Writer’s block is a dreaded condition that can prevent you from getting any writing done at all. It’s no fun for anyone involved, but in this article, I’ll explain how you can recognize the signs of writer’s block and then overcome them so you can get back to doing what matters most: Writing!
Table of Contents
Recognize the Signs of Writer’s Block
Recognizing the signs of writer’s block is an important first step, but it’s not enough to get you out of it. Next, you need to understand why you’re blocked in the first place.
- You feel stuck: Writer’s block can be a symptom of another issue-like fear or anxiety-rather than something unique to writing. If your work isn’t moving forward despite your best efforts, there may be something else at play here.
- You feel like you’re not making progress: If you find yourself struggling with basic technical or logistical details like formatting, story arc, or grammar rules (or any other part of writing), then this could be due to inexperience rather than anything more complex or emotional. The good news is that these issues tend to resolve themselves as writers gain experience and become more familiar with common mistakes and pitfalls associated with their medium of choice
Reframe Your Perspective
One way to overcome writer’s block is to reframe your perspective on the problem. In other words, try to see the problem from a different angle or point of view.
For example, if you’re having difficulty writing an essay about the benefits of recycling, try rewriting it as an argumentative essay instead-perhaps you could suggest that recycling saves money and energy, so we should all do it.
Give Yourself Permission to Write Badly
When you’re trying to write something, it’s easy to get caught up in the need for perfection. You want to make sure that every sentence is right and that each paragraph flows seamlessly into the next. This can be a good thing-but only if you don’t get so caught up in this mindset that you give up on writing altogether!
Writing is a process and not a product. That means all of your writing should be considered practice, even when it feels like your best work or most important work (or both).
If you keep practicing, one day you will be able to do things like writing long-form blog posts without worrying about whether or not they sound good enough for someone else’s eyes; figure out what topics are worth talking about; and find ways of expressing yourself through writing that feels authentic, even if they aren’t perfect sentences with all the right words in them yet.
Try a prompt
Prompts can be a good way to get started and/or get out of a rut. A prompt is basically an assignment that you follow to the letter, using it as inspiration for your own story or poem. They’re often used in writing workshops, but they can also provide helpful prompts if you feel stuck:
- If you’re having trouble getting started on your project, try starting with a prompt! There are prompts for everything from poetry to flash fiction (a short story under 1,000 words).
- You might find that doing something new helps break up writer’s block. Prompts offer new challenges in terms of length and style.
- Some people like prompts because it gives them feedback on their writing-you may even find someone else who has written about the same topic before so you can see how different writers approach similar ideas.
- Try the book 5000 Writing Prompts for an endless supply.
Start with a goal, not a plan
When you’re feeling stuck, it’s tempting to think about how you’re going to overcome your writer’s block. What steps are you going to take? What resources will you use? When will those resources be available?
If only life were that simple!
Instead of focusing on the steps, focus on the end result: what do you want to accomplish? This can be as small as “I want this article” or as big as “I want my novel published.” Once your goal is set, there’s nothing left but action-and then not worrying about anything else.
Leave yourself notes and reminders
One of the best ways to overcome writer’s block is to leave yourself notes and reminders. I have several post-it notes on my keyboard that remind me of things I need to do, or books I should be reading, or ideas for future articles.
These small hints can help get your brain thinking about things in a different way and help you get unstuck from whatever problem you may be having with writing that particular piece.
Leave yourself a note to do something: If there are certain chores or errands that need completing around the house, leave yourself a note! This way all the little tasks will stay at the forefront of your mind until they are done instead of getting pushed aside when other more important things come up (which happens all too often).
This helps keep everything organized while also allowing those tasks and events to become less stressful by their mere existence being written down somewhere safe where we can see them whenever needed without worrying about losing them along with everything else happening around us each day.
Get out of your comfort zone
The first step in overcoming writer’s block is to try something new. You can do this by trying a new writing style, topic, setting, tool, or environment. There are many ways to get out of a rut and I’ve listed an important one below:
Try a new writing style. If you usually write in first person present tense from the point of view of your main character – perhaps try third person past tense from their mother’s perspective instead!
Or maybe you always use dialogue tags like “she said” and “he replied”. Try going without them for once! It’ll be difficult at first but good practice for when it’s time to publish your story or short story collection!
Also, remember that there are no rules when it comes to writing so don’t feel limited by what other people say about what makes a good story; just write whatever interests you most (and as long as no one else has claimed those ideas yet).
Take a break from social media
Social media can be a great way to connect with friends, but it can also be a source of anxiety and stress. Social media can make you feel lonely when you see other people’s lives, or it can make you feel envious of how much fun they seem to be having. If you’re struggling with overcoming writer’s block, try taking a break from social media for as long as it takes for your creative juices to start flowing again.
Meditate or take a walk to clear your mind
Meditation is a form of self-reflection and can help you to focus on one thing. Focusing on a single object or activity (like your breath) can also help you to relax, which will assist with overcoming writer’s block. Meditation can also help you feel more at peace and sleep better, which are both important factors in reducing stress levels.
When you understand what triggers writer’s block, you’ll be better able to overcome it
- Knowing your triggers can help you avoid them.
- Understanding your triggers can help you reframe your perspective on the situation and give yourself permission to write badly.
- Understanding your triggers, such as perfectionism or fear of failure, will allow you to try a prompt for a new project or even just for fun.
Concluding: How to overcome writer’s block
We hope these tips have been helpful. Writing can be a joyous and rewarding experience, but it’s also challenging. If you struggle with writer’s block, don’t be discouraged.
Instead, try using some of the approaches we’ve outlined here: identify what triggers it for you and take steps to avoid those triggers in the future; reframe your perspective on writing so that it doesn’t feel like a chore or an obligation; give yourself permission to write badly (and then revise later) or use prompts to get started; start by setting goals instead of planning out every word in advance; leave yourself notes and reminders throughout your day so they’re always within reach (even if they’re only written down on sticky notes!).
And remember: even if you don’t always feel like writing when faced with a blank page or screen, just keep trying!