- Move around. Are you sitting at a desk in the same environment all the time when you try to write? It might be that you simply need to write somewhere else. Changing your location will get you out of your comfort zone, and though it might seem counter-intuitive, that's probably what you need. When I have trouble getting words out, I'll shift to a new place. I might take a notebook with me to a café, or head to the local library. Sometimes being around other people is the inspiration I need; sometimes being around books gets me fired up to write. Of course, this will differ from person to person, so you'll probably need to experiment. Find a few things that work and use them to your advantage.
- Write by hand. If you're like most people, you write into a computer. This is to say that you type words into a blank screen, backspace, delete, edit as you go. Trust me on this: to write into a computer is a high-level skill, and if you're not a regular, daily writer, you will see better results when you write by hand. The reason is simple. Writing by hand forces you to think and compose before you physically write words. When you write directly into a computer, the natural tendency is to type whatever comes to mind, usually in an effort to fill up the frighteningly blank screen in front of you. Get back to basics and you'll find that the ideas you generate are stronger.
- Read. One of the best ways to inspire yourself to write is to read something you love. Get absorbed in the artform for a little while; immerse yourself in your own go-to book. For me, it's The Essays of E. B. White, when it comes to essays, Philosophical Investigations when it comes to academic philosophical work, and The Big Sleep when it comes to fiction and descriptive writing. Keep your favorites nearby when you write. They're a great way to keep your energy levels up.
- Get physical. Stop, slow down, relax, grab a coffee or a donut, or whatever treat takes you away. When you're suffering writer's block, it's because you're in the wrong place mentally. Get yourself to a different place with a physical activity. When I was working most intensely at the end of my degree, I went for long bicycle rides when I got stuck in the writing process. By the time I got off the bike, I was itching to get back to the books and ideas came fast and furious.
- Give up. Don't give up for good. But don't beat yourself up if you can't get an idea out. If you've tried your regular run of block-shaking exercises and nothing has worked, come back to the project later. Much like the "get physical" point above, it's about relaxing. Writer's block is a huge source of frustration, and that frustration will feed itself if you let it. Stepping back is sometimes the best way to break the cycle.
Do you have tips for breaking through Writer's Block? Share in the comments.
