10 Steps For How To Overcome Writer’s Block

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There are a few reasons that explain why people experience writer’s block. As a result, many people procrastinate and miss deadlines. It’s a tale as old as time. You’re staring at a blank word document and just physically cannot start. Or, you may have hit your stride and somewhere around page 4 you’ve completely lost a handle on where you are going. The reasons behind writer’s block may stem from timing (i.e., you have taken the time to think about it before starting to write), fear (you’re afraid of how what you write will be perceived), and perfectionism (you are afraid of making a mistake). In order to get out of your head and start writing, follow these steps for how to overcome writer’s block.

1. Let the idea marinate so that you can give it time to develop.

If you have a paper topic and you try to start the paper before you have thought through the purpose of what you’re trying to say, then you’re obviously going to feel lost. Not to mention you’re wasting your time and probably becoming more and more discouraged by the minute. Read the prompt, take a moment to let it soak in, and then step away from your computer. Revisit a few hours later and chances are things will go a lot more smoothly. Still not sure how to overcome writer’s block? These tips will come in handy!

2. Get active!

If you need to clear your head, it may be helpful to go for a walk or run or just hit the gym for an hour. This gets the blood flowing and helps to beat restlessness which is imperative in having a clear mind to focus on what you’re trying to say.

3. Get rid of distractions.

Look, different people get distracted by different things. For me, I cannot gather my thoughts or read while listening to music but that works for a lot of people. I can also read and work in front of the tv or at a busy coffee shop with no problem. Some people need complete silence. Know which settings distract you and which you to thrive in so that you are in an environment that is conducive to your focus. Additionally, there are applications you can use to focus more clearly. For example, in college, I used to use SelfControl to avoid being on social media or Buzzfeed.

4. Just start writing.

Do I sound like your 10th grade English teacher yet? Charles Bukowski said, “Writing about writer’s block is better than not writing at all.” That may be aggressive if you’re writing a college paper, but if you’re doing any sort of creative writing then this is the best advice. The stream of consciousness is a great way to get this started.

5. Do something that fuels your creativity

Listen to music, dance around, sing in the shower, do a puzzle, hell even coloring books are helpful when you’re stuck and can’t think of anything. You need to get your mind thinking! Exercise your brain; warm it up. These steps for how to overcome writer’s block should help jumpstart your brain!

6. Change your environment.

If you have been working at your desk for a couple of hours migrate to the library or a coffee shop. Sitting in one space for a prolonged amount of time is not good mentally or physically. A new scene can take away the staleness from the previous location and leave you feeling refreshed.

7. Make some coffee.

Sometimes we just need our caffeine fix. If you feel like you’re hitting a wall go get a coffee, tea, or energy drink for all I care. Not only does it allow you to stand up and stretch, but you also will feel more awake.

8. Brainstorm bullet points.

Sometimes doing this can take away all the pressure of wording and get down to the actual point you are trying to make. This is why, although a pain in the ass, people always tell you to write an outline. Outlines or bullet points make it so that you don’t go off topic.

9. Create a timeline to stay on track and focused.

When you are drawing a blank, many times people’s inclination is to keep pushing things off until the night of your deadline and then pull an all-nighter. For some people this works, for others, it is detrimental to their quality of work. Make sure that you budget an accurate amount of time to think, and enough time to write.

10. Talk it out with friends/colleagues/peers.

It is really easy to get stuck in your head, but when you are forced to verbally articulate what you are saying and bounce your ideas off of others you are often able to reach a deeper version of clarity than previously.