How to Overcome Writer’s Block in 8 Simple Steps
If you are a creative writer, then you know the feeling. You sit down to write, and all of a sudden, your mind goes blank. It is as if the words have disappeared from the page in front of you. All you see is a blank page. This experience can be frustrating for anyone, but it can be especially hard on writers who need to maintain productivity to make a living.
Does this sound like something that has happened to you before or is happening now? If yes, don’t worry because there are ways to get back into writing mode! This post will discuss 8 steps that will help overcome writer’s block and get back into your writing groove!
What Is Writer’s Block?
Writer’s block is a common experience that can happen to anybody who writes. When you try and write, you cannot come up with the words or sentences smoothly anymore. This may be because of the writer’s insecurities about their work, or it could just be due to your mood at the time.
Writer’s block can hinder productivity and give you a feeling of discontent over your creative writing. It is important to remember that writer’s block can happen at any point in the writing process.
You may be blocked before you have even started! Writer’s block can make it difficult to start a story or article and then continue with your work once the thought of writer’s block has subsided.
It will come and go throughout one person’s entire career as an author. But there are ways to get through these dry spells when they occur. Some people perceive this as a disorder, while others see it merely as a block in mind.
No matter what it is, no one can deny that writer’s block is a very painful condition that can become hard to overcome.
What Are The Causes of Writer’s Block?
The common causes of writer’s block are different, and it varies from person to person. However, there are some very common reasons why a person may be suffering from writer’s block.
Incorrect Timing: Perhaps the writer needs to take a break from writing and focus on something else. They may have ideas that need to process a little more before they put them on paper.
Too Much Pressure: The author may feel as if there is too much pressure in their lives, resulting in writer’s block. The best thing for someone who feels this way would be taking some time off work or seeking professional help. This can also lead to depression, so they must get all the support they need.
Deadline Stress: Many people suffer from writer’s block because of stress due to deadlines or simply not knowing what type of project should come next. Stress is not a good element as it can stop your creative juices from flowing freely.
Perfectionism: If the writer feels that their writing should be perfect before they put it out there, they will experience writer’s block. They need to remember that nobody is perfect and that everyone makes mistakes.
Feeling Lost: Sometimes, the author may feel as if they are lost in a creative sense or simply don’t know where to go next with the content of their work. This can lead to them feeling frustrated with themselves or becoming overwhelmed by what already needs to be done on other projects.
These are just some basic reasons why an individual might experience his/her form of writer’s block at one point along their life journey. There are plenty more!
What Should You Not Do When You Have Writer’s Block?
- Do not beat yourself up for not being perfect at writing.
- Do not wallow in self-pity.
- Do not avoid writing altogether and wait to feel inspired.
- Do not make excuses or indulge in procrastination.
Always remember to get back into the moment. Don’t overthink what needs to be done next by rushing or forcing anything. This will only worsen an already difficult situation! Try to stay away from social media and read bestsellers to get more inspiration.
Simply put, one of the best ways to overcome writer’s block is simply moving forward with whatever comes naturally in any given moment. This way, there will always be something new happening in front of them, leading to their form of inspiration.
Now let us find out some ideas on how we can move past writer’s block.
Eight Simple Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
The list contains some of the basic and easy ways to get rid of writer’s block. However, you need to remember that the process is different for everybody. None of these ideas might work for you, or all of these might work for you.
You need to find out which way is the best for you according to your point of view and is helping you to overcome the barrier.
1. Go Out For a Walk
Take a small break from working and go somewhere where you can clear your head for a bit- even if it’s only for an hour or two. It’ll help clear up some mental space so that you might find writing easier than before when you return.
Do not force yourself to write anything when you feel like you are blocked. This can make the problem worse in certain cases. Instead, go take a walk, visit a coffee shop and come back later with fresh ideas to enhance your creative process.
Work on other things away from your computer or whatever else you use for work so that there is something new happening in front of your eyes that might spark inspiration.
2. Work On Unrelated Projects
If you feel blocked and frustrated with writing, it can be good to work on a different project for a while. This will give your brain time away from the problem of creative block. Later, when you return to working on your first task, there may be new ideas or inspiration coming through.
It might also help in the sense that if this is something unrelated. Once completed, you’ll feel even more accomplished than before as well. Try going back to what you were doing after taking some time off. You never know what could happen!
Indulge in creative writing for different blog sites, forums, templates, writing prompts, etc., or even start free writing. When you free write, you can get many new ideas that may not have occurred beforehand.
Pick up a book of some great writers like Stephen King or maybe a short story. You may also find that listening to podcasts or any other writing project can help you with your creative work.
3. Do Not Stop Writing
One thing you should never do when feeling blocked is stopping writing entirely. This will only make the block worse, and it may persist for much longer than it would if you had just taken a break.
Instead of giving up or taking a long hiatus from your work, try to at least write something. You’ll feel better knowing that you are doing something productive with your time- even if it’s not what you were originally working on.
At Squibler, we have a tool that helps especially for this called The Most Dangerous Writing Prompt Generator. If you stop typing, then all your work will be lost. It’s used by over 20,000 writers/month to overcome writer’s block.
If writer’s block strikes again, take another short break and return to your project later on down the line. Eventually, there will be a breakthrough.
4. Get Help from Your Loved Ones
Sometimes, having a loved one help you brainstorm or edit your work can be the difference between writer’s block and complete relief.
If this sounds like something that could benefit you, try asking them to read over what you’ve written so far. They can offer their thoughts on how it might be improved- even if they are not writers themselves!
Your friends or family may have some good ideas for resolving whatever holds up words from coming out of your head onto paper (or computer screen).
Worst case scenario: They might not have any constructive feedback for you but still want to support you through this rough patch. Then you will at least know that another person will always understand when the writing goes wrong.
5. Get a Good Sleep
A good night’s sleep is crucial to overcoming writer’s block. When you’re tired, it can be difficult to concentrate on anything, and your brain functions are limited. For writing to process smoothly, the body needs its rest.
After that, a person feels refreshed in mind and body when they begin work again. If it becomes clear that writer’s block will not budge right away, make sure you’ve gotten enough hours of sleep before trying this method out!
Allowing yourself time off from writing after being diligent for too long is another way many people find relief from their exasperating blocks. You might want to ask another person if they would like an opportunity to try tackling some of the story ideas or articles.
6. Build a Writing Routine
Some writers find it helpful to build a writing schedule. This ensures your mind is in the right state when you start work and can help reduce writer’s block later on. A writing routine might involve setting aside time for writing exercises each day or week.
It may begin with brainstorming sessions at home before going into an office space if that feels more productive. If all other ideas fail, take some deep breaths and try to relax by doing things like meditation, stretching exercises, or yoga poses.
Other possible remedies are getting yourself out of isolation mode (e.g., working from home) and connecting with other people who have similar goals as yours. You’ll feel better about what you’re trying to accomplish! You could also face your fears head-on by sitting down and writing for just five minutes.
If you’re still struggling with writer’s block, try to find an alternative creative outlet like painting or knitting that will allow your mind a break from the pressure of writing.
7. Engage In New Creative Writing Skills
If you’re a writer, it’s important to keep writing regularly. Writer’s block can happen if you don’t write enough and too much time goes by without practicing your craft.
You can learn some other skills so that your creative muscles stay toned. You can acquire many other creative writing skills, such as journalism, screenwriting, and children’s book authoring.
8. Keep a Journal of Creative Ideas or Brainstorm for Future Projects
If you have writer’s block because there is nothing to write about, don’t fret! You can keep a journal of all your ideas and writing tips so that they’re readily available when the time comes. It’s also important to generate new ideas by brainstorming future projects.
This will help take away any anxiety about not having anything to work on while waiting for inspiration to strike. You can read your first draft and see if any changes are required. You don’t need to go on with new ideas all the time.
Sometimes just writing anything not related to your project is enough to break the writer’s block. Write about your daily life and maintain a journal about the same. You could also write about your writer’s block and identify the root cause of this problem.
Engage in new stories and create new characters just for fun. You never know how these new creations will eventually be useful to you.
Wrapping Up
Writer’s block is not a laughing matter. It can be a crippling, frustrating experience. But don’t let that writer’s block keep you from writing. Find out interesting and effective ways to ensure that you can move forward with your project.
To become a successful author, you can use a squibler.io for getting out of your block and start writing again. This is an excellent tool that helps authors pick up their creative process.
FAQs
How Long Can a Writer’s Block Last?
It’s hard to pinpoint an exact time frame as writer’s block is a subjective experience. Some people might not have writer’s block for weeks, while others could go months without writing anything new.
How Do You Know if You Have Writer’s Block?
If you’re feeling unmotivated, uninspired, or discouraged about your work, it may be the result of writer’s block, and there are ways to overcome that!
First off, remember that everyone has good days and bad days when writing; this too shall pass. Next, take some time away from the project so that any overwhelm can subside.
Is Having a Writer’s Block Normal?
Every writer goes through bouts of feeling stuck on a project. However, it is not normal to have an extended period where you are unable to do anything. If this has been going for more than two weeks and your writing routine was once productive, then yes, the problem could be writer’s block.
How is Writer’s Block Different from Writer’s Fatigue?
Writer’s block is when you are unable to produce any words on a project. Writer’s fatigue is when your writing becomes sloppy, and you can’t complete the work at hand or start anything new because of it.
When either of these two happens, it’s time to take a break. You cannot keep on working if you are unable to produce quality work.
