How to Cure Writer's Block

If you are a writer, then the term writer’s block will be all too familiar. The Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines writer’s block as, “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.” In simpler terms, it is when a writer is unable to continue writing. The inability to write can be brought on by a variety of things such as a lack of inspiration, an unpolished plot, or a brutal critique of one’s own work.  Some people believe that encountering a writer’s block makes them a bad writer. This could not be further from the truth! Writer’s block is inevitable, it happens to the best writers. This is partly because writing is a process. Taking the extra time to really develop a story will ensure that it is at its absolute best, and who doesn’t want that? Oftentimes, you won’t wake up with great story ideas in your head. Writer’s block isn’t something that should be feared, but rather a welcomed challenge. Here are some tips and tricks that you can apply the next time you are struggling to get your pencil moving…

1. Put the pencil down/step away from your computer.

The best thing to do when you experience a writer’s block is to take a break. Trying to force a sentence to come out during a writer’s block (almost) never works. Instead, you should take a step back and focus on something else. Oftentimes, doing something relaxing will help people “recharge” if you will. Watching TV, playing video games, or hanging out with friends are some great de-stressing activities. Then, when you feel ready, go back to your piece and give it another try.

2. Look up writing prompts online. 

Google. Is. Amazing. The internet is one of the first places that people go when they need help. One of the beautiful things about the internet is that there are a plethora of websites solely dedicated to helping you overcome writer’s block. By providing you with a variety of writing prompts, these websites are inadvertently inspiring new and exciting ideas for your piece(s). This works extremely well if you are struggling to continue your plot in a story.

3. Get ideas from a friend.

Writing a story does not have to be solely individual. Keep in mind, this is not in any way encouraging plagiarism, but rather asking people for the thoughtful input. Show one of your friends/teachers/acquaintances your piece and ask them for their opinion. Quite frequently, they will give you some really good ideas for revision, and how to move forward with your piece. 

4. Get some fresh air. 

This tip kind of goes hand in hand with the first tip, but if it doesn’t then you should definitely try it out. Nature has the potential to inspire creativity, especially in writers. Seeing all of the different colors, shapes, and sizes can lead to a story writing itself. Sometimes, just getting some fresh air will put people in a much more productive mood that will ultimately eradicate their writer’s block. 

5. Write/type until your hands go numb.

Don’t think, just write. This is the sort of mentality that you should follow when you encounter a writer’s block. For this tip, setting yourself a timer tends to works well. By writing a lot without thinking, you are flooding your paper with ideas. Sure, not all of them will be good, and you definitely won’t use most of them. However, there will probably be some ideas that you will expand upon. You can choose to implement them into your own piece or create an entirely new piece based on those ideas. 

 Writer’s block is an inconvenience of the past. Following these tips and tricks will drastically reduce the chances of you experiencing a writer’s block. Unfortunately, there will probably be circumstances where these tips will not help. In those cases, it is perfectly OK to take a break from your piece. Take as long as you need. It can be a couple of hours, days, or even months. Don’t go back to your piece until you feel 100% prepared and invested. Best of luck!