Break the Blocks: Writer's Block Strategies




There are different kinds of writer's block, but it's something most of us - maybe all of us? - experience from time to time. Sometimes it's having an idea in mind, but staring at the screen unsure how to begin. A similar theme is being stuck in the middle of a project - having completed section A, knowing everything about section C, but completely lacking section B. 

Often for me, it just feels like I've turned on the faucet but the water just won't flow. 

There are a couple of different approaches to writer's block. Your success will depend on what kind of block you're dealing with and your personality. To further complicate things, what works for you one day may not work the next. 

Approach #1: Push Through


Just do it. It's like eating your brussels sprouts. Tell yourself firmly that you're just going to sit down at your desk and not get up until you have 2000 words or a completed chapter or 3 hours have passed or whatever the goal is. 

I've had mixed results with this method. Often, I break through the fog and everything is sunshine. Sometimes I just end up with junk. I get the faucet to turn on, but the water is muddy. 

Jumping to a different part of a long project can help, too. A book or long article doesn't have to be written in order. If you can't work out section B to fit between A and C, go ahead and jump to section I for a while. Working backward or randomly will often spark ideas. 

Approach #2: Do Writing Exercises

This is opening up a blank Word document or getting out a piece of paper and taking yourself back to writing classes in college (or high school or exercises that you found in a book or made up in your head or whatever). 

Freewriting is a simple and popular choice. You just sit down and start writing anything that comes to your mind. You aren't allowed to worry about spelling, grammar, word choice, or those other pesky details. You can write on any topic, but I think it helps to focus on the subject matter you are trying to tease out of yourself. 

Other exercises are more specific. If I'm having trouble with a piece of fiction, for example, I like to compose a letter from one of the characters. It gets me into the character's head and things often start flowing from there. 

I find that this approach is the most successful for me, and I often go back to it. 

Approach #3: Distract Yourself (Procrastinate)

We've all done this. I used to tell my favorite writing professor in college that I was incubating. The idea is that you get yourself involved in something else like cleaning your closet or taking a walk, and the ideas sort of subconsciously bubble to the surface. 

Apparently, this works really well for some people. It might be the physical activity that turns a crank in the brain. So definitely give it a try if you think it might help. 

Distraction has rarely worked for me as a work-generating tool. I just get involved in something else and happily forget all about what I intended to do, sometimes for a very long time. 





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