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Overcoming Writer’s Block: 10 Tips that Work

What made me write about writer’s block is the fact that I don’t have anything else in mind to write at the moment. According to Charles Bukowski, it’s better than not writing at all.

It’s not just me; it happens to every writer, and it can come anytime we least expect it. This is exactly the reason most writers eagerly start their stories with fantastic ideas only to plateau in the middle chapters. You may know how the end would turn out, but getting there is a struggle both you and your characters would have a hard time doing.

It can be very frustrating and discouraging, like getting stuck in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (shoutout to Pi!). Funny how writer’s block makes even the greatest writers go nuts.

Common Causes of Writer’s Block

Here are some of the reasons you still can’t squeeze your creative juice out:

Poor Timing– We have been told to immediately jot down ideas as they pass through mind. That’s a sound advice, but putting them into their proper form may actually take some time.

Fear of Critique– What’s your problem? Your writing is fantastic, but the only person who’s allowed to read it is yourself. You will never become an official writer without getting your ideas out to the world. Fear of being critiqued is the only block you have to destroy.

Perfectionism– If you are a perfectionist, you will neither begin nor end your work. You want everything to be just right before you consider putting your thoughts to paper. Getting things perfect in your head is a big block to start typing or writing.

Easy Tricks to Vanquishing Writer’s Block

Writing is an art that’s mastered for years. There’s no magic formula on how to quickly become a better writer. On certain occasions, writer’s block comes like a thief in the night. Winning over it varies from writer to writer.

These are a few easy tricks to cure writer’s block that I have used:

  • Go for a walk– It’s a nice trick I learned from Steve Jobs.
  • Eliminate distractions when writing I use distraction-free writing tools.
  • Get your blood flowing- Running is your new best friend.
  • Play (depends on your preferences)- DOTA, anyone?
  • Experience a new environment- Travelling gives you a new perspective of the world.
  • Read a book– Ideas may come from other people’s ideas, only altered or refined.
  • Listen to music- I sometimes write stories based on songs.
  • Brainstorm ideas- Kill them with your bullet points.
  • Freewrite- qwertyuiop asdfghjkl
  • Read inspiring quotes-

“Writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.”

–Charles Bukowski

Don’t wallow in self-pity and wait for inspiration to hit you. It’s not how you overcome writer’s block.

If all else fails, your last resort is to do the very thing that you have carefully avoided to do the whole time:

WRITE!

Yes, I wrote that in all caps.

Look, it just has to be written for you to get pass through that writer’s block.

Start somewhere, even with just a line or two, and soon words would come to fill up that blank page. It doesn’t have to sound fancy; it can even suck. Just write it, and only edit it once you’re done.

Just do it.

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About Author

A writer by day, reader, diaper-changer, monster slayer at night. She's the wife of a rock star wedding photographer and the mother of Prym, the unicorn rider. She loathes writing in the third person and terribly misses the taste of coffee in her mouth.

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