I think we can all agree that, as creative types, writer’s block is the bane of our existence. We sit down, ready to turn our ideas into reality, when… nothing. No thoughts, head empty, as the saying goes. But how do we cure ourselves of this dilemma?
Luckily, while the cause of the block may vary across writers and between sessions, the cure each time is relatively simple. To beat writer’s block, one must either get in the “writing zone” (easier said than done) or find a new angle entirely. You don’t need to pick your way through a hundred-step list to figure out how to get your writing back on track, either—just five.
Keep reading to save yourself a headache the next time you go head-to-head with a blank page and a blank mind.
Tip #1: Create a Writing Ritual
Do you have a planner? Calendar? Smartphone? Scrap of paper? Stone tablet?
Whatever helps you chart out your day, use it. (If you don’t use anything, start.) Plan when you’re going to write, your goals for the day, even when and how you’ll take breaks. Whether you like reminder sticky notes, habit checklists in a paper planner, or an hourly play-by-play of your day in a spreadsheet, there’s a system that works for everyone.
However you decide to plan your writing schedule, make sure you stick to it. Write in the same place, at the same time, on a regular basis. Do you have a favorite blanket to throw over your legs as you write? Wear it! Favorite mug of tea? Drink it! Favorite music to have on in the background? You already know.
When I was outlining my current WIP, I listened to a lot of Celtic instrumental music, because it was something that was similar to what my characters might hear. Now, whenever I have that playlist going, I can’t help but think of that project; I’m suddenly itching to write about it, to work on it, because the music puts me in the right frame of mind. The music was—and is—a huge part of my ritual.
The point is, you should have something to signal to your brain, “Hello, yes, it is time to write now.” That will encourage your brain to go, “Hello, yes, I will make the words now.” And voilà! Words! Writer’s block begone.
Tip #2: Find Inspiration
All right, fellow Pinterest fiends, this one’s for you.
If you’re a writer, you should be on Pinterest. Hands down, case closed, discussion over.
Why do I care? Well for starters, Pinterest is not a social media site—it’s a search engine. However, instead of typing story-related keywords into Google and hoping something useful pops up, Pinterest brings the catered images and related articles to you. Which will make your life as a writer a heck of a lot easier. And might do away with your writer’s block altogether.
Practically, it looks like this:
I have two secret boards on Pinterest, one for my current WIP and one for the next project I want to work on. As I’m scrolling through my Pinterest feed, I might see images that make me think of my WIP, and I can save it to this secret board; Pinterest sees that I’m interested in these things, and begins supplying me with inspirational images. I begin to curate a collection of WIP-related images to which I can refer later. When “later” rolls around and I’m not feeling inspired to write, I can scroll through those pictures and return to my draft mentally reinvigorated.
(Just remember to set a timer if you’re going to scroll through images online to find inspiration; the internet is a time suck, you know?)
You can also find inspiration through music. While I write I listen to instrumental music, but if I’m driving or doing laundry or dishes I’ll turn on a different playlist—a Spotify playlist I’ve put together full of songs that remind me of specific characters or plot points I’ve drafted.
Talking to other writers can also be a fantastic source of inspiration. I love connecting with people on Twitter using the hashtag #WritingCommunity. Writing forums are also a great place to try, like the ones provided by NaNoWriMo. If you don’t know writers in real life, know that they definitely exist on the internet (that’s where you are, isn’t it?) and it won’t be hard to find some who want to talk to you. We might be hermits, but we’re hermits who love to talk about our work, and it can be really inspiring to hear what other people are doing or thinking.
Tip #3: Break It Up
Large projects can be daunting. If your goal is to write and publish a novel, then take a second to stop and appreciate how huge that project really is. There are a lot of steps involved! No matter how easy or difficult it may seem, recognize the significance of the task you’ve set before yourself.
And then… break it up into smaller bits.
Sometimes we choke ourselves up by setting loftier goals than we mean to. After all, writing a whole chapter in one sitting is a big goal. How about just a page? Okay, yes, good, you did that. How about… another page? Good, good, yes… One more page? Another? One more? One… Oh, look, you’ve finished the chapter. Well done!
Sometimes, all you can do is put one foot in front of the other, and that’s okay. If you feel like the words have dried up, just try to eke out a few more, and then stop. Well, okay, maybe a few more. Another paragraph…?
If you can’t write a chapter, write a page. If you can’t write a page, write a paragraph. If you can’t write a paragraph, write a sentence. If you can’t write a sentence, write half a sentence so you have something interesting to come back to later.
Breaking your goals up into smaller steps makes them clearer; overall it makes the project less intimidating, which makes you less likely to freeze up. That freezing? That’s called writer’s block. We’re gonna avoid that.
Of course, if you’ve already tried this and truly feel like you can’t write another word, go ahead and skip to Tip #5.
Tip #4: Try a Writing Prompt
Okay, so you’re writing something, and you’re stuck? Cool—stop writing it. Go write something else.
Sometimes we need a break from our own derailed trains of thought; we need to shake other things loose. Different writing exercises can help with that.
Try journaling. Tell the page what you ate for breakfast, why your neighbor’s new hat is so hideous, how much your friends mean to you.
Try flash fiction. Grab a prompt from the internet—they’re everywhere, just Google “writing prompt” and something’ll come up—and word vomit onto the page.
Don’t try to make it good. Don’t even try to make it interesting. If it sounds like a fourth grader wrote it, that’s fine. If it sounds like a second grader wrote it, even better. If you give yourself permission to be inexcusably bad, you also give yourself permission to be unaccountably great. Allow yourself to suck.
Write something to get the juices flowing; that’s all you’re trying to do. There’s less pressure with a writing prompt because you’re no longer writing about the subject of your hyperfocus. You’re making the words go, but freer—better.
Then grab your tea or coffee or cocoa or water, sit down with your project again, and write like you mean it.
Tip #5: Step Away
Accept the fact that you might just be burned out. And that’s okay.
Close your document. Step away from the keyboard or pen.
Take a walk. Call a friend. Draw something. Do something that uses a different part of your brain, any part other than where the writing lives.
Sometimes, our brains need a break. Give yourself some grace. If you find yourself feeling lazy or not motivated to write, that’s one thing. But if you’ve tried the ritual, finding inspiration, breaking up the project, even doing a free write, and you still have nothing… just walk away for a little while, and come back later. Taking a day off every now and again is okay—everyone needs rest.
Do you find yourself suffering from writer’s block often? What do you do when you just can’t make the words go? What tricks and methods do you have for persevering? I’d love to hear all about them—tell me in a comment! And, as always, happy writing!
