7 Ways to Cure Writer's Block
As writers, we’re all prone to bouts of writer’s block. It can strike at any moment, and take complete control of your brain for a few tortuous minutes… or hours… or days even until it passes. But how do you break through it? It’s a common problem that has stumped even the greatest of writers for centuries. Maybe there’s a scientific answer for it? No matter the cause or severity, writer’s block is something all writers will encounter at least once in their careers. Here are 7 ways to solve that pesky problem and get back to writing again.
Don’t beat yourself up for it
As writers, we’re used to writing long and hard. So it’s easy to feel guilty, like you’re letting everyone down if you can’t write for a few days. Instead of beating yourself up, take a minute to calm down, and remember that everyone has bad days and has no right to expect perfection at all times. Even the best writers will recall stories of their worst writer’s block. If you do feel bad about it, it’s important to remember that writer’s block is a normal part of the process, and it’s not your fault. It’s just how the brain works sometimes.
Get outside, breathe and exercise
If you’re stuck indoors with a computer and nothing to do, you’re most likely going to end up with writer’s block. Getting some fresh air, taking a walk, or sitting in the garden can change your mental state. Allow all of your senses to work. What’s the air smell like? What does the sun feel like? What sounds do you hear? Not only does this help calm the mind, but it’s also a good way to let your mind free associate, so you can come up with some ideas. Exercise has been shown to boost creativity, so it’s worth a try if you really can’t work out what to write next.
Plan your day and write at the same time
You’re not only more likely to have ideas if you have a pen and paper nearby, you’re also more likely to accidentally write them down if you’re planning your day. Try and schedule time in your day to write, even if you’re not feeling inspired. Even if you schedule only allows for 15 minutes of writing. Even if you only write a paragraph or a few lines of dialogue. Try and schedule exactly the same time every day so you don’t have to think about it too much. If it becomes part of a routine, you’ll actually train your brain to know its task. Routines help the brain with focusing and motivation.
Set a deadline, then stick to it
You can always substitute the word ‘goal’ for the word deadline here. Not only does this help you to keep writing if you’re going through writer’s block, it also helps you to get better at estimating how long it takes to write. Try and set a deadline for yourself. That’s not only your deadline for your project, but also your deadline for getting writer’s block out of your system. This “deadline” could be a simple goal. “Today I want to just write one paragraph,” or, “I want to focus on how my character gets out of this predicament.” However, your deadline could be more long term, like, “I want to finish this screenplay within two months.” Side note here - if you’re like me, you never think your screenplay is really “done”, but you get the point.
Take a break and do something fun
Sometimes, you just need to step away from your work for a while. You can’t write when you’re angry or upset, so try and let it all out before you get back to work. If you don’t have a break scheduled, take a day off and let your mind off writing entirely. It might help you to think more clearly. Exercise was already mentioned, but I’ll mention it again. Walks with a significant other, friend, or pet helps a lot. Watch some stupid videos on Tik Tok and laugh. Play some video games. Whatever gets your mind clear is what you want in order to reenergize.
brainstorm your ideas or ask for help
Try and talk to other people about your writing. Consider joining a writers group, or even an online forum where you can share your work and get feedback from other writers. This can be very helpful in brainstorming new ideas. You could also have your writing looked at from an editor or script doctor. If you’re a student and are struggling, you get a tutor. If you’re a writer, you get help from someone who can help. Creative Theory Studios offers script help and we’d be glad to take a look at your script. You could also try and think about how other people would view your book or script and why they might want to read it. That’s another way to come up with new ideas.
Finally, don’t take yourself too seriously
Stress is like gasoline for writer’s block and writer’s block is more likely to occur if you treat it seriously. It’s just a phase that every writer will go through. Try and remember why you write in the first place, and remember that you’re doing something that many people don’t do. Let that remind you that you’re not doing it wrong. When you’re in a bad patch, you want to do everything you can to solve it as quickly as possible. But the more you stress about it, the worse it’ll probably get.
Conclusion
Some people will dismiss writer’s block as a sign that they’re not good enough, but that’s not true at all. All great writers have had writer’s block at some point, but they kept writing because they knew it would pass. They found ways, like the ones mentioned above, to get through that block and continue their writing. So the next time an episode of writer’s block pops up, don’t let it stop you from writing. Just know, it’s part of the process. Employ some of these tips and you’ll be on your way to completing that project.
