15 STRATEGIES TO HANDLE WRITER'S BLOCK
Take a Break
One of the best ways to overcome writer's block is to step away from your writing project for a while. Give yourself permission to do something else you enjoy. Many authors, including Neil Gaiman, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Hilary Mantel, suggest taking a break in one form or another. It can help you recharge your batteries and return to your writing with a fresh perspective.
Experiment With Your Workspace
Maybe your current writing space does not inspire you anymore. If you usually work from a home office, working out of a cafe might just get the creative juices flowing. Alternatively, experimenting with different lighting and seating arrangements or even scents can help create a change or break the monotony. Many times a change in ambiance is all that may be needed to get you unstuck.
Write Every Day
You may have heard it far too often, but here goes — if you are serious about writing, write daily. Done right, it can do wonders for your writing practice. It is not about compelling yourself to write a certain number of words each day. It is more about consistency — showing up and strengthening your writing muscles. This gets your ideas and words flowing with much more ease and is extremely helpful in keeping writer’s block at bay.
Try a Different Writing Method
If you typically write on a computer, try switching to pen and paper or vice versa. Maybe you prefer typing out your work on a typewriter or a keyboard, but when you are blocked, switching to a voice-to-text tool could help. You can also try dictating your ideas out loud into a voice recorder and transcribe or review them later. Changing your writing method will bring a change of pace, help you break through your writer's block, and stimulate new ideas.
Change Your Approach
Working on a long-term writing project can feel tedious and impact your creativity. Try changing your approach when that happens. For example, if you've been writing in a linear fashion, try writing out of order or from a different character's perspective.
Read More
Reading is a source of inspiration for even the greatest writers. But don’t only read books in your preferred genre. Step outside of your comfort zone and go for something new. This can help you gain new insights and ideas for your own writing.
Use Prompts
Jumpstart your creativity with writing prompts. Many websites and books offer writing prompts. Use those or create your own. For inspiration, check out popular hashtags such as #writingprompts or writing communities on social media.
Connect With Other Writers
Sometimes, advice from someone who’s been in your shoes can be just what you need. You may seek advice from a mentor, or a writer friend, join a writing community, or attend a workshop. Connecting with other writers, knowing you are not alone, and listening to them discuss what ails them or how they deal with their writer’s block can take the edge off an otherwise grueling schedule.
Share Your Woes With a Non-Writer
There are times when writing may just refuse to happen, no matter how hard you try. Speaking to a friend with no writing background could be just what you need. Bonus points if the person is an avid reader. This way, you can gain some outsider perspective on why you’re stuck. You never know where and how inspiration can strike.
Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself
Writer's block is a common experience, an occupational hazard even. It's okay to take a break or make mistakes. Judging yourself harshly may only make things worse. Perfectionism is often what causes writer’s block, and so does anxiety. Remember to be kind to yourself and enjoy the writing process.
Use Visual Aids
If you find it difficult to visualize your story or characters, consider using visual aid. Mood boards, mind maps, story cubes, or character sketches can help you come up with new ideas or refurbish existing ones.
Physical Activity
Many writers, including acclaimed authors like Haruki Murakami and Stephen King, swear by the benefits of physical activity. Exercise releases those feel-good hormones, endorphins, which boost your mood and improves the oxygen supply to your brain.
It is also a much healthier way to take a break, as opposed to watching television. Physical activity doesn’t necessarily have to mean hitting the gym or jogging. It could include dancing, walking in a garden, or any other movement-based activity that allows you to rejuvenate.
Practice Freewriting
Not to be confused with auto writing, freewriting is a powerful tool for a writer. Write whatever comes to mind without any specific goal or topic in mind. Even though it may seem nonsensical initially, you’ll find that it can help you break through any mental blocks and get your writing flowing again. Practice freewriting every day, multiple times a day, or any way you see fit.
There are no rules and no expectations, and therein lies the beauty of this technique.
Change Your Literary Perspective
Sometimes, being too close to your work can lead to writer's block. Taking a step back and looking at it from a different point of view might give you that much-needed push. Do you have an ideal reader in mind? Then try reading your work from that reader’s perspective, and adopt a different approach to the problem.
Celebrate Small Victories
When you are too deeply involved in a project and working hard toward accomplishing your writing goals, you risk getting into a rut. Sooner or later, you’ll likely face the dreaded writer's block, and nothing can be more frustrating and demotivating.
What do you do then?
Find a way to stay motivated by celebrating small victories. Look back at how much you have already achieved. Take pride in the little things, like if you’ve written a paragraph or verse you're really proud of. Or that you show up and write every day, even if it is for 10 minutes. Acknowledge your progress and give yourself credit for your efforts.
Can writer’s block be cured? That is debatable. However, writer’s block is certainly not your greatest enemy; not unless you choose to give up because of it. Use these strategies whenever you find yourself in a fix.
In addition, you’ll find plenty of other resources, online and offline, such as books, writing classes, or a writing coach or mentor, for advice and guidance. Remember to be patient with yourself, stay consistent, and enjoy the writing process.
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Content credit: K. Dinkin
Image credit: Vonecia Carswell
