Articles about avoiding writer’s block seem to be everywhere. But how can we make sure we avoid it?
Read.
The more you read, the better your writing will become and the less likely you will suffer from writer’s block. If you like non-fiction: Goodreads is a great place for this. There, you can follow other users who share their favorite books/articles with everyone else so that users get personalized recommendations on what to read next. If you prefer fiction: Amazon’s “Customers who bought this also bought..” list is always a good place to start, especially if you write in a genre similar to one of those books (the associations made by reading something familiar might help get over your writer’s block by evoking the right emotions).
Listen to music.
Written language is made up of symbols, just like spoken language. Music is also made up of sounds that stand for something else – an emotion or feeling, for example. Listening to certain music can trigger specific feelings in you, which might help you overcome writer’s block because you will write about those feelings rather than struggle with the blank page (or empty text box). The key here is not to listen to sad songs if you’re writing happy scenes; listening should make it easier, not harder for you!
Exercise.
Exercise causes endorphins to be released into your bloodstream and makes you feel good. If you exercise while thinking about something, it’s even better – the endorphins help get rid of stress and make it easier to think clearly. This is good for getting over writer’s block because it means you’ll be more likely to get your creative juices flowing again.
Talk to yourself.
Talking out loud might seem strange and could embarrass you if anyone was around when you were doing it. Still, this approach could work in writing: talk through what kind of content you want to add into your work or script, and then, when that line or sentence appears on-screen (or in the written text), the words will feel much more natural than they would otherwise have done. Or at least… less embarrassing!
Take breaks.
Don’t spend too long working on your writing at once. You want to be able to step back from it for a bit so that you can look at it with fresh eyes later. It’s not proofreading if you keep correcting the same mistakes over and over again, right? By stepping away from the text for a little while, you’ll have time to think about what you’ve already written and consider how best to continue.
So, if you find yourself struggling with writer’s block, try one of these five methods to help get the creative juices flowing again. And always remember that practice makes perfect – the more you write, the easier it will become to overcome any hurdle standing in your way. Thank You for reading!