Writer’s block can feel like monumental problem when you’ve got it. It helps to know that it is one of the most common afflictions writers have struggled over throughout history. Songwriters, composers, and other artistic types are not immune either.
There is a great debate on what causes writer’s block, but physical illness, depression, a rocky relationship, and financial stress might have a hand in it.
In theory, anything that stresses your mind, could stall your creativity. The good news is that we can beat writer’s block if we can remove the stress or manage our response to that stress.
Here are my Top 3 Tips to Beat Writer’s Block
Find Your Moment of Zen
Cutting out distractions can help you get in the zone. If there is a time of day when you’re less likely to be disturbed, set that aside for writing. It helps if this time is during a period in which you have high energy and not after you’ve worked all day. For me, this is early in the mornings before anyone else is awake. My mind is rested and it’s quiet in my office. Find your moment of Zen.
Daydreamers Welcome
If you’re siting in front of a white screen and can’t find the right words, close your eyes. Think about what first inspired you to write the story. The characters, or the plot, or whatever it was. Now daydream yourself into that storyline. Imagine how you would respond to the situation. Let the scene play out for a bit so you can see the larger picture and get a better feel for the characters or the environment, then describe the experience in story form. When I was studying the strategy of content marketing, we learned to use something similar to understand how customers view our content. So, take a look at things from another point of view and see if that helps to open up your block.
Start with the Basics
If you’re struggling with how to start the story, or how to get the characters from point A to point B, take a deep breath and simplify the situation. The first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. Start with a basic outline. Character is unhappy in this situation. She runs away. She meets a dog. They travel together. They are chased by bad guys. And so forth. Start writing down a possible pathway for your story to flow and then add more too it as the creative juices start flowing.
Whatever you do, make sure that you keep trying. Keep giving yourself time to work and think and plan out your story, because nobody ever beat their writer’s block by avoiding their work.
Work for an hour, up to 90 minutes at a time, then take a fifteen-minute break and go for a walk to get your blood pumping and clear your thoughts. Then come back and work for another hour, writing outlines or bullet points, or whatever method you use to keep pushing forward. Write a description of the character. Write a description of the environment. Just keep forward momentum and you’ll eventually break through that block. Good luck! I know you can do it!
