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Overcome Writer's Block

When it comes to writing one thing is certain—writer's block is a reality. Even for someone who writes for a living, at times writing can seem like losing a wrestling match against words and ideas.

Some of the most famous and prolific writers in history have experienced writer's block, but writer's block can be overcome, and often in a very short time. This article will give you several ways to jumpstart your writing when the words won't flow, but first let's look at some common causes.

While there are many causes and cures, listed below are some common reasons writers get stuck. If you want to skip straight to the cures click here, but understanding the cause(s) can sometimes help break the spell.

Reasons Writers Get Stuck

Not Letting an Idea Simmer and Stew Long Enough

When an idea strikes, the immediate urge is to sit down and capture it on paper. I work that way. However, sometimes rushing to write before an idea has cooked enough can actually hinder the process. Sometimes we have to step back and let an idea simmer and stew. Some things need to slow cook.

No Outline

Many writers feel that having no outline dooms the writing from the beginning. Even if it's just a few lines, or a temporary table of contents like I use most of the time, an outline is essential for most writers. If you don't map a path to your target, you may find yourself lost and wandering aimlessly in a maze of words.

Too Many Distractions

This one is pretty easy to figure out—just look around. Are the kids screaming? Is the neighbor's dog barking incessantly? Does the phone keep ringing? Do you have things that need to be done that you've put off but keep thinking about?

Perhaps you need a quieter place to work—or need earplugs—before you can concentrate. Or perhaps you need to take care of unfinished business before you can concentrate on writing. Whatever it is, do it so you can get going.

Boredom

If the subject truly bores you to the point where it's difficult to write about, consider changing topics. If it bores you, think of what your words may do to your intended audience. You don't want to bore them, or they'll likely never read anything you write again. Sometimes it's okay to just scrap an idea and start an entirely different project.

Sporadic Writing Habits

Ideally, you should write most every day—even if you end up deleting everything you write.

Writing is serious business. Waiting for the inspiration to write is a surefire way to never finish your project. Take your mission seriously and work, at least a little each day, even when you don't feel like it.

If you can't write nearly every day, at least work out a writing schedule you can follow and do your best to stick with it. The more often you do work, the easier it will be for you because you'll stay more attuned to the process and project.

Sick and Tired

One problem part-time writers have is that many of them work a job where they sit in front of a computer all day, so by the time they're off work they're tired of sitting at a computer.

If that's your situation, try going to bed earlier and getting up an hour or two earlier and write before you go to work. Be sure to get enough rest though, as being physically fatigued can also mean mental fatigue, which, of course, makes it harder to write.

Or you can write the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper in comfortable surroundings. Perhaps you have a sun room or a porch swing, or a nearby park or quiet cafe may be nice—anywhere you feel relaxed and comfortable could be good for your creativity and production.

Fear of Criticism

As writers, we pour a part of ourselves into our work. Criticism can sting! Remember, you can't please everyone. No matter what you write there will be people who don't see things the way you do.

It's enough to please yourself when you write. If you can do that, there will be others who will like what you've written—but not everyone. Not everyone likes Poe, Twain, Shakespeare, Emerson, Thoreau, or any other writer—even me!

A few years back I added a new humor page to one of my sites. The first email I received about it was from a guy telling me I should stick to graphics because I wasn't funny. The very next email was from a woman who said it was the funniest thing she'd ever read. Go figure.

There will always be those who don't like what you write and aren't shy about telling you so. Smile, you're in good company.

Depression

Depression can negatively affect the creative processes. If you've recently lost a loved one, if someone close to you is hurt or sick, or if you've suffered any other significant emotional or material loss or setback, you may need to finish dealing with that before you can get back to writing.

On the other hand, writing can be a healing way to deal with setbacks and losses. If you can't write within your project topic, maybe writing a private letter to yourself will put your healing on the right path.

Natural Rhythm

Some writers are very prolific and can write at any time. Others may have a natural rhythm, and you may not be in your rhythm cycle. That doesn't mean you can't write when you're not in your cycle, it just means you may have to learn to stimulate it or simulate it.

That means paying attention to what's going on when you can write and when you can't. Chances are you can identify one or more things that help you to write, and one or more that make it more difficult.

A few things to consider:

• location
• time of day
• background sounds
• mood
• energy level

You Have a Case of the Impostor Syndrome

Sometimes people feel that, because they aren't a published writer, they are an impostor for trying. They may think this consciously or on a subconscious level.

If you're on your first writing project, especially if you expect to be paid for your words, it's a very easy trap to fall into. Trust me on this—you're not faking it. If you're writing, you're a writer. If it's published, you're a published writer. If you earn money from it, you're a paid writer. Everyone starts off the same, as an unpublished writer—not as an unpublished faker.

Lack of Understanding of the Writing Process

Some people feel that writing is a gift that can only be used when the gift allows. When they can't write, they wait for their mojo to return. Others may seem to have a more natural ability to write, a gift if you want to call it that, but writing is also an exercise in discipline and perseverance. You don't have to wait until your mojo says, “go Joe,” you can learn to write when you're not inspired by practicing the upcoming tips for breaking writer's block.

How to Break Writer's Block

The Gibberish Factor

This is one that I first published in my newsletter years ago...

On the occasions when I do have a hard time getting started, I can often break the ice by just typing whatever words pop into my head. I might write a paragraph or two of complete gibberish. The very act of writing loosens up the creativity and I soon find myself ready to go for real.

An unexpected side benefit is that sometimes the gibberish can inspire real content. One of my most popular ezine articles came about as a result of being stuck and just typing whatever words popped into my head.

If you need a more distinguished way to refer to it, it's also called "free writing" by many. Being the cartoon that I am, I prefer calling it the Gibberish Factor because it's completely unstructured, and hence, more freeing than free writing.

Still not clear on how to write gibberish? I'm going to include a quick paragraph below of the first thoughts that pop into my head. I promise I will not change or correct anything—not even the typos.

The first thing I thought is that you'll read this and think I'm an idiot because it doesn't make sense. I don't care and that thinking is too structured. I should be telling you I like ice craem…too much! My dog burps liek a human, it's retarded. When we put a sock on her nose she runs around shaking her head and it look like an elephoant waving its trunk. Too bad she couldn't go ??? – dang, how do you write a noise like the sound an elephant makes/ toot toot!
See? That paragraph is random nonsense. Typing mistakes, incorrect punctuation, and poor grammar are all a part of it. All that doesn't matter one bit. It's just an exercise to get into a writing flow.

It also gave me an idea I used as a homily in my newsletter. I wrote about some of my dog's goofy traits—and were were many to choose from! You've just witnessed one of the side benefits of the Gibberish Factor in action!

What Color is Your Wall?

Simply writing gibberish to get your creativity flowing is hard for some people. If you're one of them, try picking out something in the room and start writing about it.

It might be the color of the wall, the dog or cat, a song you're listening to; or look outside and describe the scene outside your window—it really doesn't matter what you write about as long as you start writing about something, anything, and it doesn't have to be beautiful prose.

Writing about an object or writing gibberish are simply exercises to start the flow of creativity. When you're looking at a blank computer screen or blank sheet of paper, it likes to stare back at you like a child doing the nyah-nyah-nyah thing. It may even taunt you, saying you have nothing to write about. That's your inner critic. We all have one. Mine is a blue troll with white hair.

Tell your inner critic to go fry an egg while you start to writing down whatever comes to mind. When the fingers start typing, the brain usually follows and your little troll goes into hiding. Once that happens, you can switch to writing your real content.

TIP: Never let the inner critic run loose during the writing process. The critic is an idiot when it comes to creativity.

Dear Diary

If writing gibberish or about an object isn't your cup of alphabet soup, try keeping a journal. Whatever your mood, you can always write something about what happened that day, what you did, who you saw, how you felt, where you went, and so forth.

A side benefit is that you may learn a little more about yourself. You may recognize strengths you can put to work in areas of life where you're not using them fully. You may find weaknesses you can improve upon. You may find any number of things that will help you grow as a person.

In case you don't know this, oftentimes, the more we grow as a person, the better we write. And if none of those things happen, you started writing. Once you realize that, switch to writing on topic.

Review and Renew

When I'm stuck, one quick practice that gets me going is to start rereading my research material or what I've already written. This exercise stimulates a lot of thought avenues, including new thoughts. It's one of my favorite tactics.

I simply write those new thoughts down and before I realize it, I've written hundreds of words.

When I do this, sometimes it's not new thoughts that get me going, but I see items to expand on that need more discussion. Or, I may see a better way to express something I've already written.

Either way, it's all good—I'm either writing new material or making already written material better.

Make a Paper Storm

Draw a cloud in the middle of a sheet of paper and put your main topic in the center of the cloud. Next, make a bolt of lightning come out from the cloud. At the end of the lightning bolt draw a little energy explosion and write a thought about your main topic inside it.

Keep doing this until you've created a super storm. You should have plenty of "idea flashes" to work with by then.

If lightning isn't excite-ning for you, use raindrops and puddles instead. If you think that idea is all wet, try making the ground your main topic and have flowers hold your thoughts and call it idea gardening.

Idea gardening—hey, that's a cool term. Maybe that will be my next ebook. Don't steal that from me!

This brainstorming exercise stimulates thought processes through idea clustering. It also works great for creating an outline or table of contents.

It can also be a group exercise. Brainstorming is traditionally a group activity.

Rock On

Play some favorite music. The ebb and flow of the music can carry you from your analytical nature into your creative nature where you want to be when you're writing.

Writing often has a rhythm to it, too, and the rhythm of the music can help you find a writing rhythm.

Be careful about the music you choose though. Positive music that lifts up the human spirit is good for writing; but music filled with dark, depressing, or evil thoughts can do more harm than good.

Instrumentals are the safest bet because there are no opinions or preconceived ideas to affect your frame of mind, only the music.

Under Interrogation

Asking yourself questions is an old writing trick to get the juices flowing. There are the traditional questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why?

And there are other discovery questions:

• What's the purpose?
• What does this mean?
• How does this work?
• What if someone did that?
• Where will this lead?
• How can I build upon this idea?
• Who can I contact to find this answer?
• What's the motivation behind this?
• How could this be better?

Asking yourself questions helps narrow your focus from a big picture down to specifics, which can lead to a starting point to begin writing. Even if not, it may give you new angles to research that could make your project more complete.

TIP: The better the questions you ask yourself, the better your project will be in the end.

A Walk in the Park

It's a scientifically proven fact that exercise stimulates thought.

It needn't be strenuous exercise, going for a brisk walk or a bike ride can do the trick. I'm almost 70 and I ride about 10 miles a day, weather permitting. Take a notebook with you. All the fresh blood pumping to your brain will give you ideas.

As Raymond Inmon once wrote, "If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk." I'm betting that applies to women, too!

Shake Off the Days Dust

If you have a day job and will be writing in your spare time, take some time to relax after work. Have supper with the family, play with the kids, read a little, take the dog for a walk—do something to shake the day's dust off before you try writing.

To go from one job right to another can be stressful enough to dampen the creativity of even the best writers, even if the second job (your writing) is your choice and something that excites you.

It doesn't have to be hours, just enough time to refresh your mental and emotional resources.

Back to School

Study your subject more. It could be that what seems like writer's block is, in reality, a lack of understanding of the subject matter.

Go back over your notes, do some more research, interview an expert, ask questions—do whatever you need to do to get a better understanding of your subject matter.

Let me make one thing clear in case you missed it elsewhere—research involves looking for IDEAS, not stealing someone's content. Ideas are free to take, words are not. Thank you very much!

Girls (and Boys) Just Want to Have Fun

Feed your creative or playful side:

• Play a game
• Draw a picture or cartoon
• Color in a coloring book
• Read a joke book
• Do a Crossword or Sudoku puzzle
• Paint a paint-by-numbers kit
• Make up funny sounding words and give them a definition
• Surf art sites on the web
• Pick a random word and find how many words you can create from it

Do whatever it takes to wake up the creative side of your brain. It's good for your bindlesnark and can wake up your feezledurp.

Hold On Loosely

Don't force it . . . if the words just won't come for a certain project, just let go of it for a little while. We always want to see our projects take shape and worked through to completion, but sometimes we need to remember that there is no deadline other than our own (assuming you're not a working writer with employer imposed deadlines).

It's your project, managed under your timeline. No one is standing over your shoulder monitoring your progress and beating you up over any lack of progress—except maybe yourself.

Let go of it for a while if you have to, you can come back to it one day. In the meantime, start something else, don't let your writing aspirations wither and die.

Some writers say to finish writing everything you start so you don't make a habit of quitting. I agree in principle, but some ideas just don't work out. If the horse is dead, get off the darn thing. There is no sin in abandoning a dead project. However, if you routinely abandon writing projects, you may need to check your dedication.

Instant Karma

This is my favorite writer's block busting method because it's so deceptively simple it's almost laughable. Don't laugh though, because it works like a charm.

Just complete this easy three-step exercise:

• Write one word about your subject.
• Use that word in a sentence.
• Use that sentence in a paragraph.

If you've done that, you've started writing, and on topic, too. It may not be great, but don't fix it now. Repeat the process and keep writing. Your writer's block is broken.

My Kingdom for a Segue

Be flexible. Sometimes we're not blocked creatively, we only think we are. Instead, it's something we've written that is causing problems because it doesn't lead us into the next thought.

If you're stuck at a specific point, review the preceding paragraph or two and try determining if what you've already written is what has stoned you. If so, consider rewriting it.

An Imaginary Friend

Instead of writing to your computer screen or notebook, write as though you're telling a friend something in person. Just write down what you would say aloud if your friend was sitting there with you. Sometimes the personal approach can tear down the walls of blockage.

You can even imagine the friend asking you questions and you answering them. Your friend can be someone you know and respect, someone you wish you knew, someone completely imaginary, or even your higher self.

This can also be a great way to get new ideas to write about within your topic. You should pick a friend that will ask intelligent questions though. Having your wacky uncle Goofus ask you what color blue is probably won't do a lot toward breaking writer's block, but then again…

Reflect and Disconnect

Disconnect from your ego. If you fear what others will think of your writing, that's your ego talking to you. Disconnect. Write like you're writing an instruction manual for yourself so that you have one place to look up the information you need. Remember, no one has to see what you produce until you're ready to show it.

The Rites of Passage

Develop a writing ritual. Once established, a writing ritual can transition your thought processes from your everyday life into a writing frame of mind whenever you sit down to work.

It can be a single act or a combination of things, such as:

• Getting your favorite pen and a beverage.
• Do breathing exercises or stretching exercises.
• Closing your eyes and visualize yourself writing.
• Write and recite your own mantra or meditate for a few minutes.
• Put on your favorite comfy old clothes.
• Pet the dog or cat for good luck.
• Walk around the block.
• Kiss and hug your children, remind yourself it's for them, too.
• Or, just send me a dollar before you write. This one works great!

Stand on your head, call yourself Fred, dye your hair red, just don't go to bed and wake up dead! In other words, your ritual can be anything you choose as long as it works for you.

Reverse Engineering

Write a one-sentence idea about your product on paper with your dominant hand. Then write a paragraph about it with your other hand.

So, if you're right-handed, write out the sentence with your right hand and the paragraph with your left hand. A very wise lady told me this gives your brain permission to think outside the box, which happens to be exactly where good old creativity hangs out when you're not looking.

Choose Better Subjects

Wouldn't it be great if every writer could choose to write only about subjects they enjoy?

Unfortunately, not all writing projects are exciting and involve subjects that we love. In fact, many are flat out boring. That's a real problem . . . if you work for someone else!

However, when writing for yourself, you DO have your choice of subjects. One of the most helpful things you can ever do to overcome the struggle to write is to choose topics you are passionate about.

Think about it—you're at the dinner table, or you have friends over…what do you talk about? What gets you excited? What is it that you naturally start raising your voice in exuberance to share? What is it that gets you up out of your seat to elaborate on?

When you're struggling, write about what you enjoy. It would be hard for me personally to write about Hollywood and celebrities. I have absolutely no interest in the subject and no desire to learn more.

But, I could write about life all day long! Words naturally flow when you are passionate about a subject.

Rediscover Your Excellence

There are times when I get frustrated with writing and I think, "I'm getting nowhere. What do I do?"

Now, I can remind myself that my publisher told me my book was one of their best-selling books. Now, I can remind myself that I have fans all around the world, and they call themselves fans when they write to me, it's not a term I applied to them in a stroke of vanity. I didn't always have that positive history to fall back on.

You may not have that kind of history to fall back on either. I did believe in myself, and you have to believe yourself, too. If others can do it, why not you? The answer to that is . . . yes, you CAN do this, too!

I believe most people can be writers. It's not rocket science. If you just write like you're talking to a friend you'll probably be able to write well enough. If the grammar and punctuation are off, someone else can fix that for you.

However, there will likely be times during your writing career when you will find yourself second guessing your abilities. When this happens, one of the easiest confidence boosters you can get it so go back and read a few favorite pieces you've written in the past.

I don't say this to brag, but sometimes when I read some of my older work I'm amazed by some of the things I've written but have forgotten—and that's all it takes to regain any lost confidence

So, in times of doubt, recapture your confidence by reading some of your best works . . . and there's nothing wrong with reading it and thinking to yourself, "Hey, that's really good!" If you don't believe in yourself, no one can do it for you. Remember, you are the only you there is, a singularly unique creation in the entire universe. Celebrate you!

Rest Your Mind

Just as the body becomes exhausted after physical exertion, the mind can become fatigued from mental exertion. Sometimes we don't really have writer's block; we just need to recharge our batteries.

I'm not talking about over-extending yourself one day and just needed a good night's sleep, although that can happen too. I'm referring to burning yourself out by working day after day for weeks, or months, with no days off. I've been known to do that to myself, and the cure is simply to take several days or even a few weeks off.

Rest is needed. Allow your mind time to be renewed with enthusiasm and desire. Allow your spirit some time to be reanimated with energy and strength of will. It can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes getting past writer's block is just a matter of slowing down and taking several days to simply enjoy life . . . or to enjoy a simple life.

Use Quotations

A proven way to succeed in writing when ideas don't come easily is to use quotations. Finding a good quote related to your subject matter always adds interest and can easily give you a new angle to start writing about.

Quotes are nothing but inspiration for the uninspired.
– Richard Kemph
With all due respect to Mr. Kemph, I would argue that quotations are almost holy and sacred precisely because they can inspire the uninspired, and they can enlighten the unenlightened, and soothe the troubled soul as well.

They can also give you new ideas to write about.

Michel De Montaigne was one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance. He is well known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre, and for his effortless ability to merge serious intellectual discourse with casual anecdotes. This makes him very quotable, and he is quoted often, but even he said, "I quote others only in order the better to express myself."

Trust me, quotations can get you going when you're stuck, and a carefully chosen quotation or two can make your writing even more interesting.

By the way, did you notice I used two quotations in this tip? I'll just let you think about that.

Try Four Play

No, not that! Different spelling. This is a surefire cure for your writer's block. Suppose you're writing an ebook.

1. Step One: Write out a list of everything you want to share in your ebook (or whatever your writing project is). That's right, just start making a list of everything you want to cover. It will probably be a really big list when you're finished.
2. Step Two: Now, for each item on your list write down everything you can think of about it. Explain each idea thoroughly. Share research, examples, case studies, quotes, tips, resources—everything you can come up with for each item.
3. Step Three: Now organize your thoughts. Take everything and put it into a logical order. If it's a tutorial, organize it chronologically in order of which steps come first. If it's a "tips" ebook, categorize the tips. Put things in a logical order.
4. Step Four: Now go back to each section and edit them. Take out what doesn't need to be there. Add more content to the sections that need further explanation. Write the "word bridges" that create flow between the various content pieces.

Congratulations. You just wrote an ebook in four steps.

If none of those tactics work for you…

It's possible that none of these suggestions will work for you. If that's how it is for you, invent your own cure. There is no one-size-fits-all cure for writer's block.

If putting pudding in your ear breaks your writer's block, then go buy a lot of pudding . . . and a box of Q-Tips! There are no rules so don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques. Mix and match the suggestions above. Add your own twist to them. Or invent something entirely new.

Something will work for you; it's just a matter of persevering until you discover what it is.

What Not to Do

Don't Beat Yourself Up

You sit down to write, but the words won't come. It happens to everyone. Don't call yourself names, belittle what you've done or magnify what you haven't done.

Don't think of yourself negatively in any way because you aren't producing or aren't getting good results. Just don't.

There is no reason to cast blame on yourself and torture your soul. It won't make things better, and may make it worse. It's inappropriate anyway. It's nothing more than misplaced frustration. Be kind to yourself.

Don't Give Up Your Dream

Step back for a while if you must, but don't you abandon your hopes and dreams. It could be that the timing just isn't right at the moment. Perhaps you have another life lesson or two to learn before you transition into a paid writer (if that's your goal). Of course, as I mentioned earlier, don't be afraid to get off of a dead horse either. But if you're killing too many horses consider that you might be giving up too easily.

Don't Create Artificial Pressure

Demanding of yourself that you must write 500 words today, or must finish your project by a fixed date, only adds to the problem if you have writer's block. Instead, you can work up TO a certain time or for a scheduled time period, but don't pre-determine how much should be done by the end of that time. Avoiding those kind of absolutes will lessen the pressure you feel.

You'll reach 500 words when you get there, and the piece will be finished when it's finished.

Don't Demand Perfection from Pain

The temptation is to want to make the project that vexed us for so long so utterly brilliant that it makes all the trouble vanish in the face of perfection. It's never going to be perfect—anything you write can always be better.

I've written a fair bit about striving for quality in our content, but I never once said it had to be perfect. Perfection is an illusion. Chasing after it will only delay the end and leave you feeling frustrated. You have to recognize the point of diminishing returns.

The world is but a school of research. The question is not who shall hit the ring, but who shall run the best course.
– Michel de Montaigne