Most writer’s block isn’t really “writer’s block,” it’s often triggered by fear of success, fear of failure, and sometimes it’s procrastination.
I’m not going to get into a big discussion about what is writer’s block and if it exists.
I’m going to hop right into strategies for getting unstuck.
1. Have many projects on the go. If you have a novel, a short story, an article, and a poem that you’re working on in varying degrees, you might be feeling overwhelmed and become paralyzed. However, having so many projects is a good thing if you’re having “writer’s block.” You don’t have to work on the one project if it’s not speaking to you today, just start working on another.
2. Edit. Maybe your brain isn’t working for fresh ideas today. That’s okay. Go back and edit something you’ve already written. Editing is ongoing and is something that you can always do.
3. You may have already been writing lots of stuff today. Emails, journals, comments on social media, promotional tasks, cover letters, submission letters and packages, and so on. All those tasks count as writing as well. So even if you didn’t get words down on The Big Project, you’re likely still writing therefore you don’t have Writer’s Block.
4. You can actually skip a day writing on The Big Project and give the well time to fill again.
5. Meditate. Listen to binaural beats.
6. Exercise – go for a walk, go to the gym, go for a swim, do some chair yoga, whatever works for you.
7. Take a shower. Ah, but you laugh. However, I have some of my best ideas in the shower!
8. Read your favourite writer for a few minutes and then see if that helps inspire you. Close your eyes, open a book to a random page, and read some of it. Maybe there will be a message in that passage as well that inspires you.
9. Instead of forcing yourself to sit in the chair while you’re distracted by the dusty shelf in front of you, allow yourself to fuss and fiddle with your environment, it might be just what your brain needs to relax and find the creative plug again.
10. Write like your favourite author for a few paragraphs as an exercise to loosen you up.
11. Find a picture or photo and write about it in your chosen genre. You can write a paragraph as an exercise or maybe it will turn into a whole story. Whatever it takes to get unstuck.
12. Don’t get hyper-focused on having Writer’s Block as that will only make it worse.
13. Sometimes you will actually have Writer’s Block due to some kind of life change, illness, or trauma. Be kind to yourself. The world can wait another day or week or year for your opus.
Here are some pictures I’ve taken and one might serve as a jumping-off point for a writing exercise for you if you get stuck.
What strategies do YOU employ to combat writer’s block?