How to Overcome Writer’s Block
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a writer, and if you’re a writer, you’ve most definitely encountered writer’s block. You know, when you sit in front of your work and just can’t find a single thing to write about? Well, look no further, because this post will become your new one-stop shop for creative ways to get around writer’s block.
Before anything else, you should think about why you might be experiencing writer's block. Maybe there’s an underlying fear behind writing poorly, or perhaps there are tons of other things happening in your life you want to take care of first, or maybe you’re simply unmotivated. As Jan from the Office once said, “There are always a million reasons not to do something.” But it only takes one good reason to follow through. Let’s look at a few different strategies to think about when dealing with your writer’s block.
Taking a Step Back
Now, let’s move onto what you can do about your writing paralysis. One of the first steps that I personally take when I am stuck on just about anything is to just step away for a moment. Sometimes, when you focus on one thing for too long, you just lose interest and focus–don’t blame yourself, though! Sometimes stepping away from your work can be hard, especially when you put so much time and effort into your work. Sometimes you can’t help but feel like you need to keep up the same amount of quality output day after day, but the truth is that that’s unfeasible for everyone.
To stay motivated, I like to think about it like this: every second of every day we are adapting and constantly adding new experiences to our lives. You are not the same person day after day because you are slowly but surely evolving into something new. So, when you go back to your work the next day or maybe even a couple of hours later, you may find that the new you has no problem pushing through the block that troubled you not too long ago.
So, you’ve stepped away from the paper, now what? One of the most important things to do to give yourself a mental reset is to go outside. Doesn’t matter much what specifically you do – maybe you can go for a hike, or just a stroll in the park, or maybe even take some time to relax in the backyard. Reconnecting with nature can give you clarity and a new sense of readiness to tackle whatever task stands in your way. Our way of life and culture has always stemmed from nature, as Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us in her passage titled “The Giveaway”, and returning to your roots can be a powerful force in the face of your writer’s block.
Another thing to do while you’re away from the desk is to get some rest. If you go to bed or even take a nap with your current writing setting in mind, your subconscious will do the heavy lifting, and you might wake up with an idea to get you started when it comes time to sit back down. Or (even better), if you have a dream while you sleep, write it down! I find that my dreams are almost always nonsense, but written down they can be quite funny to read on their own, and you may even inspire yourself for what’s to come in your work.
Write it out
Sometimes the way to get yourself out of the rut is just to push through. It may sound counter-intuitive, but many writers find that they can focus and write on their current project after having written about something else. Any way to get your ideas moving in your head will domino into the one piece you are stuck on. For many, motivation is momentum based, so getting the ball rolling is the first step to getting it down the hill.
One of the ways to do this is through a simple exercise that restarts your flow of ideas with ease. To do this, first set a timer for yourself – it can be one minute, two minutes, or even five depending on your preference. Then, get your preferred writing medium, start the timer and write as much as you can without stopping until the timer ends. Doing this forces your mind to push through any barriers it may have had and tells you to “just do it!” You can use any form of writing for this exercise, but I personally find that when I put pencil to paper, I feel much more confident in my writing both during the activity and afterwards. As for what to write about, try not to think about what you’re writing beforehand so that your brain gets thrown into the mix like a cold plunge.
Alternatively, you can write in a way that is more relaxing, like a journal or a side project. Sometimes the block only exists for one project and not another, perhaps because you are starting to find one more exciting than the other. Regardless, if you don’t want to completely ruin your momentum in your work this trick can work great, since it keeps your brain in writing mode, while working through your brain fog at your own pace.
If your writer’s block stems from a place of fear that you won’t write anything worth anyone’s time, this thought may be interesting for you. In researching methods for this, I stumbled upon the place with all the answers, Reddit (yeah, I know). There was a thread where someone asked how to get over writer’s block, and there are a ton of awesome ideas and thoughts that you can check out HERE, but there was one idea that stood out to me as wonderfully simple, yet almost inspiring. It’s this: it’s okay if the first draft sucks, write it anyway. After the first draft is done, however, it is then when you can go back and think about how to write it better. Sometimes you’ll get a diamond in the rough sentence or idea that you’ll keep, and other times you’ll look at something you wrote poorly and know exactly what to do to fix it later. Getting that first draft done, as ugly as it can be, can help you start to shape and mold your work into something greater.
Sometimes, however, the writer’s block is bigger and scarier than you originally anticipated. Have no fear, because this last trick may just be the one to set you straight again. First, think about why you want to write in the first place, and what your inspiration was or still is. Some writers find that going back to where they first found their ambition to write can remind them of what their writing could be and what they are striving towards. It doesn’t have to be a single work that started your interest in writing – sometimes it can just be a work that you find particularly inspiring. At the time of writing, I am reading through The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski, and I find his method of storytelling through his writing super inspiring, and it always fills my head with more and more ideas of how to convey my own ideas through paper. So, if nothing else, find a passage, book, or author that you are infatuated with, read, and go from there.
Other Ideas to Consider
There are certain strategies that don’t easily fit in one category, but it’s important to consider all your options, so here’s what I thought was still worth mentioning:
One of the simplest mind tricks to do is to deny the existence of writer’s block at all. By telling yourself that writer’s block is just a myth, you may just trick yourself into believing it, and in that instant, you may very well just find what to write.
Another is to start from the end. Think about how you want your story to end and work your way backwards. If you’ve ever done this to solve the mazes on the backs of cereal boxes, you know what I’m talking about
Do a boring repetitive task. This one sounds odd, but if you let your brain wander and think on its own while you’re folding laundry or something of the sort, you may just find what you want to write about next. I personally find that a calm playlist of music without lyrics helps too
It’s really easy to let your writer’s block feel like it’s a large daunting presence casting a shadow on your potential, but I hope after reading this you’ve figured out how to brave it yourself and let nothing stand in your way between you and your work.
If you’ve gone through this whole list and still haven’t found something for you, there are a couple different ideas listed on The Penguin Random House, Final Draft, and jerryjenkins.com