Writer’s block is the bane of every author’s existence. You can be cranking out content and rocking deadlines one minute and then staring at a blank screen the next. Desperately trying to remember why you chose such an exhausting career in the first place. It is a horrible occurrence that writers go through far too often— I included, which inspired me to create this quick guide! I wish I could promise that reading this post will cure writer’s block forever, but that would be false advertising. Writer’s block is a form of burnout. And unless you are some self-aware robot, you will experience burnout again. It is part of being human. But just because I can’t eliminate writer’s block doesn’t mean I can’t be of any assistance at all. The strategies I will share with you have repeatedly helped me get through writer’s block. And I’m confident that they will help you as well! So, “How do you fix writer’s block?” you ask. The answer lies in these five simple steps.
Permit Yourself to Feel Frustrated
When we fail to accomplish a goal, we naturally feel frustrated and slightly angry with ourselves. But just because this feeling is natural doesn’t mean we immediately recognize it to be so. In truth, we get so upset because we think there is something wrong with that. This usually occurs when we set our expectations too high and feel we should never experience setbacks in our daily lives. This might be hard to admit to you; I know it was for me, but whether we like it or not, we are human. Being human means that we will make mistakes and experience the occasional bout of frustration. So don’t try to fight it. Just take a deep breath and allow the emotions to pass through you. Try lying back in a chair and wrapping your arms around you. This is called self-love. Sometimes, you are the only person who can understand exactly what you are going through. Therefore, you need to treat yourself respectfully and give yourself some love and understanding. Once you are feeling more relaxed, you can focus on giving yourself some validation. Acknowledge that you are frustrated or angry, and remind yourself that this is okay. Of course, you are feeling angry! You have your heart set on accomplishing a goal, and writer’s block (or burnout, if you prefer) prevents you from achieving this goal. But it’s alright. What you are feeling is natural, and it will pass.
Write Down What You Are Feeling in the Moment
Now that you have acknowledged your feelings start writing them down; you can use a digital note app, Microsoft Word, or even a physical journal. You don’t have to write long sentences; it isn’t a book-writing exercise. Your thoughts can be simple point-form notes that clearly describe your emotions. If you want, you can also jot down why you feel the way you are. Don’t worry about “sounding” judgemental or petty. No one is going to be seeing these notes except you. They are for your eyes only. Writing down your feelings is a great way to flush negative thoughts out of your system. Not many people do this exercise anymore because they think it is childish, but in reality, it is a normal and healthy way to deal with your frustrations. And if this exercise makes you feel silly — that is something to write down! I bet acknowledging that feeling will help make it disappear.
Am I sounding annoying yet? 😉
Take a Shower
Long hot showers may not help with your hydro (or electric) bill, but they can do wonders for your mental health! The combination of warm water and steam is the perfect remedy for easing most stresses — including writer’s block! For example, after I sit in my shower, I let small amounts of hot water flow down my back, lean against the sturdy wall and close my eyes. Creative thoughts often come to me after a few moments of completely letting go and forgetting about the outside world. Sometimes, all at once, this may sound a tad overwhelming, but my soothing surroundings keep the anxiety at bay. And I’m able to acknowledge and enjoy my new-found creative energy. If I am frank with you and me, some of the best writing ideas I have ever had come to me in the shower. You might think this is frustrating because the ideas could slip away as soon as I get out of the shower, right? This was true until I discovered waterproof journals and pens by Rite in the Rain.
These journals and their writing utensils were designed to survive all weather conditions. Professional journalists use them, and now — so do I! I keep my waterproof pad and pen on my shower ledge to be beside me throughout my entire showering experience. If a creative thought starts coming to me while I relax, I take a moment to write it down and then continue relaxing. It’s heaven! The best part about this whole arrangement is you don’t have to look at the ideas until you are ready to start writing again. The journal can stay hidden in the bathroom, out of sight, until you feel the urge to type!
Try Creative Visualization
This exercise is tons of fun. Creative visualization is usually done through guided meditation, but I like to do it differently. Try lying with your head resting comfortably on a pillow, close your eyes, and visualize your favourite cartoon character. It doesn’t matter if the character is from a film, TV show, or comic book; the only thing that matters is their appearance. If you know the characters well, you can see them clearly in your mind. Once they are fixed in your memory, start adding to the image. Add your colours, patterns, clothes, accessories or anything else! Just dress them up! This fun activity can help you see a story from a different angle.
Experiment with “Fun” Writing
Often, writer’s block occurs because you have done nothing but concentrate on writing for work. Writing may be what you love to do, but it can be exhausting when you consistently write for others and not yourself. When you write for other people, there are rules you have to follow and deadlines you have to meet. This can put a real damper on your creativity, so taking some time to write for you is essential! It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular, either. Just forget about rules and targeting a specific audience. None of that matters now. Let your imagination run wild: Use big, difficult-to-understand words; mix your tenses just because you can, or create completely unrealistic characters.