Writer’s block: that dreaded feeling when you open a fresh Word document or a blank page in your journal, and… nothing. Maybe your brain is spinning at a hundred miles a minute, or maybe your head is as empty as they come. Either way, you just can’t seem to squeeze a single word out onto the page. As a frequent victim of writer’s block, here are a few tips that help me connect my brain to the page.
DO change your medium
If you’ve been tapping away at your laptop for hours, you may find yourself zoning out. Turn off the screen for a bit and try writing your next paragraph with pencil and paper. You may find that the words flow more easily, especially if you don’t write by hand very often. Have some fun with it! Don’t forget to doodle in the margins!
DON’T stay in the same place
After staring at an empty page for a span of time, your mind begins to subconsciously associate your current location with unproductivity. Whether you’re in your bed or at a desk in the library, get up and move around. I’ve found that going outside works wonders. After a little bit of fresh air and a change of scenery, you should be writing in no time! Another location that worked for me my freshman year was, as crazy as it sounds, my closet. When I got stumped on a paper or kept getting distracted, shutting myself in my closet always seemed to do the trick.
DO re-read
When I just can’t seem to get anything new started, I’ve found that re-reading old pieces that I’ve written helps. Whether it’s an old research paper or a poem, reading through my work not only reminds me that writing something new is completely possible, but also helps me find my voice. Who knows, you may even find inspiration from something you wrote months ago!
DON’T overthink
Just start writing. Ignore any grammar mistakes, and don’t focus on choosing the best words or phrases. The most important thing is to get your ideas down on paper, and the only way to do this is to turn off the inner dialogue that is telling you, “This is stupid, stop writing, no one will ever want to read this.” Don’t worry about the end product or what your audience will think of your writing. You’ll have plenty of time to go back and edit your work after you get something down. I usually end up scrapping the first few paragraphs that I write, but just pushing through the beginning stages tends to yield awesome results.
