We all have done some writing at some point. In high school and college, you wrote essays. Some write for a living, e.g. bloggers and journalists. Regardless of the kind of writing you do or have done, you may be familiar with writer’s block. Writer’s block is a state where you are unable to write any more due to exhausting your creativity. This state is frustrating particularly if you have a deadline to beat. A good example is when you have a college essay to complete.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to overcome writer’s block. Here are some tips you can implement today.
Take a Break
You do not have to remain glued to your computer screen if you have nothing further to write. The more you stare at your screen thinking up ideas, the more stressed you become. Therefore, taking a break eliminates stress by letting you relax. Relaxing allows your mind to recharge, and in no time you will have ideas for your writing.
Taking a break also gives you a chance to get inspiration for your ideas. Think about it; what do people do on their breaks? Some people watch movies, read books or take walks. All these activities can help you gain ideas. When you watch a movie, the storyline may inspire you to include it in your writing. Reading a book means there are some ideas you may get from them. As for taking walks, you may overhear strangers talking about a topic. Of course, that topic could be an idea for your writing.
Set a Writing Schedule
Not all writing has to be done right away. For instance, a lecturer may give a student two weeks to complete an essay. Therefore, the student does not have to do it on the first day. By that point, they likely have no ideas. Scheduling a day gives you time to research ideas. Also, it allows your mind to recharge. Of course, you should be careful when scheduling. You do not want to schedule hours to your deadline.
Also, scheduling eliminates writer’s block by helping you overcome procrastination. When you procrastinate, you give up thinking. By not actively engaging your mind, you will have no ideas for your writing. Once you schedule a particular day to write, you will have no option but to do it. That means you will be able to exercise critical thinking to get ideas.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions take away your focus on writing. Sometimes it can be noise from blacksmiths working near you. Or maybe you keep receiving phone notifications that force you to pick up your phone. Rather than focus on the notifications, it will not be long before you go on X or YouTube. Sometimes, phone usage increases your stress levels (e.g. reading a sad story). When you are stressed, you will be unable to focus properly. Therefore, you can eliminate distractions by moving away from noisy places and keeping your phone at least 2 meters away from you.
Distractions can also occur while using your computer. A good example is when you have so many unnecessary tabs. Thanks to these tabs, you will occasionally find yourself clicking on them. Before you know it, you will spend a lot of time on a website. By the time you return to writing, you will be too lazy to think up ideas. Therefore, you should close them to focus. If that doesn’t work for you, you can install apps that minimize distractions e.g. StayFocusd. This app blocks distracting websites.
Try Freewriting
Freewriting is where you write your thoughts continually as they come without worrying about perfection. That means you should not spend time correcting your grammar or format at this stage. Worrying about perfection distracts your thought process. Whenever you take part in freewriting, you tap into your subconscious mind. That means freewriting uncovers unexpected ideas and insights. As a result, you become more creative this way.
Also, freewriting frees your mind. At this point, perfection is not necessary. Therefore, you will write without worrying about any judgement. As long as you are relaxed, you will be focused enough to think of ideas.
Seek Feedback From Others
Part of the reason writer’s block happens is being stuck in your own thoughts and ideas. When you are stuck with certain narratives, it becomes difficult to consider alternative approaches. However, talking to someone else enables you to gain some new perspectives. Through those new perspectives, you will have ideas to write about.
Sometimes writers need a little encouragement. Some writers lose confidence the moment they experience writer’s block. They begin to doubt whether or not they are good writers. However, positive feedback and validation from others can give you the confidence boost you need to overcome writer’s block.
Conclusion
Writer’s block is something every writer must experience at some point. You can even confirm that with famous writers like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling. Do you think it was possible for them to write 600-page novels without experiencing it? Therefore, you should not allow it to stop you from writing.
Anytime you want to give up writing due to writer’s block, remind yourself about the importance of completing your writing piece. For instance, as a student, completing your essay is necessary whether you like it or not. Without that essay, you will be unable to graduate. Hopefully, these strategies will help writers like us overcome writer’s block.
Thank you for the tips