Do you ever get stuck writing? Maybe your ideas don’t seem to be coming, or maybe you feel like you just can’t find the right words to describe a certain scene. Maybe you worry that you are too close to your work and can’t see the forest for the trees… Or maybe you just hate writing, and everything you do comes off as boring and painful as a root canal. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are not alone.
Writer’s block is as much a part of writing as it is a foe. It is something that writers have to face time and time again. It’s a feeling that creeps up on you when you least expect it and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. It is a nagging feeling that comes from within and tries to convince you that you are not cut out to be a writer.
But where does this negative feeling come from? How do we conquer it? And most importantly, how do we ensure that it doesn’t creep up on us next time? Read on to learn eight easy ways to overcome writer’s block.
Write About Yourself
Write what you know. This is quite possibly the most important tip to overcoming writer’s block. When you are stuck, you need to try to write about what you know. What do you love? What are you good at? What are you passionate about?
Try to put yourself in the shoes of your character and see the world from their eyes. When you are in the zone, and your characters seem to be talking to you directly, this tip will help you immensely.
Don’t Overthink
Overthinking is what gets us into the writer’s block pit in the first place. When we start to analyze and second-guess everything we write, we run the risk of getting wrapped up in our own heads and not being able to write at all. When you get writer’s block, try to remember that you are doing it to yourself. You are trying to overanalyze your work and put too much pressure on yourself.
Overthinking leads to procrastination and leads to a feeling of being stuck (reports one statistics source). Instead of analyzing everything you write, try to just write. Don’t analyze, and don’t overthink. Your thoughts will come in time, and you will be able to put them into words when you need to do so.
Take a Break
You can’t write when you are tired, angry, or frustrated. If you are feeling like you are just not getting anywhere or that you just can’t seem to write, take a break. You don’t have to stop writing altogether, but just put your writing on hold for a while.
Take a walk, go for a run, clean your house, do some housework, whatever it is that helps you to clear your mind. If you know that you just don’t want to write for whatever reason, then just try to refocus your attention on something else. Remember that you can’t be creative and productive at the same time. You need to take a break from your work, clear your mind, and come back to it fresh.
Get a Coffee
As cliché as it may sound, caffeine truly does help to overcome writer’s block. There have been many studies done on this. Not only is it proven that caffeine boosts your brainpower, but it is also proven to help to prevent depression and helps to get rid of stress.
If you are not a coffee drinker, then try tea or even energy drinks. All three are proven to help with productivity and can help to get your writing groove back when you are feeling stuck in writer’s block. Yes, it may be a strange solution, but it’s a solution nonetheless. Need another tool for a productivity boost? Try Writesonic to get your creative juices flowing.
Organize Your Writing Area
It may sound silly, but it really helps. Are your writing supplies on your innovative desk where you can see them? Do they have a place where you can see them easily? If not, put them somewhere it’s easily visible. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use them for a few hours. It just makes it easier for you to get back to your work when you need to.
So, organizing your desk so that you have everything you need within reach can help you to overcome writer’s block and stay productive. Also, to stay organized, you can use various blogging tools to automate your writing process.
Plan Your Day
Another great tip for overcoming writer’s block is to plan your day. It may sound crazy, but if you think about it, this is what you are doing when you put in your hours at the computer. You are planning your day, and that means that you are setting out what you want to achieve.
So how does it actually help? Planning your day means that you are setting out the steps that need to be taken to achieve your goals. You can’t do that if you are in a state of writer’s block, so this tip is all about getting rid of that block and getting back to your day. If you’re looking for ways to improve your writing skills, you can check out this blog post.
Go for a Walk
Writing and walking go together like peanut butter and jelly. When you get writer’s block and are feeling stuck, take a walk and let your mind wander free.
You will be surprised at what your brain can create when there is no pressure to create anything specific. Wandering, by itself, is a creative act, and tapping into your subconscious mind is the most basic form of creativity. While you are walking, try to observe your surroundings. What do you see? What do you smell? What do you feel? These things are all part of the creative process.
Get Some Sleep
If writing is like solving a puzzle, then sleep is like a break. When you are writing, you are trying to solve a puzzle. Your brain needs a break, and sleep is the best way to give it one.
Try to solve your writing puzzle in the morning when you are fresh, and then take a break. Your brain needs time to rest and clear, and you need time to do the same. This tip is especially important if you are getting writer’s block. When you are blocked, you need time to rest and clear your head, and sleep is the best way to do so.
Conclusion
The good news is that writer’s block is not something that you have to struggle with forever.
These are just some of the ways you can overcome writer’s block and get your creative juices flowing again. It can be hard sometimes, and it can be tempting to give up and walk away from writing completely. But don’t do it. Writer’s block is something you can overcome, and the sooner you do so, the better. These eight tips will help you do just that.