Five clever ways to beat writer’s block

Beat writer’s block with these five clever tips. Photo by Unsplash.

Looking for some help for writer’s block, fellow writers? Well, I’m your guy. In over a decade of writing, I’ve experienced more than my share of writer’s block. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — writer’s block is a real thing. And oh boy! Does it suck royally. Besides the obvious frustration that comes with the block, you can waste a lot of time not getting anything done. Which is bad news if you’re trying to write professionally. These are not pleasant things to feel with what can already be a lonely, frustrating, and often thankless occupation. (How do you know if you have a case of um, authorial constipation? Check out my previous article where I discuss a few writer’s block symptoms.)

Great news, there are some clever techniques you can develop to learn how to beat writer’s block. Most of these tips involve tricking your brain into writing when every cell inside your body is telling you you can’t. Here are the tips I use most frequently:

Acknowledge it

Sometimes we don’t want to admit we’re blocked. Our fragile writer egos won’t let us come to terms with the truth because we think it makes us appear less capable. For instance, I can’t imagine Stephen King ever having writer’s block. Based on his output, he appears to be one of those rare writers who writes with extreme confidence at all times. To this, I say stop comparing yourself to someone like him. Success such as his is rare in this community and pursuing it will only lead you to ahem, misery. My advice here is to name the thing you’re facing. Call your block out for what it is. Accept it. Only then can you start to move past it.

Lower your expectations

Sometimes the reason we’re blocked is because we’ve set the bar too high. We get frustrated when beautiful passages don’t fly fully formed from our fingers. We forget that good writing is a work in progress. Sometimes a piece will take multiple passes before it shines. Remember that writing is like sculpting. You have to start somewhere. Start with something, anything. Throw words and sentences around like mud, knowing later you can make them pretty.

Free writing

Once you’ve done the above, it’s time to get those fingers moving. Set your timer for five minutes and just write. Write about anything, even if it’s off topic. Write about your day. Write about how you’re feeling. . Write about how horrible it feels to write about writers’ block Give yourself a writing prompt for writer’s block.  You can find them readily on the web (like here) but also any old prompt will do. The point isn’t always to add to your current work in progress, it’s just to get yourself going again. Often, you’ll feel that mind/body connection come back.

Jump around

No, not physically — your downstairs neighbors will hate you for it. I mean in your story. Sometimes the reason you’re blocked is because you’re simply stuck. Your subconscious mind is figuring where to take the prose next. Does your protagonist confront the villain on the train? Or should he wait until he has the element of surprise later at the transfer station? When you feel the energy of your story fading, stop where you are. Let it breathe. Move to another part of the story. If you’re to stuck in the beginning of your story, move on to the ending. There’s no rule that says you have to write sequentially. Author Vladimir Nabokov was famous for woking on whatever part of the story interested him at that moment. Completing a section you’re excited about will give you the confidence you need to circle back later to finish the rest.

Take a break

Let’s face it, sometimes you just need to throw in the towel. When that happens, close your laptop. Go for a walk. Play with your dog. Work on a non-writing related project. Your brain needs time to reset. If you’re still feeling lousy when you get back to your desk, take the rest of the day off. Hey, we all have days where nothing seems to go right. I’m all for keeping a regular writing schedule, but sometimes you need a chance to recharge. Hopefully the writing will flow more naturally once you’ve had some time away from the screen. 

There you have it, my top five tips to help you stay productive when things go sour. With some practice and some patience you’ll be able to stop writer’s block before it ruins your day.