Writer's block is a writer's Kryptonite and everyone has experienced it. The painful experience of staring at a blank screen and willing the words to come. The frustration of having colorful ideas inside your head and having no idea how to print them in black and white letters.
Here are several tips and tricks to overcome writer's block like a pro!
1. Step away
I know, I know - it sounds a little counterintuitive. But sometimes the best thing you can do is to take a brief break from whatever you're working on and returning to it with fresh eyes later.
Take a walk, listen to music, do some cleaning.
To be clear... I don't mean procrastinate (another enemies of writers everywhere). Set yourself a task and a timeframe and when that time is up, return to writing.
2. Habit over motivation
Nothing beats the feeling of being wildly inspired and sitting down to write. The words spill out of you faster than your hands can type and it feels like flying.
But... that's best case scenario. Most of the time, writing is coming home after a long and stressful day at work and just wanting to snuggle up with a cup of tea and a book but instead you're staring at a blank page and willing words to appear.
Motivation is great but it's not always reliable. It's much better to get into a routine and disciplined headspace than wasting time for inspiration to strike- which sometimes feels more fleeting than the chances of getting hit by lightning.
3. Set realistic goals
It is all fine and well deciding that you want to write 2,000 words a day but, if it's not realistic, you're only going to end each day feeling like a failure.
Terry Pratchett famously only wrote 400 words a day which may not sound like a lot but it all adds up. Plus, if you have a lower word count goal for the day, you're likely to be less stressed about reaching it and will end up writing way more!
Sometimes the bare minimum can work wonders.
4. Change your environment
A change of scenery could be exactly what you need to spark your creativity. Whether it's a library, park, coffee shop, or even simply a different room in your house, it can be extremely helpful to writing.
I find that working in a public space helps me to be more productive. If I'm home, I'm much more likely to get distracted. I'll busy myself with snacks, music, or fall into the dreaded social media pit. In a public space, there's nothing for me to do but plug in my headphones and get to writing.
5. Collaborate
Writing can often be a very solitary experience. We hunker over our notebooks and laptops for days on end, only to look up and realise we haven't spoken to another human being in a week.
Collaborating with others can help you bounce new ideas off someone and get you out of your own head. Now more than ever, it's easy to find people with similar interests as you (even if the thought terrifies your inner introvert).
If you don't have any writing groups near you, simply look online! There are so many spaces on social media for writers to get together. You can share ideas, ask advice or share the struggles of writing.
Writer's block, while a pain in the ass, is only temporary. If you stay persistent and patient, you will get through it!
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