The title of this article says it all. I grab a cup of coffee, sit down in front of my computer and out of nowhere it hits me. The dreaded feeling of emptiness, the grinding of gears as your mind desperately searches for traction, the darkness that seemingly no light can illuminate. All these emotions are what hit me, a rather common, but severe case of writers block.
At one time or another we have all had to put the creative parts of our brain to work as we have tried to write a school paper, a letter, or even an email or text message. Writers block is commonly known as the sensation you get when you go to put thoughts into words and suddenly your mind goes as blank as the page you are looking at. So in spite of this unwelcome guest, I have put together some simple strategies I use to overcome writers block.
1. Walk Away
That's right, get up and walk away from whatever you are working on. Sometimes we as writers hit a certain point where our minds are fatigued and just need a change of pace. Go for a walk, get some fresh air, or cuddle with a pet. When I take my mind off of writing it gives me a chance to recover. After all, being creative does require a good deal of energy and concentration. Usually, when I come back to my work I am able to see it with a fresh mind and usually my thoughts will again begin to flow fluently onto the page.
2. Create a Routine
Believe it or not but many famous and non-famous writers alike actually set a certain time aside to write. There are different times of day where you may feel more relaxed and therefore, formulate your ideas more clearly. Personally, I find evenings are a perfect time to write as it allows me to unwind and my thoughts to flow after a busy day.
3. Try writing strategies to come up with ideas
When trying to come up with ideas for an article, I will try methods of writing such as, writing down the first thing that comes to my mind. This exercise does not require complete sentences or proper grammar. Just simply write whatever pops into your mind as fast as you can. Another good strategy I use is going back in time and thinking about what I did earlier that day, that week, that month. Often I am surprised at the inspiration I can pull from past events and recollections.
4. Put yourself in the right atmosphere
Place yourself in an area with relaxing music, dimmed lighting, even somewhere with strangers having a side conversation. This is perhaps where the coffee shop stereotype comes from. They often include a combination of these aspects, as it just simply makes for a relaxing environment ready for creativity. Outdoors also works well as you feel the sun on your neck or hear the birds and insects chirping, creating a small level of distraction that studies have shown to fuel creativity.
5. Don't Procrastinate
As much as writers love to use the excuse that procrastination is a key aspect to good writing, it is usually not the case. Like mentioned above it is a great idea to step away from your work but don't forget to come back to it. This is where planning a time of day to write really shines. I know you need to make sure nothing new has been posted to social media in the last 5 minutes, but trust me, it will cause you to stray from your writing.
So go forth all of you writers, whether driven by inspiration or still stuck in the fog over murky waters. Writers block can be beat and hopefully my tricks can help see you through to the conclusion of your creation.
