Practical tips to help overcome writer's block.
Be it fiction or non-fiction writing, writer's block can cause a sense of utter helplessness for writer's who've been stricken by it. It's certainly not a good feeling and often results in frustration and stress. Yet, there are ways to combat this pesky setback. After all, writer's block is usually just temporary. Here are simple methods to overcome writer's block.
- Write about something else - What you write doesn't necessarily even have to make a whole lot of sense. Just punching keys without worrying too much about structure or thought can be therapeutic. Moreover, tangents and allowing one's thoughts to wander into words can help the writer sort those thoughts out.
- Write about a picture - Find a random picture, painting, drawing, etc. that interests you, whether it be from a book, magazine, internet, etc. Write a fictional scene that has something to do with that picture. If you're not much of a fiction writer, don't fret. Sometimes fiction writing can be beneficial for non-fiction writing, as it stimulates the creative juices. Even non-fiction writing has elements of creativity in it. Writer's block can be thought of as a disruption of those creative juices.
- Keep a journal - This may not work for everyone, but it's worth a try. As said before, the best way to overcome writer's block is to simply write. Journals tend to be about the person who writes in them and can spark additional ideas that pertain to other kinds of writing.
- Make an outline - Mapping out one's thoughts can help divert the writer's attention from having to juggle the ideas of whatever he or she is writing about in order to focus on the writing itself. It's an effective method that is often under-valued and under-utilized.
- Read - Perhaps the best way to get in the writing mode is to read something interesting.
- Take a break - When a writer gets blocked, the logical thing for them to do is to keep writing. While that usually works, sometimes it's better to step away from writing for a while and engage one's self in other activities. The mind doesn't stop taking in information and giving it a breather to process other experiences can actually kick-start the writer's mind.
- Establish a writing habit - Just like sleeping, a person can train his or her self to be a more effective writer by writing in the same spot and at around the same time of day. Tt does take a consistent schedule and proper discipline, but it can be effective. Some writers wear a "thinking cap" or "writer's cap" (which may be any sort of hat) when they write. The idea is that the familiarity of wearing the hat helps the person associate with writing and therefore focus on his or her writing. It may sound silly, but it does work for some people.
- Listen to non-lyrical music - This is an effective tactic for more than just dealing with writer's block. Listening to music in the background helps block out other distractions, yet makes it so that it's not so quiet that you're distracted by the silence. The problem with lyrical music is that you tend to focus too much on those lyrics. Non-lyrical music is easier to ignore, yet allows you to focus.
- Research - Sometimes writers get blocked because they don't know enough about the subject they're writing on.
- Ask others for ideas - Talk to friends or other writers about your writer's block. Even if they don't contribute good ideas, talking about it to someone else can help you organize your thoughts and even solve the problem on your own.
Different methods might work for different writers, but the main key is to not be overwhelmed. Stress doesn't help the writing process and often may even be the cause of the block. Remember that writer's block is usually a temporary thing and can be easily overcome with patience and by not forcing it.
The copyright of the article Breaking Writer's Block in Writing Techniques is owned by Phil Partington. Permission to republish Breaking Writer's Block must be granted by the author in writing.
