One of the main concerns of a writer is how to overcome writer’s block, or possibly avoid that phenomenon totally. I am a creative writer, so I am familiar with what people call writer’s block, and I can empathize, and give some tips on how to overcome it.
For this article, we will look at the definition of writer’s block, look at some proven tips on overcoming it, and possibly, share insights on what works for me too. Ready? Let’s go.
What is writer’s block?
The Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines writer’s block as “the problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc. basically some writers refer to it as being blank, like a tabula rasa, nothing comes to mind. And it’s an uncomfortable state, that most of them try not to be in, and look for ways to overcome if they find themselves in that state.
4 ways to Overcome Writer’s Block
Anyone that has experienced this phenomenon knows it is no joke, as your writing can be impeded for days to a couple of months in severe cases. So here are 4 ways to overcome writer’s block.
Develop a writing routine.
Now some of you may say, isn’t creativity supposed to be left untethered? Why do we have to make a habit of it? The truth is that creativity is a habit, and the best creativity comes from accumulation of good work habits. So, if you only wait to write when you feel creative or “get in the zone,” you are definitely bound to get stuck in the writer’s block corridor. Because, arguably, it is not every day you will feel creative or motivated to write, but if you can discipline yourself and create a routine for yourself, you will be able to conquer and overcome writer’s block.
Learn to use imperfect words.
We can generally reach a consensus that sometimes as a writer you can spend hours looking for a perfect word to capture the message you want to convey. Being stuck in the perfect word search can lead to writer’s block, and to avoid this, you should learn to use other words and simply write what you are thinking at that moment. It does not have to be perfect; you can always go back to refine it when the word comes to you. But, by-all-means-necessary, keep writing despite that missing “perfect” word.
Learn to free write.
I do this most times, and I caption it my first draft. To do this, you just start writing without regard for correctness, spelling, grammar, or punctuation. You just give it a go and write out everything in your head. After this you will find it easier to organize your writing, in terms of the direction you want it to take.
Look for the root cause.
According to a research done in the 1970’s by Clinical psychologists Jerome Singer and Michael Barrios, writer’s block often comes from a problem deeper than the simple lack of inspiration observed by many writers. And these could result from harsh self-criticism, fear of comparison to other writers, as well as lack of internal and external motivation. Or maybe you are just drained and need a break
You have got to identify the root cause first, as this is the first step towards finding a solution.
Have you experienced writers block before? Please share your best methods for overcoming it in the comments section.
