Experiencing writer's block again? Unable to produce new work or find the perfect words to express yourself? Feeling stuck in a rut? Don't worry — you're not alone, and we're here to help.
Writer's block happens to every writer. In fact, it's a common struggle for seasoned writers, who are paid to come up with something new and creative every single time. Overcoming writer's block is often subjective and depends on each individual. But in a nutshell, it's about winning a battle with no one but yourself: your self-doubt, anxiety, desire for perfection, and lack of inspiration.
Let's skip long introductions. Whether you’re writing a book for literary fiction publishers or a dreaded term paper, these 14 tricks may help you beat writer's block and get those creative juices flowing again.
1. Go for a walk
If you’ve been staring at that blank space for hours now and nothing’s happening, maybe you need to move around. Do something that’ll get your blood flowing, like going for a walk or running. Step outside and walk around the block, breathe fresh air, and come back after a few minutes with fresh eyes.
2. Take a break
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When was the last time you drank a glass of water? Or ate something? Or took a bathroom break? Come on, take a breather. Perhaps you need to stand up, go to the balcony, stare at your plants, and do some breathing exercises.
3. Drink or eat something
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What’s your poison? If you’re feeling low and drained, a cup of brewed coffee or a shot of espresso may give you that much-needed boost. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, perhaps a cup of tea can calm you down so you can think more clearly. If you’re feeling lonely, maybe ice cream can cure?
4. Write drunk, edit sober
Such a bad piece of advice, right? Whether or not Ernest Hemingway truly said that, we can’t deny that it’s during those tipsy moments in a party that you feel extra confident and real. Alcohol triggers the release of endorphins (a.k.a “the feel-good chemicals”) in our brain. It somehow helps remove social boundaries and encourages opening up and sharing new ideas.
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And in the case of writing, consuming low doses may help you write more spontaneously. It allows you to freely give birth to an idea, good or bad, without having that perfectionist side of you cleaning it up. Makes sense?
5. Tackle and eliminate distractions
Is it the noise? The room temperature? The messy desk? Netflix? Social media? The extra tabs that have nothing to do with your writing? Acknowledge the things that distract you and do something to keep them from affecting your momentum. Taking the time to create a distraction-free environment can help you focus.
Once you’re in the mood, don’t do anything that’ll take your eyes off the paper or screen. Keep on writing. If you’re using Gdocs, Microsoft Word, or any electronic-based writing platform, you can minimise distractions by hiding the menus or shifting to full-screen mode.
6. Change your environment
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If you’ve been writing for quite some time, you might probably have an “official writing area” — yup, that desk with your laptop, pen, paper, a cactus, and some coffee stains. Now, see if a change of scenery can give you a breath of fresh air. You can bring your writing tools to a nearby coffee shop, tranquil park, or even to the fire exit of your apartment.
7. Listen to music, preferably the ones without lyrics
Go to Spotify or YouTube and find a playlist that’ll help you focus and boost your mood. It can be classical music, jazz, blues, spa music, lofi hip hop, synthwave, or Studio Ghibli instrumentals. It can even be ambient sounds or white noise.
Some folks also find Binaural Beats helpful for reducing stress, increasing relaxation, and fostering concentration and creativity.
8. Set a deadline
A little time pressure wouldn’t hurt, especially if you’re someone who tends to get easily distracted by everything. Set a deadline for yourself. For example, you can challenge yourself to have something written by 5 pm without taking a social media break.
9. Make a list
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Overwhelmed? Try to make a list of the things you want to include in your writing. No need to be overly critical about it — all ideas are welcome. When you’re ready, narrow down the list to only the most important aspects.
10. Get a power nap
Experiencing brain fog? Maybe sleep deprivation is the culprit. Do yourself a favor and take a power nap of 20 minutes. Set an alarm to make sure you won’t oversleep, which will counteract the effect. Power up with a cup of coffee after waking up.
11. Skip the introduction
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The introduction can make or break your writing process. While it can put you in the mood and set the tone for the next few paragraphs, it can also paralyse you. It’s easy to fall into the trap of perfecting it until you’re too drained to write about the heart of your content.
Instead of writing the intro first, you can start with the body of your content or even the conclusion.
12. Don’t procrastinate in an attempt to “wait until you feel inspired”
During a talk, a veteran scriptwriter told us “don’t start writing when you’re already inspired. WRITE to feel inspired.” And that resonated with me.
So instead of procrastinating and waiting for that light bulb to pop into your head, just write it out. The first few sentences or paragraphs may not make sense, but sooner or later you’ll notice things falling into place.
13. Write freely
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Start somewhere. Write a few lines. Don’t overthink. Don’t try hard to make it sound fancy. Just grab that pen (or keyboard) and start filling the blank space with some words.
And write without pausing. Write without worrying about sentence structure, spelling, grammar, or beautiful words and phrases. Write without second-guessing, constantly hitting that backspace key. Just write what’s on your mind — you can always edit it after.
14. To overcome writer’s block, stop reading this article on how to overcome writer’s block
Aha! You’ve reached the end of this article. You’ve learned a few tricks. Some may work for you, others may not. Now go, apply some of the things you've learned, and write that killer piece!
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a passionate content writer who spends most of her time writing poems, songs, short stories, and informative blogs. To know more about literature, from poetry to fiction, check out Doire Press, an award-winning book publisher in Ireland.
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