There is a demon I am well familiar with that preys on me and my kind, always lurking in the shadows, ready to crush creativity and massacre motivation at a moment's notice. Its attacks come with symptoms of over-checking social media and spending far too long staring at blank space, wondering why my fingers have nothing to type. Its name? Writer's block.
It is a dreaded beast to kill, but slaughtering it is necessary to free one's fingers from their paralyzed state and save one's writing from a premature death. The following are 12 devices for dealing with the dastardly demon.
1. Get up and dance.
As Caroline Bingley once said, "It is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude." Well, she meant walking (and do that, too, if you think it would help), but it doesn't matter, because the principle is the same: just do something. Let your body have a chance to exercise while your mind rests and you might return to your work having shaken off the beast.
2. Reward yourself with a snack.
Once upon a time, the way I got through math problems was via a reward system; for every problem I completed, I got one peanut M&M. The same concept can be used here. Get a snack like M&Ms, trail mix or even chips, and reward yourself one for every hundred words you write. Your hunger (or boredom) will have you eating in no time, with writer's block tamed by yummy snacks.
3. Chip away at the other homework you've been avoiding.
No matter how much you want to get your writing done first (priorities, yes?), if the writing isn't happening, switch to doing the other homework you've been putting off, or even get ahead so that it isn't hovering over you once you have your mojo back.
4. Change location.
Maybe you just need a change of scenery to inspire you. Find a cozy cafe, a gorgeous library or even a nice patch of grass to write on. Feel free to switch from café to café or even table to table as you run away.
5. Clean your room.
I know, cleaning your room sucks, but it can help. While a messy space might be a sign of creativity, there gets a point where it's just a little too much and the mess is a distraction. Getting up, making things clean, and then coming back to your now-spotless desk might be just the break you need. The demon no longer has a pile of dirty underwear to hide in.
6. Brainstorm ideas.
Even if they have nothing to do with the section you're stuck on, try to think of some things you might be able to write later. This way, you have a stockpile of things to try and write, and maybe one will be so fantastic that the beast runs away from you in fear of your greatness.
7. Research, research, research.
Are you writing about weaponry you've never used before? Or writing a period piece set in 15th century England? Take this as a chance to do some research about the weaponry or daily life. Make sure to have a note-taking medium ready for all the great ideas you'll have while getting new information. I like to watch documentaries (like this one on Machiavelli) when I'm looking for inspiration. The power of knowledge will be your defense.
8. Change your writing medium.
Speaking of having your writing medium at hand, changing yours may help. If you typically type on a computer -- or typewriter, if that's your thing -- grab a notebook and try writing out something out by hand. You might find that the words flow easier. Whatever you write, you can type it up after the block is defeated.
9. Take a shower.
Like some of the other activities on this list, shower time is a great time for thinking, or just letting your mind do its own thing. Archimedes solved the problem of King Hieron II when he was in the bath, so perhaps you'll get a eureka moment as well. Every knows water repels writing demons, right?
10. Read something.
Find something -- anything -- you want to read, and give yourself a break. Let your mind wander from the text if it wants to, and you might find the inspiration you need to write by reading the work of those who slew their demons before you.
11. Write something else.
If you're stuck on one thing, try writing something else: either another section or another story entirely. As long as you can cling to your creativity somehow, you'll have a chance to revive it for what you need to work on. Try NaNoWordSprints for prompts in April, July and November, or go here for inspiration year-round. The demon is not all-powerful. Something will get you out of its clasp.
12. Just write through it.
Sometimes you just have to accept that it's going to be a struggle and so you must work through it. No matter how difficult it might seem, no matter how much you want to push away from the computer and damn it all to Hell, there comes a point when you just have to force your fingers to type and refuse to touch the backspace button. Perfection isn't important; just getting words on the page until flow comes more naturally should be your goal. It is arduous. It is painful. But you can -- and will -- get it done. At the end of the day, you will have fought the demon and won.
I believe in you.
