Overcoming Writer's Block

Hello lovely writers!

I’m sure you all are very familiar with this deathly monster, one prowling around and looking for victims to claim.

What is the monster I am referring to?

It’s writer’s block.

Writer’s block is the epitome of troubles for a writer. It doesn’t even matter how long you’ve been writing. It plagues even the most experienced writers.

But how do we get through it? How to we overcome writer’s block?

If you’re wondering that, you’re in luck, because that is the subject I will be covering today.

It might not even be as hard as you think.

The first step I have for you may sound a bit crazy. But it works.

Start something new.

If you just can’t seem to write on one project, start something else.

I know.

We all probably have an overflowing collection of unfinished work and don’t need to add more to it. But it can be very helpful to write something fresh when your words have gone dry.

Sometimes, when working on a book for a while, you can get bored with it. You can lose your inspiration. You can lose your excitement about writing it. And this happens often. Most of the time, you just have to write through it. Continue to write through that book and remember it’s the first draft. All a first draft has to do is exist.

But often, when you just don’t have the will to write more in that book, you can take a break and write something new.

Switching genres is also very helpful, at least for me.

Maybe you’re writing a romance and you just can’t find the inspiration to keep writing. Try starting something else in a different genre. Action or mystery? Anything that sounds fun to write.

Getting tired of the plot you’re writing? Believe me, I’m familiar with that feeling.

Try writing something new. Write something that you have inspiration to write.

The second tip I have for you is, by far, the most simple.

Just write.

That’s as simple as it gets, folks.

Just write.

Sit down at a blank page and just think. Think of something random. Maybe an idea, a feeling, a place. Maybe you have an idea for a character. Write it all down. Just come up with something completely abstract.

Anything.

Just write.

Overcoming writer’s block involves getting back into the mood to write. You have to want to write and have the inspiration to write.

The best way to do that, is to write something completely random.

No pressure.

No storyline.

No theme to follow.

Just you, a blank page, and your random ideas.

You don’t even need a plot.

Writing in general in any sort of way is the best way to overcome writer’s block.

One thing you always lack when you have writer’s block is inspiration.

Find inspiration.

Go on Pinterest and look through writing prompts, read old writing, reread the book you're in the process of writing; all of these are ways to get inspiration.

Look around you. Think about ideas. Find ideas online.

A huge way to get inspiration is to find a short story title list on Pinterest. These are 30-day short story challenges or something like that. They're basically a list of random titles that someone has compiled together. The whole point of it is to prompt you to write.

A great way to get over writer’s block is to use one of those. You don’t even need to do the full 30 options or however many they have. Just start with one that sparks inspiration. Try writing a short story or even just an essay with that title.

I did this and actually ended up starting a full on book from the inspiration of one of the titles.

It’s very helpful.

Here’s a list of a few titles you can use if you want to do this:

1. Splat

2. Runaway

3. A Million Different Colors

4. A Big Step

5. The Cat Who Said Moo

6. Three Steps

7. Concrete

8. Paper Clips

9. Gecko

10. The Word’s Baldest Man

11. Never-ending Wallet

12. Million Dollar Marker

13. Thunderstorm

14. Pencils

15. Rain Boots

Those are 15 titles you can use if you want for inspiration. You can find tons on Pinterest also.

These are a great way to get over writer’s block.

Let's review.

What are ways we can overcome writer’s block?

1. Start something new.

2. Just write.

3. Find inspiration.

Overall, it isn’t about getting rid of the writer’s block. It’s about working through the writer’s block.

We can’t shake writer’s block without writing.

And you may think that you can just take a long break from writing.

I’ve done that.

But it never makes my writer’s block go away.

In fact, it was when I started writing again that my writer’s block actually ended.

Completely stopping your writing isn’t bad or anything. I think we can all agree that we need a break sometimes. But taking a break isn’t always what’s best for getting over writer’s block.

If you’re struggling with writing, try to write 100 words a day.

If you’re a writer, you know that 100 words is not a lot. So just try to write that.

Every day.

You don’t need to write 100 words in the book you’re writing. You don’t even need to write an actual story or piece.

Just write 100 words.

It can be an excerpt out of something you’ve made up in your mind.

Or maybe there’s a scene you’ve always wanted to write but have never had a place to put it in.

Write that.

It doesn’t have to be more than 100 words.

I find that if you set a low goal, like 100 words, and decide to just write anything, normally you get more words than 100 out of it.

If you have any questions about anything or a subject you’d like me to give my take on, message me in the contact bar below.

Happy writing!

-Jocelyn