Let me just start this off by saying I have been staring at my computer screen trying to write this post for almost two hours. Writer's block is no joke. It always creeps up on you when you have that important paper or you have an article for Odyssey due in a few hours.
You know that feeling of just staring at a blank Word document hoping that words will just magically appear on the page? It is not fun at all, but there are some ways that you can overcome it.
1. Take a walk.
Sometimes the best thing for you to do is to clear your head, and walking is a great way to do that. It will give you a chance to take your mind off of what you are working on. Exercise is also great for the brain since it increases blood flow to the brain. Take a stroll through the park, walk to grandma's, just find a way to get out and get walking.
2. Talk to someone.
People can be great! They can help you clear your head, and you can even use them to bounce ideas off of. Venting your thoughts can help you come up with fresh ideas, and who knows, maybe they can even give you an idea that you never would have thought of. Call a friend, or knock on their door and hand them your computer with the blank Word document.
3. Read!
If you hate reading: Please move on to number four.
Something that people never really understand is that reading really makes an impact in your writing. Reading can help you pick up different writing styles and can also influence your ideas. Pick up your favorite book, and get away for a little while, but DO NOT fall asleep while you're reading. That will not end well.
4. Listen to music.
Sometimes all you need to do when you have writer's block is relax, and music is a great way to help you relax and get away from your responsibilities. Turn up the stereo, and dance around the room, just make sure you're not doing that until midnight the day before the assignment is due; trust me, I'm speaking from experience.
5. Free write!
Another great way to figure out something to write is to just write whatever comes to mind. Just write until your brain is empty, then take a look at what just happened on the page. It will probably be a huge mess but better on a page than to have all of that mess in your brain. It could even end up being gold that you can use later.
And when all else fails...
You could totally just take the your current situation and turn it into something good. If you are working on something creative, just take what you are doing at that moment and put it on paper, and maybe add some dragons to it. That is how this article became a thing, minus the dragons. Hooray for quick thinking!
