When you write for a living, it is inevitable that writer’s block is going to happen. When you write day in and day out, you can often lose steam and run out of ideas. Even the simplest of topics, or the topics that you have a great deal of knowledge in and should be able to write a stellar piece about in virtually no time at all can become challenging when you have a case of writer’s block. When you write for a living, this condition can be very detrimental to your income. So, what then, should you do if you experience writer’s block? Follow these top five tips to stop writer’s block and you will be up and running, composing engaging and compelling pieces, in virtually no time at all.
Walk Away: If the words in your head are becoming blurred and you really can’t seem to put together a sentence, just walk away and take a break. When your mind set gets like this, your best bet is to simply walk away from what you are writing. Take a walk, watch a bit of the boob tube, or even just take a nap. When you come back to your writing, you may find that you are refreshed and that your writing abilities are renewed.
Read: Yup, combat your writer’s block by reading. Sometimes reading the words of another writer can actually provide you with inspiration for your own writing. When you can’t seem to compose a single coherent sentence, read the coherent sentences of others. They may help you to rework the words inside your head and get over the slump or writer’s block.
Listen to Music: Pop in your favorite CD or turn on your iPod to your favorite playlist. Turn up the volume and just sit back, relax and list to the music. Just like writing, music is a form of art that uses words to express the ideas and views of the artist. The words of the music may help to inspire your writing, helping you get over your case of writer’s block.
Don’t Force It: If you are really having a hard time putting your words together on paper or on the computer to form coherent sentences, remember not to force yourself into doing so. By forcing yourself, you will likely end up with a subpar piece of writing that isn’t worthy of having your name attached to it. Relax and remember that the writer’s block will eventually go away.
Grab a Cup of Joe: Yup, if you are experiencing writer’s block, doing something as simple as drinking a cup of coffee may help you get over your slump. Coffee is a natural stimulant and it may help you add fuel to your thoughts and inspire your writing. So, turn on the coffee pot, or better yet, kill two birds with one stone and go out to grab a cup of coffee.
Exercise: When you have a case of writer’s block, the last thing you may want to do is exercise, but it may actually help increase your thought processes and get over your block. Like coffee, exercise is a stimulant and can actually help inspire your thoughts. So, get to walking, running or bike riding and you may just find that your block is over.
Thank you, Sam for the many helpful resources.
I’d like to add one more “block stopper” that works for me:
Make a mind map with pencil and paper and jot down all the thoughts that pop into your head. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the juices start flowing again!