5 tips to combat writer's block

Writer’s block can put a real strain on your relationship with writing. In fact, it can be downright damaging to your time and creativity. Luckily for us, there are a number of productive ways in which writer’s block can be vanquished. Before we get into that, though, let’s talk about some of the most common causes of writer’s block and how we can address them:

Self-confidence: Self-confidence is a real killer when it comes to writing. Whether you’ve just gained your first client or managed to snag a well-paying gig, your confidence is the key to getting the job done in a professional and timely manner.

Fear: Let’s face it, putting yourself out there for the world to see is one of the hardest things that we as writers must do in order to be successful.

Perfectionism: Many people strive for perfection and never get the chance to actually do the work that they are so passionate about.

Now that we’ve narrowed down a few of the reasons why writer’s block might be preventing you from writing, it’s time to learn how to defeat it. Writer’s block is, to many writers, the equivalent to a wall. It’s impenetrable, spans as far as the eye can see in every direction, and is impossible to climb over. And while it presents itself as a timeless, impervious monster of doom, I’m going to present to you 5 ways to destroy this beast for good.

EXERCISE

That’s right: Exercise.

Sitting there in front of your computer or note pad just staring at the screen or blank page won’t do you any favors. Get up and head outside. Breathe in the fresh air and stretch out your body. Go for a walk or a run and distract yourself by living in the moment instead of obsessing over how on earth you’re going to defeat the writing block dragon.

ZERO DISTRACTIONS

Distractions are, well… distracting. In order to keep yourself from looking at that website or reading that book, remove all the things that have distracted you in the past from your work space. Turn off your cell phone, put on some music you enjoy, and concentrate on your writing. Tell friends and family members that you’re unavailable and set your timer for an hour or two.

PLAY

Yes, you read that correctly: Play. Head out with your dog or jump on your gaming console. Go spend time with friends and family and play a game with them or go to the movies. Have some fun the way that you want to; your writing will still be there when you get back!

FREEWRITE

When you can’t stick to your schedule or topic, throw everything to the wind and write whatever you want. It doesn’t even have to make sense. Pick a prompt or come up with an idea and roll with it. Use bullet points, numbers, or whatever else comes to you in the moment. This kind of writing is yours and yours alone.

BRAINSTORM

Instead of keeping everything that you want to write in your head, get it out on paper or on the computer. Use bullet points, numbers, or whatever you’re most comfortable using. Whether you type or write by hand, focus the details of your project into a list. Once you’ve written your list, you’ll be able to really see what needs to be done; it will be much easier to prioritize, thus removing the sensation of feeling overwhelmed.

#writersblock #tips #organize