How to Overcome Writer’s Block

We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. Have you ever stared at a blank page, wishing you could fill it with something meaningful, but you weren't sure where to start? Hello, good ole writer’s block, a phenomenon that’s stumped writers for ages. What is writer’s block? Masterclass defines it as an experience by writers described as an overwhelming feeling of being stuck in the writing process. Writer’s block can cause writers to find themselves at a loss for words, no pun intended. As a result, you might find that you can't move your project forward and write anything new. Overcoming writer’s block looks different for everyone, but here are a few ways to beat it!

Read, Read, Read

Good writers are good readers. According to Studio Binder, one of the best ways to overcome writer’s block is to read. Reading another author’s words on a page will inspire, challenge, and motivate you to put your own words out there. Stephen King says “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” So read everything you can get your hands on, especially titles within your genre. When you do that, you can expect to see your words fly onto the page!

Avoid Perfectionism

When we struggle to write the perfect sentence, we often end up getting nowhere. Everything we write doesn’t hit the mark. What’s important to remember is that drafts are a part of the writing process for a reason. Perfectionism can be a time thief when you’re editing every step of the way. Silence your inner critic and let your creative process flow.

Do Something Boring

That sounds counterintuitive, right? According to Book Fox, boredom is the essential ingredient of creativity. Try to do the most boring thing you can imagine for an hour. When you take time to be bored, it helps reboot your brain. Do you find cleaning to be a drag? Then you can try decluttering your workspace and tidying up. A clean space gives your brain a “fresh start” and might help you overcome writer’s block. An author from Penguin Random House stresses letting your subconscious do the work. “I seldom feel blocked, but when I do, I put my writing aside. Let it sit and ferment. Don’t even think about your story—your subconscious will be grinding away on it even while you’re occupied with something else. When your subconscious is done incubating it will let you know, and when you go back to the story with fresh eyes you’ll be surprised at how much work has been done.”

If you’re looking for a few extra tips, Masterclass suggests a couple of writing exercises that might help you get a breakthrough. Try this:

The Pomodoro technique

Think about what you’d like to write. Your subject can be anything that you’d like, it could even be a freewriting exercise. With this technique, you will set an alarm for 25 minutes and write until the timer rings. After a five-minute break, repeat the process sticking carefully to the clock.

The 30-minute challenge

Set a timer for 30 minutes and write down the events of your day. Once the timer rings, make a note of what distracted you, like thoughts, noises, and interruptions. What are the ways that you can selectively remove those distractions from your writing routine? For example, does your computer distract you while you write? Maybe you should use a pencil and pad instead. Do this same 30-minute challenge a day later, using techniques you researched to remove the distractions you discovered before. Now repeat the process until you’ve found your ideal place to write.

Pretend You’re Talking to a Friend

As writers, it’s easy for us to get caught up in the rules and specifics of writing. One way to overcome this is to pretend you’re chatting with a friend and you’re trying to get them to understand a story you’re telling. How would you describe it to them? If pretending isn’t helping, think about writing them an email or a text. While doing this practice, if you write anything useful, incorporate it into your draft!

We’ve talked about the ways you can overcome writer’s block and discussed exercises to help you break through it. There’s a way to do things and there’s a way to NOT do things.

Jeff Goins shares a few things that can keep you unmotivated and stuck in your writer’s block rut:

● You do not overcome writer's block by refusing to write until you feel inspired. Instead, write anyways! Try writing about a completely different subject than the project that you’re currently working on.

● You do not overcome writer's block by wallowing. You’re a content queen. Take the time you need to decompress and get back at it! You’re capable, you’re knowledgable, and you’re able.

● You do not overcome writer's block by procrastinating. Do you have a deadline? Do your best to stick to it! When you have a sense of urgency, it can help you break through your writer’s block.

● You do not overcome writer's block by watching TV. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. Keep your project front in mind. It will help you tap into the creativity you need.

All in all, remember to give yourself grace! Writer’s block happens to the best of us, but it's not the end. There are so many ways you can overcome this writing hurdle. We hope our suggestions push you to inspiration so you can get writing!

Always In Your Corner,
The Content Queens