Begin by Figuring Out the Cause
We personify writer’s block. We regard it as an almost-magical occurrence that shows up out of nowhere. But that’s not true. When we experience writer’s block, it comes from something. Writing paralyzes us for some reason, so we categorize it as “writer’s block.” If you want to get past this block, and prevent it from being a big issue in the future, figure out where it came from. There are four things that paralyze us writers: procrastination, fear, distractions, and perfectionism.
Procrastination
We all know what procrastination is by this point. It’s an unfortunate part of being creative. We all put off something for later. Often, this “something” is writing.
Instead of hating procrastination and trying so hard to get rid of it, embrace it. The desire to procrastinate will never go away. But you can manage it.
Try scheduling your procrastination. Take time off periodically for yourself. This rejuvenates you and prepares you better for getting back to work. Some will even find that part of them continued working while procrastinating. When they get back to writing, the words flow even faster and clearer than before.
Fear
We’ve discussed the subject of fear a few times here. In “Writing – And Living – Fearlessly,” along with “How Did I Get Into Freelance Writing?” and “Personal Branding: How I Do It.” The latter two focused on fear of failure.
Fear is a constant in the freelance writer’s career. It’s common for a majority of things, but we’re talking about writing here.
There is nothing wrong with feeling fear. While we don’t need fear holding us back from our goals, it’s a normal part of life. Feeling fear is not shameful.
It plays a role in writer’s block because sometimes we let that fear overwhelm us. In response, our creativity shuts down. We avoid writing because we are overcome by fear of doing it. Instead of letting this fear paralyze you, let it humble you.
Writing is a scary thing. Who knows if what we produce will be good enough. Or authentic enough. If it will bring an audience. If your personality will appeal to readers.
Feel that fear. Let it turn itself into humility. And let that humility motivate you as you strive for more.
Distractions
Ah, good ol’ distractions. How many times have we talked about this? We definitely discussed it here.
Distractions and writing do not mix. Whether your distraction takes the form of social media, a person, or something else, it impedes your performance. And, if it occurs often, it becomes known as writer’s block.
There’s plenty of ways to minimize distractions. Some examples are turning off all media when writing. Or having a designated writing area that is distraction-free. There are also applications that block you from accessing phone apps.
Further, schedule your writing. It’s your livelihood, so treat it as such. And if it isn’t, then consider it is. Like a job, you’d schedule time for it. Have an office or a place to go that people know is your writing area. If you are there, you are not to be disturbed.
Perfectionism
I’d venture to say that most people in creative arenas are perfectionists.
I am definitely one. I noticed it with art in my youth. I hyper-focused on a piece’s flaws; it was never good enough to finally be done. In my writing, it’s a similar thing. I’m searching for better words and ways to structure my sentences. My work would be in a constant state of editing if I didn’t get a handle on my perfectionism.
Perfectionism isn’t a bad thing, but it’s unhelpful at certain times. We stop ourselves from writing because we focus on getting the perfect wording.
A better plan is to save the perfectionism for the editing stage. When writing, just write. Get your thoughts out. It doesn’t matter what structure the sentences have. Or whether the wording sounds juvenile. The point is, you are writing.
Once you finish the piece, edit. This is when you let your perfectionism play more of a role.
Make Writing a Habit
Creativity is a fickle thing. It comes and goes as it pleases. And we must wait until inspiration strikes before we write anything.
That is problematic thinking.
If we spend our time waiting until creativity strikes to write, we will always deal with writer’s block.
Make writing part of your daily schedule. According to the developer of the Pomodoro Technique, we are most productive in 25-minutes blocks. Schedule at least one (preferably more) of these blocks every day.
During your scheduled block, just write. Don’t worry about the cohesiveness. Don’t stress about the punctuation.
Write.
That’s your only task.
Reduce Your Expectations
We all hope that our writing is always at its peak. But, that’s not the reality.
Some days, our writing will not be up to snuff.
That’s okay, though. Even when our writing is not where we’d like it, it must be done. Every time you sit down, do so without expecting magnificence. Focus on finishing the task.
Embrace your flaws. Use filler words so you get your thoughts out. Use simple language so you continue your sentences. Take care of that later when you edit.
Write a Different Section
Let’s say you sat down to start writing a new blog post. But, you have writer’s block. You can’t think of how to start the post. The title is there. And you’ve got a basic plan for the outline. The actual introduction doesn’t come to you. You sit there, staring at the blank page, and can’t get even a first word down.
I’ve had this problem, myself. I get stuck being unable to decide whether I start a post off with an “A” or a “The.”
If you have a similar issue, try writing a different part. Write the next paragraph, for instance. Even the next headline or chapter. The point is, you skip the area hanging you up. You still continue writing, though.
This puts you in a creative mindset. In turn, you’ll think of how to write up that section you were struggling with before.
Read, and Read Some More
I know, I know: you’re trying to write. You don’t need to read.
But hear me out.
As writers, we must be avid readers. It is an endless source of learning for us. We learn new techniques and new writing skills. We see what works and what doesn’t. No one is capable of being an amazing writer without being a reader.
With writer’s block, reading provides us inspiration. It puts us in the right mindset to write our own words, while also giving us a break from staring at a blank page. As we read, we forget about our insecurities and find the motivation we need.
Reading is helpful to the process, not procrastination. Procrastination is filling your time with an unrelated task. Reading is not unrelated. It’s a strategy for ridding yourself of writer’s block.
Change Your Scenery
Creating a space free of distractions helps with writing. But this space sometimes suffocates our creativity. There is only so much time we can take staring at the same spot outside the same window.
When you find yourself stuck, try changing your scenery. Go to a coffee or tea shop for writing. Or rent a small cabin to get away. Sometimes, even simple changes make a difference, such as moving from your desk to a couch in your office.
Changing your environment breathes fresh air into you. In turn, it fuels your creativity. This is because moving locations gives you a break, without stalling your writing.
You can also try taking a full break from writing when you get stuck. Do some household chores, instead. Or any non-writing activity that lets you focus your mind and complete a task.
Give Freewriting a Shot
For 10 to 20 minutes, write whatever comes to mind. Don’t go back to correct grammar or spelling. Let your writing flow out of you without overthinking. This is freewriting. And it’s a useful tool when you are stuck.
Freewriting helps because it organizes your thoughts and gets you writing.
Having a prompt helps, especially if you are new to freewriting, but it’s not required. With freewriting, it doesn’t matter if it’s related to your work. It doesn’t matter if it’s edited for the public. And it doesn’t matter if it is coherent or not.
Banishing Writer’s Block
We all wish we could banish writer’s block for good. Unfortunately, we can’t. Managing it is the best option. Several of the above tips have worked wonders for me. And for plenty of others.
Granted, they work as long as you commit. With the example I gave of my book, I stopped trying. No amount of tips and tricks would help with that writer’s block, because I’m not putting in the effort. The same is true of whatever you are writing. Commit to getting rid of writer’s block and, trust me, you will succeed.
Does anyone have other tips that helped with their writer’s block? I’d love to hear them. So would everyone else struggling with this annoying guest.