First off, as you can probably tell from my profile picture, I’m just a college student, so I surely am not an authority on writing or claim to be an expert on how to do it. I will say, however, that I LOVE to write, and in my many moments with a keyboard or a blank sheet of paper in front of me I have found some very helpful ways to get the creative juices flowing and to break the monotony of it. The entire process and aura that writing brings is such a freeing experience, and maybe these tips could inspire people to write that script, book, poem, essay, etc. With that said, here are 14 ways that I’ve learned to break my Writer’s Block.
1. Go somewhere else
It doesn’t have to be out of your town or even outside of your house. Go into that room that has all of the exercise equipment that you never use. Sit on the floor by your bed or lay out on the couch. Get a new point of view for yourself.
2. Change what you write with/on
I’ve always preferred to type on my laptop, mostly because my handwriting is practically illegible, but every once in a while I’ll mix it up and physically write some things down.
3. Listen to music that has the tone of the scene/plot point
This one is pretty straightforward. While it might seem blatantly obvious, it does work, and it can keep you motivated if you get the atmosphere of the scene from the music.
4. Type in a different font
Different fonts can bring different emotions to words, and they mix things up in how you might see your work.
5. Look back at old photo albums/yearbooks
This might seem cheesy, but these bring up nostalgia when you see your old friends, playful birthday parties, family vacations, etc. Maybe you’ll find someone to base a character on!
6. Write your ideas in a site/program that automatically saves your work
Before I started here on Odyssey (which auto-saves), I would always use Google Docs. It lets you write out stream-of-consciousness notes and it keeps all of it as fast as you can write them!
7. Talk to people
It doesn’t matter who it is, but get to know people and listen to their stories. Ask your grandparents about their lives when they were your age or see how people from other backgrounds live their lives. This gives you future reference points for characters and could even give you your next chapter/scene!
8. Go for a run/walk
This is always on people’s lists for how to power through Writer’s Block. They say things like “fresh air” and “Vitamin D” and other worn-in phrases. They’re right!
9. Put yourself in the character's shoes.
You’ve probably heard of Method Acting, but what about Method Writing? If your character should feel claustrophobic, sit in a small space. If your character is uneasy or can’t feel comfortable, stand up when you write or sit in an unconventional way.
10. Adjust the room you’re in.
You might want to ask your parents before getting too far into your interior design, but move a few things around. Move your desk by a window, put the lamp on the other side of the tabletop, change the chair you’re sitting in, etc.
11. Watch what inspires you.
I’m an avid lover of cinematic art, and I can frequently be found in the living room or in my dorm watching a movie. Over the years, I have found a short list of movies that really get me in the mood to write a screenplay or at least get me thinking creatively. To name a few: The Social Network, Pulp Fiction, Moonrise Kingdom, There Will Be Blood, and The Ides of March.
12. Listen to those who have done it already.
After I finish a movie that I really admired and was influenced by, I’ll look online for interviews or discussion panels with the people that made the film. Many of the results will be actors or directors, but the best ones are of course the ones that created or developed the material themselves. My favorite people to listen to are Aaron Sorkin, Martin Scorsese (pictured), and Quentin Tarantino. This can, of course, work with the authors of books you love and so on.
13. Don’t use spell-check/edit until your scene/moment is over.
Going back to the point about auto-saving, it is so important to get your ideas down on something that you can look back on. I don’t know how many times I’ve lost an idea for a string of dialogue or a point I wanted to make because I went back to fix my misspelling of a word. Keep the flow going, and then look at it when you’re done.
14. Experiment with your own tricks.
Like I said in the introduction to this post, I am not a writing guru and I am not some omniscient veteran that has decades of experience. Therefore, I encourage you to find your own tricks and experiment with what works for you!
Hopefully I’ve helped you break the stigma of Writer’s Block, or maybe I have at least gotten you thinking about other potential ways to work through it. The “big picture” note of advice is just to mix things up and try new things. Fresh surroundings bring fresh mindsets, and fresh mindsets brings fresh stories. Good luck!
