How to Deal with Writer’s Block
I’d like to start by being clear. Dealing with writer’s block is not easy. You won’t be able to read this and then suddenly never experience it again. The frustration, anger, and even guilt of experience writer’s block will still plague you. It is in fact, a key part of the creative process. Let me explain.
Firstly, it’s important to remember that bad writers don’t get writer’s block. Not really. They may struggle with something but it isn’t a full block. Writer’s who don’t care can easily get over the block by just writing any old thing, even if it’s a load of rubbish. Your writer’s block means that you care. It means you are trying to find the right thing to say and are willing to suffer until it comes rather than sacrificing your work for an easy way out.
You should think of getting writer’s block as a distilling process. Anyone who has had a friend or family member try to help out by discussing the problem knows that there are a million wrong answers. You’re trying to find the only correct answer in the infinite list of options. Writer’s block is your brain filtering through every option and trying to find the right one. You don’t know what it is, but you trust that it is out there.
Writer’s block can be frustrating, especially if you have a deadline. While anger and frustration are exactly that; frustrating. But they can be dealt with fairly easily. The feeling of guilt is harder to let go of. Often writer’s block leads to procrastination. The feeling of guilt when you’re not making obvious progress can be disheartening. But here are some of the ways I deal with getting writer’s block, dealing with guilt and ending procrastination.
1) Take a break. It sounds contradictory but sometimes taking a step back and focussing on something completely different can help you see clearly. Coming back to a project a few days later is like a fresh pair of eyes. If you can’t let it lie for a while, even a five-minute stretching break will help to clear your mind and loosen your thoughts.
2) Change location. I work from a home office and find that staring at the same four walls can really stifle my creativity. If I’m having a hard day getting something on paper, I’ll try sitting somewhere else. Even moving rooms can be a total refresh but if you have a local coffee shop or a park, a friend’s house, or library, you may find the new environment is great for inspiring new ideas.
3) Don’t be too hard on yourself. Creativity needs room to breathe. If you’re smothering yourself in guilt and negativity and anxiety, the chances are that your writer’s block won’t go away. Understand that almost everyone gets writer’s block and that it means you will eventually find the perfect thing to put. Writer’s block happens. Worrying about it won’t stop it happening but will stop you from getting past it.
4) Write! When push comes to shove, forcing yourself to sit down and write is the only way to actually get it done. I something just put “. . .” in the section where I can’t get it quite right. This way, I can easily see where I need to go back to. I then move on and keep writing. This way, I don’t let the difficult bits hold me back.
I hope these tips helped. Now stop procrastinating and get back to it!