What is Writer's Block?
Writer’s block is a common issue that creatives face, which occurs when a writer experiences a temporary decrease in productivity.
Writer’s block is a state of mental or creative stagnation that can affect anyone involved in writing, such as authors, poets, screenwriters, journalists, and even students working on assignments or essays.
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What is the Cause of Writer's Block?
Fear of Failure & Perfectionism
Lack of Inspiration
Pressure and Stress
Burnout
The last reason why authors get writer’s block is purely due to workload burnout. If you feel like you’ve put too much work on your plate, you probably have.
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Tips to Solve Writer's Block
Don’t worry if you’re annoyed by the infamous writer’s block that prevents your creative thoughts from flowing.
We’ve got your back! Allow us to give a wealth of helpful ideas to assist you in overcoming this literary issue.
Now, let’s look at the tactics that can rekindle your creativity and get those words flowing freely:
1. Change Your Workspace
The first tip we have to solve writer’s block is to change your workspace.
As a writer, you most likely spend every single day at the same desk, whether it be on a computer or pen and paper, writing away.
This work routine can get old very quickly. To combat this, consider working in a new room in your house, or an entirely different location such as a coffee shop or coworking space.
If you’re set on staying put, consider treating your workspace to something new, such as a new computer, keyboard, chair, or toy!
2. Try Time Management Techniques
The next tip we have to combat writer’s block is the use of time management techniques.
The two most popular tactics for time management are the Pomodoro Technique and Calendar Boxing.
Pomodoro Technique – The Pomodoro technique is a famous technique that involves working in sets of 25 minutes, followed by small breaks in between. This technique works because the work period seems short and attainable, with a reward at the end. You can buy a physical timer, use the alarm on your phone, or download a Pomodoro App.
Calendar Boxing – The next technique we’ll speak about is the calendar boxing technique, where you present your workday’s calendar with exact tasks and the estimated time that it will take you to complete them. Going into a task with intent and expected completion time, leaves you no room to “figure out” what to work on.
3. Plan a Time and Make a Habit
Similar to the calendar boxing technique, this trick involves setting a set schedule to sit down and write. This makes more sense for part-time writers, who have to squeeze in work sessions in their busy day.
Clearly marking your calendar with days and times you will sit down to write, can help you stay on track.
4. Give Yourself a Set Writing Prompt
Giving yourself a set writing prompt to answer, takes away a lot of the indecision of what to work on away from the writer. Rather than telling yourself “I’m writing chapter one today”, instead ask yourself a specific question relating to chapter one and write from there.
Back in grade school, your writing teacher probably told you a hundred times, “Outline, outline, outline!” And for good reason. Outlines are a powerful tool that can help you outmaneuver writer’s block and write better articles.
As famed American author Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
When you outline your article, you’re essentially breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This makes the task of writing seem less scary and helps you stay on track.
5. It's OK to Be Flawed
The next “tip” we have is to not let yourself become defeated by writer’s block. Writer’s Block is a temporary setback that is all in your head, so don’t let it become a reality, and have it dominate your thoughts.
Instead of being too hard on yourself when you find yourself struggling to write, embrace the imperfections and accept that it’s a natural part of the creative process.
Allow yourself the space and freedom to explore different ideas, even if they initially seem flawed or imperfect. Sometimes, it’s through embracing these flaws that we stumble upon remarkable breakthroughs.
6. Find Out When You’re Most Creative
The next tip we have is to learn about yourself and identify the parts of your day that you’re most productive.
For some people, that will be the first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee. For another, it may be the burning of the midnight oil. In my case, I am the most productive during afternoon sessions before and after lunch.
There is no “correct” time to write, you should do whatever works best for you.
7. Avoid Mindless Distraction
The next tip we have to overcome writer’s block is to not fall into the trap of mindless distraction, whatever form that comes in.
A lot of times when we are stressed about completing a task, we distract ourselves by finding something new and exciting to take your mind off the challenge. This only makes things worse by pushing the completion of the task back, and filling the time with less productive activities.
Be careful not to make the issue worse by distracting yourself mindlessly with social media, games, and low ROI work. If you find yourself distracting yourself digitally, consider a tool like Freedom, that blocks certain applications and sites when it’s set to.
8. Productive Distraction
On the other hand, productive distractions can give you the energy to complete your task rather than take it away. These tasks can vary from person to person, but tasks such as reading, speaking to a friend on the phone, getting a workout in, or walking outside in fresh air can all leave you coming back refreshed.
Hilary Mantel is a two-time Booker Prize-winning author who is known for her historical fiction novels. She is also a master of the craft of writing, and she has a lot of wisdom to share with aspiring writers.
One of Mantel’s most important pieces of advice is to “get away from your desk” when you’re feeling stuck. She says that if you’re struggling to write, the best thing to do is to take a break and do something else. This could be anything from taking a walk to listening to music to taking a bath. The important thing is to get your mind off of writing for a while.
9. Work on Another Section
This tip may not work in all cases, but sometimes our human brain gets set on tackling tasks in chronological order. If one of the tasks in the order is stalling us out, then we don’t proceed.
If you feel confident tackling your writing out of order, and moving towards a newer exciting section, then this could be the tactic you need to unblock yourself.
Just be careful to not complicate your natural story progression by going out of order.
10. Try Freewriting
The next way you can attempt to overcome writer’s block is to remove the quality filter of the words that need to go on paper and just write away.
This can help get the creative juices flowing and get you excited about the writing.
You don’t need to worry about any grammar or punctuation issues here, you’ll be revising it later. As you’re doing this, you may find yourself a few paragraphs that you can use somewhere inside your book.
During freewriting, your focus is solely on getting your thoughts and ideas down on paper.
It’s a liberating process that encourages you to let go of any inhibitions or self-doubt.
By testing this raw and unfiltered form of writing, you may discover hidden gems within your words that can be incorporated into your book.
11. Study the most successful authors, researching tactics
Here is another tip to overcome Writer’s Block. Study the writing styles of successful authors.
By researching their tactics and techniques, you can gain valuable insights and inspiration to break free from your creative block.
Take some time to delve into the works of renowned authors who have achieved great success. Explore their unique writing styles, storytelling methods, and character development.
By immersing yourself in their words, you can absorb their brilliance and infuse it into your own writing.
By channeling their inspiration, you can discover new ideas, fresh perspectives, and innovative approaches to your writing.
12. Brainstorm or network with other people, local writer groups and online writers all groups
Another potential way to get out of a rut is to network with other writers, whether this is at local writing meetups, author events, or online writing communities.
No matter where you’re engaging with writers, they’ll likely have encountered the same issues you have and will be able to provide advice.
At the very least, it should give you an entertaining networking outlet with your peers to look forward to.
13. Experiment with characters in the book, wear different hats, whichever
If the words really aren’t flowing, here’s a creative technique to try – experiment with your characters. Take some time to step into their shoes, wear different hats, and explore various scenarios with them.
Think about your characters’ traits, desires, and backgrounds. Then, imagine them in different situations or environments.
What would they do?
How would they react?
By creating these hypothetical scene, you can uncover fresh perspectives and unexpected plot twists.
This fun exercise can open up new possibilities and reignite your passion for writing.
14. Try a Different Tool
When you’re struggling with writer’s block, trying different writing tools can be helpful.
You can enhance your creativity by experimenting with different writing instruments.
If you usually write with a pen, switch to a pencil to create a new experience that could loosen up your ideas.
On the other hand, if you’re accustomed to writing on a laptop, try using a tablet or a smartphone with a screen large enough for your writing needs.
Another interesting option to explore is using text-to-speech technology.
Instead of typing or writing manually, you can speak your thoughts aloud, allowing the words to be transcribed digitally.
This approach not only offers a novel way of composing but also taps into a different mode of expression that might help break through the barriers of writer’s block.
Trying out diverse devices can expose you to new perspectives and help you explore your creativity.
15. Don't be afraid to reward yourself for working, milestones, checkpoints
Our final tip for overcoming writer’s block is to reward yourself with something for reaching a milestone or checkpoint.
No matter how big or small, reward yourself for your hard work to help you get through the long patches of work. The reward for finishing your book should be larger than the reward for getting through chapter 3.
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Finally…
Don’t stress if you find yourself in this “temporary” stage of writer’s block.
By now, you should be convinced that numerous ways exist to break free from it (including some mentioned earlier).
From getting to know yourself better and discovering your most creative moments to exploring various tools or rewarding yourself for achievements, these methods can effectively help you overcome any writing obstacles.
So don’t let writer’s block hold you back from producing amazing work.
Writer’s block can be a frustrating hurdle to overcome, but the ultimate solution lies in the very act of writing itself. Embrace our recommendations to unleash your creative prowess, rejuvenate your thoughts, find solace in adequate rest, and regain your focus.
Writing is the key to conquering writer’s block, and by following our guidance, you’ll reignite your imaginative fire.
Take the time to clear your mind, indulge in well-deserved rest, and reset your creative energy.
Then, armed with newfound clarity, settle into your preferred writing spot and let your ideas take flight.
Have you ever faced writer’s block?
What strategies have helped you push through it?
Share your personal tips in the comments section below – we’d love to hear from you!
