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?
Hey Hannah,
Great post about writers block! I think everyone can relate at some degree. Your personal advice and tips are exactly what I needed to hear!
I’m so glad the post helped, Sarah! Good luck!
THANK YOU for this! I have been having some serious writers block! I’m going to try these tips! xx
So glad you found it helpful, Kristen! Let me know how it goes!
I love these tips! Every once in a while I am slammed with a case of writers block, and these are so helpful. I’ve never tried mind mapping before, that sounds so fun!
Mind mapping rocks, Samantha! I hope you like it! Thanks for reading 🙂
Great tips! The tip on getting active works the best for me. I even bring a small note pad sometimes to write down my ideas so that I don’t forget!
Great idea, Willow! I should start doing that. 🙂
This came at just the right time for me as I have a writing deadline and have been procrastinating!! Thank you for the motivation and tips! 🙂
No problem, Tabitha! Glad it came at just the right time 🙂 Good luck with your deadline!
Great tips for those who suffer from writer’s block. When I suffer from writer’s block I step away from the computer, flip through magazines or just go outside. The fresh air seems to help ignite my creativity 🙂 Thanks for a great post!
I totally agree about the fresh air! Thanks for reading! 🙂
This is an amazing post, thank you so much. Right now i’m on that phase, I appreciate very much your advices.
Good luck, Daniela! I’m sure you’ll break out of the rut soon. 🙂
Such a helpful post! I get writer’s block every once in a while and its always a struggle to break out of it. Now that I think about it, I do usually have good luck thinking up new blog stuff when I go for a run. 🙂 I’ll have to keep these in mind!
Exercise definitely helps 🙂 I think anything that takes the pressure of creating off your shoulders for a bit is what people need to focus on. Thanks for reading!
This is a great post. I hate to procrastinate on my blog posts. I usually try to make a deadline, but it is not always that easy. I write better at night when everything is quiet actually, bad habit haha.
Vibeke
I love, love, love this!
Thanks, Kayla!
Thanks for all these tips! Writer’s block can be so awful. I think mine shows its head when I worry about every sentence being 100% perfect. Free writing really helps with that.
Agreed, Nicole, I have to find a way to take that pressure off!