Writing isn’t easy as it may seem. And it doesn’t get any easier when you’ve got writer’s block: That moment when an idea, a sentence, or even just a single word seems impossible to find, and you feel temporarily out of place, with little to no intentions of writing.
In fact, writer’s block isn’t even just an occasional problem for most writers. It is something that nearly everyone will experience at some point in their career journey, whether they write fiction or non-fiction, long-form articles or blog posts, published work or unpublished drafts.
But don’t let that stop you from pursuing your writing career!
Even the bestselling, most successful authors in history struggled with creative blocks from time to time, but that didn’t stop them from producing fantastic work and continuing their creative processes.
Read on for 7 creative ways to combat writer’s block so that your brilliant ideas never have to disappear into thin air again:
Write Something Today
Writer’s block can often relate to writer’s anxiety: the fear that you won’t be able to produce quality work or that you’ll never be able to create what you’re meant to write.
Anxiety can come from being unsure of your own abilities, or it can come from the pressure of “what’s next” or “what’s expected” of you.
To combat this, try writing something today. Even if it’s just a few words, it’ll help you get your brain around the idea that you’re a writer, and that you can do this thing.
Breaks are Crucial
If you’ve been writing non-stop for weeks, or even months, it’s possible you’ve gotten yourself into writer’s block. It is totally fine to give yourself a break.
And while blocks can be great places to land a great idea, they can also trap us in a cycle of repeating the same patterns repeatedly. When your writing seems stuck, it’s time to take a break. Even if it’s just for a few hours or a few days—anything that breaks the daily routine of writing will help you get back in the creative flow.
Set a Writing Goal
If you’ve been struggling to write consistently and develop new ideas, a writing goal could be exactly what you need.
Writing goals can vary greatly: they can be specific objectives like “write a 500-word blog post” or more general goals like “keep practising” or “find my writing groove”.
Whatever your goal is, make it specific enough that you can measure it and general enough that it can apply to a range of writing projects in your goals.
Find What Makes You Happy
Often, writers get lost in the “what is” of their work—the plot or characters—and forget to focus on the “why” of their work. When you’re stuck on the “how” of your writing, it can be helpful to take a step back and look at the “why” of your work.
What does your work mean to you?
What does it mean to your audience?
Finding what makes you happy can help you focus your energy on your work, and help you remember why you’re writing in the first place.
Focus on niching down to that specific thing that you will fully enjoy writing about.
Feedback is Helpful
Asking for feedback is a great way to deal with writer’s block, especially when you solicit it from others you trust.
Finding people to ask for feedback can be hard, but it can be helpful to start with your friends and work your way out from there. Start a conversation with them about your writing and ask them questions like “what is your thought on this piece?”, “what do you think I should write about next?”, or “what didn’t you understand?”
Feedback will help you create tasks, generate ideas, or even just edit your past work. This way, you are setting up your mind and getting ready for a comeback in your writing. You will have new ideas and ways in which you want to write and present your work to your audience.
Try Something New
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when you’re struggling to find your creative flow, so try something new. Whether it’s trying a different genre, a different writing style, or even a different writing process, try something new to shake up your process.
It could be as simple as buying a new pen, trying a different seat at the computer, or switching off with your friend and taking turns at the keyboard.
There’s nothing wrong with trying something new. In fact, you can enjoy doing something new to you more than what you usually do. You can find yourself being more productive if you try something totally new.
Don’t Be Afraid to Admit Defeat
While it can be tempting to “just get back to work”, it’s important to remember that writer’s block is not a death sentence for your creative process. Although it might be frustrating, take a moment to breathe and think about why you’re stuck.
It could be that you need a break, or that you just need to find fault in your process, so don’t be afraid to admit defeat. Admitting defeat will help you identify what you did wrong and how you can rectify your mistakes moving forward.
In general, whether you’re a beginner or a pro writer, it’s common to experience writer’s block. And while it can be a stressful situation, it is not a sign for you to quit your writing career. It is just one of the many challenges writers face.
It can be frustrating, but it is also another way for you to know what you need to move forward with your writing routine and progress into becoming a better writer. Assessing your writing needs is one step forward, and a sign that quitting is not the solution.
If this article is helpful to you, I picked out these related posts, so you can learn more:
Productivity 101: How to become more productive in writing
10 Traits every successful writer has
7 best practices for becoming a confident freelance writer
9 key lessons I have learnt from being a writer
The digital era of writing: What to consider when starting a blog
10 effective ways to begin your writing journey
8 common writing styles and when to use them
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