Conquering Writer's Block
Writer’s block. Every writer struggles with it. But what you
do with it is what really matters. Before we talk about solutions, though,
let’s talk about the problem.
Common causes of writer’s block
The reasons for your block may vary, but some common ones
include:
Timing: It’s simply not the right time to write. Your ideas
may need to stew a little longer before writing them down.
Fear: Many writers struggle with being afraid, with putting
their ideas (and themselves) out there for everyone to see and critique. Fear
is a major reason some writers never become writers.
Perfectionism: You want everything to be just right before
you ever put pen to paper or touch a keyboard. You try to get it perfect in
your head and never do, so you never begin. To help you through this, we
created Don’t Hit Publish. It’s a free tool that tells you if your blog post is
good enough to publish and also give you tips on how to improve it.
So how do we vanquish this enemy?
It’s a tough question to answer, and I’m afraid I don’t have
a great solution. I’ve wrestled with writer’s block on many occasions, and each
victory looked different.
That’s the thing about writing: it’s an art, not a science.
And you’ll have to approach it as such. There is no formulaic fix, no “7 Steps
to Becoming a Better Writer Now.”
Except one. But you already know what it is: Start hacking
away. Begin trying stuff. Sometimes, the quirkier, the better. The trick is to find something that works for you.
Creative solutions to writer’s block
Here are a few ideas to help you work through your creative
constipation:
·
Go for a walk.
·
Eliminate distractions (I use Ommwriter to focus
on just writing).
·
Do something to get your blood flowing. (I like
running.)
·
Play. (My personal preference is LEGOS.)
·
Change your environment.
·
Read a book.
·
Freewrite.
·
Listen to music (try classical or jazz to mix it
up).
·
Brew some coffee (my personal favorite).
·
Create a routine. Many famous writers have daily
routines to summon the Muse.
·
Spend time with someone who makes you feel good.
·
Call an old friend.
·
Brainstorm ideas in bullet points.
·
Read some inspiring quotes to get you started.
The possibilities are endless, but the movement is critical. You
need to generate momentum to get out of your funk.
Once you start heading in a direction, it’s easier to pick
up speed. And before you know it, your block will be a distant memory and
you’ll be doing what you once thought impossible. You’ll be writing.
How to not overcome writer’s block
And just for fun, here are some anti-solutions to this problem:
·
You do not overcome writer’s block by refusing
to write until you feel “inspired.”
·
You do not overcome writer’s block by wallowing
in self-pity.
·
You do not overcome writer’s block by
procrastinating or making excuses.
·
You do not overcome writer’s block by watching
TV.
·
You do not overcome writer’s block by reading
articles on how to overcome writer’s block. (Kinda shot myself in the foot
there, huh?)
·
The fail-proof solution
If you’re still not satisfied, you have one last resort, an
ace up your sleeve. The silver bullet solution. The fail-proof way to overcome
writer’s block is one you already know. In fact, you’ve been avoiding it this
whole time, because it’s precisely what you don’t want to hear.
You overcome writer’s block by writing.
Start somewhere, anywhere. Write a few lines. Say anything.
And see what happens. Don’t think about it too much or make any fancy
announcements. Just write. It doesn’t need to be eloquent or presentable; it
just needs to be written.
Write for the joy of writing. Because you cannot do it.
Don’t try to say or produce anything; just get some words on paper, now. No
excuses or justifications.
You can write. Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Just
type a few words. They don’t have to be good (all first drafts suck). It just
has to be written. Then you have something to work it. You can tweak from
there.
If you do this, you’ll get past the hump. I promise. The
difference between professional writers and amateurs is this: Both encounter
blocks, but one pushes through while the other gets paralyzed.
You can do this. Just write.
Article Reference: https://goinswriter.com/how-to-overcome-writers-block/
Image Credit: Google.
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