How to Overcome Writer's Block

Whether you write as a student, just for fun, or are a professional writer, most writers need to overcome writer's block at some point in their careers. Writer's block occurs when writers lose their normal fluidity and ease with words and find it difficult to complete a writing project.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First, write through your difficulties. Rather than waste time pondering, pontificating, rewriting and agonizing, get a skeleton draft in place and try to let the words flow as much as possible. It's OK if your first draft is shoddy. Once you have a basic outline in place, you can always go back and edit your piece. Procrastinating will only make it more difficult to overcome writer's block.

2. Try a change of scenery. If you've been staring at a blank screen and turning the topic over and over in your mind, you may need a simple break. Get out and take a walk. Get some fresh air, clear your mind. You may find that you come back to the topic with a clear head and fresh ideas to help you overcome writer's block.

3. Take care of your needs. If you're tired, hungry, or in-pain, go take care of yourself. It's hard to overcome writer's block if you're too distracted by your own discomfort to form coherent ideas on a topic. Lack of sleep, a common ailment for writers, can be particularly problematic in overcoming writer's block.

Tips & Warnings

• If nothing else works, try some writing exercises.
• Consider reorganizing your workspace. Eliminating clutter can be especially helfpul.

[ceniamari]

on 7/30/2009 Yes, I also find that eliminating clutter and having an organized workspace is helpful in completing tasks and acquiring a clear mind to write.

[Quickstar]

on 12/14/2008 Good stuff I suffer and have to come back to it later at times:) 5*

[miasavc]

on 12/12/2008 Great tips on how to overcome writer's block. I go thru this once in a while & it takes plenty of effort to keep the ideas flowing in again.