There’s nothing worse than forced writing. Yet, when it comes to writer’s block, sometimes writers just want to keep trying to push forward, when all they really need to do is take a step back.
Writer’s block is a difficult mental block to work through. For me, it’s almost physically painful. Just the thought of writers block has my chest tight, my mind racing, and has me holding my pen a little too tight (I sometimes hand-write my blogs before typing them - it’s just part of my process).
But, over the years, I’ve developed ways to beat writer's block for myself, or at least limit it. So, here are 10 tips from me, to you:
Household Chores
Instead of trying to write (which in turn just causes bad writing), use your time for something more worthwhile until the writing comes more naturally. Get up and stretch. Do the dishes. Scrub the toilet. Organize that “black hole” drawer or closet you’ve been meaning to organize for a while now. Chances are, anything that makes you focus on something else for a while will help you focus more on your writing later.
Read
Grab a book you’ve read before. Pull up your favorite news website and catch up on what's going on around the world. Indulge by grabbing that trashy tabloid magazine and flipping through the pages. Sometimes other people's work can strike a cord and give your own thoughts some new life.
Take a Shower (or Bath)
Let the water run over you and focus on good thoughts. One of the best places for inspiration can be in the bathroom. Let the water flow and hopefully your thoughts will too.
Take a Nap
Or at least trick your mind into thinking you’re going to. Lay down on your bed or couch (or floor for that matter) and let yourself start to drift. Right before bed, when your mind is clearing itself from the day, some of your best ideas can happen. Usually at night this can be frustrating because , really… you just want to sleep. But recreating this action during a time you aren’t actually intending to sleep, can help bring forth those relaxing, mind clearing capabilities and allow ideas to flood your mind.
Write Something Else
Blog, journal, write a short story... maybe even just skip the section of the piece you’re stuck on and move on to a part you can see and develop more clearly. Everyone feels better and can think more clearly when they’re proud of what they’re doing. Sometimes accomplishing something else can clear the mental clog.
Get New Surroundings
Go to a coffee shop, the library, a park… or maybe just the next room over. Sometimes simply a new view can focus the mind and stir those creative juices.
Look at What Inspires You
Art work. Photos from your childhood. Images of places you aspire to travel to someday. Sometimes just looking at a photo or google image search can inspires us to think and become passionate, snapping us out of an awful writing funk.
Write to a Playlist
Music is one of the best tools to use to keep writing. One song can bring you back to a moment in time and bring forth every emotion felt. And those emotions can really enhance your writing! Take some time to make a playlist with the same tone as your trying to convey with your writing, and see if the ideas come a little easier.
Exercise
Dance. Walk the dog. Go to the gym. Have sex. Whatever exercise works for you - do it! Get your metabolism going and your endorphins raised! Your mind will be a little more light and your thoughts a little more free.
Learn Something New
Maybe that writer’s block is in place because you’re writing about something you haven’t experienced yet? Keep a list of things you want to learn about and start in on that list whenever you start to get stuck. Practice a new language. Work on crocheting a new pattern. Learn what all the positions on a football team actually are and what they do. The theory (and hope) is new experiences will cause new thoughts.
Writer’s block can be tricky and it can be frustrating. The important thing to remember is not to try and rush your writing. Bad writing can be just as worthless as no writing. So the next time you have writer’s block, step back from writing, and try one of the suggestions above.
Oh, and as a last tip: Make sure you always carry a small notepad with you wherever you go. Just as easy as writer’s block forms, it can end. The only thing worse than writer’s block is having a great idea lost because you had no where to jot it down.
If you have any tips or tools to rid writer’s block, please share your methods in the comments below! We’re always looking for new ways to clear the mind and let our writing flow.
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