How to Overcome Writer's Block | Between the Lines Editorial

Of all the writers and bloggers I work with, writer’s block is one of their main pain points. It’s one of mine, too! Writing is hard work, but it’s also an important creative outlet for many people.

Why do we get writer’s block?

Whether you’re writing a long paper for class, a report for work, the next chapter of your novel, or a blog post, writer’s block can feel inevitable. When the pressure’s on, the creative juices stop flowing and things get, well, blocked.  Fear, stress, and a lack of confidence in your knowledge and/or writing are the most common reasons you’re suffering from a block.

So, what are you supposed to do when writer’s block hits? Wait for inspiration to come to you? Not exactly.

Here are some of my favorite ways to overcome writer’s block.

1. Mind Mapping

I’ve already covered mind mapping in another blog post, but this is a great, pressure-free way to get your creative juices flowing. Just pick a word, an idea, or a question and write down whatever comes to mind. You’d be surprised at how quickly your block recedes when you jot down ideas sans judgment. Nobody’s going to see your mind map or your process, and this will help you weed out any ideas that don’t fit what you need to write about.

2. Get Active

Maybe it seems counter-intuitive to not sit in front of your computer or notebook when you’re trying to write, but I find that getting outside helps. Taking a walk, running, going for a bike ride, or playing a sport helps clear my mind. If I’m out by myself, my mind tends to wander and this has led to some great ideas! The only problem is remembering those brilliant ideas, so jot them down in your phone if you’re afraid to lose them.

3. Free Write

Take the pressure off and just write. Set a timer or a page/word count and simply write down whatever comes to mind. Stop worrying about grammar, spelling, and sounding “smart” and just get your ideas on paper! Remember, the great thing about writing is that it’s a process and there’s always another draft. You can go back and fix things up later, but you have to start somewhere.

4. Talk It Out

Find a friend, colleague, or a writing coach and talk about your ideas. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and just chat about what you want to write about! It works digitally too; even if you do this over Skypeor Facebook messenger, discussing your ideas with another person can lead to new thoughts and bursts of creativity.

5. Find Prompts

If you’re truly stuck for ideas but need to create something, I’ve got a surprise for you! I just launched a new, free ebook! It’s called Muse and it contains over 100 prompts for bloggers and authors. It has something for lifestyle, beauty, fashion, and food bloggers; it has something for fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and mystery authors; it even has something for nonfiction writers, and those prompts can also make great blog posts. If reading a book isn’t your style, you can also try a plot generator.

I hope you’ve found some of these tips helpful, and I hope you’ll download the ebook!

What are some of the ways you beat writer’s block?

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