical station on Pandora. Lyrics can be distracting. With my latest manuscript, I listened to The Legend of Zelda playlists on YouTube. If you’re not a fan of classical or instrumental, try the sounds of rain or a café. There are many websites for this.
- Listen to a writing podcast. Listening to someone else talk about writing can get you in the mood to write.
- Make an outline. Often, writer’s block strikes because we don’t know what we want to happen or how we’re going to make it happen. Plot out your important points and see if that helps. It may take some time, but it’s worth it. Talk to your characters if you have to.
- Try freewriting. Freewriting is basically writing anything that comes to mind. I suck at freewriting. I don’t like it. But it helps some people free their mind, which is the goal.
- If starting at the beginning intimidates you, start in the middle. You’re the writer. You can do anything you want with your story. There is no one right way to write.
- Find a critique partner. While a critique partner would probably be most beneficial, your mom or best friend will work, too! Sometimes, just talking it out with someone makes a huge difference.
- Bribe yourself with treats. Write a page and you get a snack. Write three pages and get a half hour on social media.
- Let go of the need to be perfect. You can’t edit something that’s not on the page. Get it out, and then edit and mold it to your standard after. Don’t worry about it being perfect in the drafting stage because it’s not going to be and you’re only stifling your creativity.
- Stop comparing yourself to others. That kind of pressure kills imagination.
- Write for yourself. Stop thinking about your readers for a second and get back to why you love writing.
- This one might hurt a little: start from the beginning. Sometimes, we get stuck because it’s not where the story is supposed to go. Rewrite your work.
Don’t wait until you feel inspiration to write, don’t make excuses, and don’t procrastinate. It’ll only keep getting harder. Only you can overcome writer’s block, so start somewhere. Write something, even if it’s a paragraph that’s absolute crap. Experiment with different tricks and find what works for you as an individual.
Bottom line: professional writers are the ones who never give up, no matter how hard writing can be. Don’t give up and try to enjoy writing. You started for a reason, right?
What are some of your go-to methods of getting rid of or preventing writer’s block?
If you missed it, check out last week’s blog on filler words. Consider subscribing so you never miss a post!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks