Writer's block is the writer's worst enemy. Often, it comes out of nowhere at the worst times. While you're trying to write, it tries to keep you from writing.
I know I've suffered from it on several occasions. Since the phenomenon isn't going to stop existing anytime soon, instead of waiting for it to go away, we must make it go away. After all, who's story is this? Yours or writer's block? So, how does one defeat writer's block? Well, there are several ways to overcome it.
Take a break
That's right. Writer's block can be eliminated by the simple task of taking a writing break. If you've been hard at it for a while, when writer's block strikes, the best strategy is sometimes just to do something else until it goes away, realizing it's not bothering you. Do something that isn't writing. After you've given yourself a couple of hours, even a whole day if you must, come back to your writing and try again. You may find that giving your brain a break gets it fueled up and ready to work again.
Read
You may be surprised to find that reading can help end writer's block, but it can and has and I'm confident it will do it again. So read. Read whatever. Just focusing for a while one someone else's writing, can help you get out of writer's block. If you read something you like, it can be a source of inspiration. For me, that would be good classic novel, poetry, or something I can relate to. Honestly, though, even reading something I don't like can help. I'll read something I think is stupid and be like 'I can do better than this," and then I go do just that. The point is just to read whatever you think will help you. But don't read looking for inspiration, let inspiration find you.
Don't procrastinate
Taking a break and procrastinating might sound similar but they are two very different things. Taking a break is giving your mind the time off that it needs while procrastinating is avoiding the writing. That doesn't end writer's block, it helps it. The more you avoid writing, the worse your writer's block can become. Sometimes it helps to force yourself to write, even when you feel like you can't.
Write something else
Working on another writing project is often a good idea because you're getting ideas out, even if it's not for your main work. If you don't have another project in the works, then just open a blank document and start writing. Don't worry about content or anything. Whatever comes out is what you need to write down. It will help get your ideas flowing.
Keep a writing schedule
Make a schedule and stick to it. Write for thirty minutes, an hour, two hours, whatever you feel is best for you and then stop. Even if you're on a roll, even in you want to finish your paragraph. Just stop writing. Take a fifteen minute break. Make some tea or coffee. Come back to your project and start writing again. Having a schedule and not overdoing yourself is a great way to beat writer's block.
Listen to music
If you're really stuck and nothing is working for you, try listening to some music. Relax your mind and let the music and lyrics do their thing. It's pretty easy. Just relax and hear the music then try writing again. Music is inspirational and can be a great help in getting over writer's block.
Get rid of distractions
You are not going to be able to write if you have a bunch of distractions around you. So, get rid of them. Yes, this means turning off your phone. The internet is also a huge distraction, so turn that off too. Time can be a distraction. If you don't feel like you have time, or you're in a hurry, it distracts you from writing. Make time to write so you don't feel pressured. If clutter distracts you, tidy up around the space you'll be writing. Getting rid of distractions is more help than it sounds like, so don't skip this one!
Do something creative
Yes, writing is creative, but when you've got writer's block, it's the hardest thing in the world to do so be creative some other way. Write poetry, compose a song, paint, draw, play around with Photoshop, create your own recipe, build something, design your own outfit. If it's creative, do it. Once you have your creative juices flowing again, go back to writing and see what a difference it made.
Glass of water technique
This is something I learned from Writer's Digest. I've never tried it so I can't exactly vouch for it, but they say it works every time, but you'll have to try it out for yourself. If all else fails, this method might be worth a shot. The idea is fill a glass of water before you go to bed and then hold it up and speak an intention to it (like "I intend to write to the best of my ability tomorrow. I will at my best and my word choice will be excellent"....."I'll resolve my story's issues in my sleep" < -- their suggestion). Something like that. Then you drink half the glass and set it on your nightstand. When you wake up, immediately drink the other half and start writing for at least an hour. They suggest trying this for three nights. It sounds a bit strange to me, but hey, if it works it works!
These are, of course, not the only ways to defeat writer's block. There are many more techniques out there, you just need to find the ones that work for you. The important thing is not to give in to writer's block. Don't let it win! Writer's block haunts every writer, so don't feel bad when you get a particularly tough case of it. It happens. You just need to know how to deal with it when it strikes. Give these methods a try. Hopefully, they will work for you, but if they don't, don't be discouraged, there are a hundred more ways out there!
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