Lynne
Level 1
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I’m not sure about you, but every now and then I get writer block. Blogging on my 3 websites, as well as creating content on a number of other websites means I churn out a huge amount of written content on a daily basis.
It is not surprising that every now and then I get a little stuck every now and then. Once I get stuck it can be a little tricky to free my mind up again and get my writing flowing again.
So here my 10 steps how to stop writer block:
1. Stop Writing and Forget About It
Yes I know, it does sound rather counter-productive doesn’t it? But just think about how counter-productive it is to stare at your screen for hours with no inspiration coming to you!
Or those days when you type a few sentences and then start with the backspace key, and you repeat this for a while.
You’re not going to get any writing done anyway, so you may as well stop hitting your head against a brick wall.
2. Get your Heart Pumping
As writers (and freelancers too) we spend so much time behind a desk, not moving much. This is not good for you!
So get some exercise in and really get your heart thumping and pumping.
Exercise is also known to help combat depression and to raise the spirits. I’m not sure about you but when I can’t write I start beating myself up and feeling like I can’t get anything right. Take that frustration out with exercising.
3. Get Outside in Nature
Once again, writers not only spend a lot of time sitting but we usually do it indoors. So get outside into the sunshine, or if it is cold put on your gloves and head outside for a brisk walk in the cold.
You can combine your exercise with the outdoors, why pay for a gym when God gave you a whole playground outside?
4. Get in Touch with Your Inner Child
I know, another tip that possibly sounds terribly strange… bear with me though. When last have you built a sand castle on the beach? Or climbed a tree? Caught a little fish in a net? If its snowing build a snowman!
Seriously this sort of thing is good for the soul! It also helps if you have children with you so you don’t look too silly. Thankfully I have two little ones so I pretend I am catching fish for them.
5. Have Sex
OK well it works for me. I often get stuck in a rut and as much as I try to push the thought of writing out of my mind it just sneaks back!
Having sex will most certainly distract you from your writers block, it is also well known to help with all those feel good, happy hormones. Just the thing you need to get those creative juices flowing.
An added bonus here is that if you are a freelancer or a writer you probably work very long hours, so your partner will be very pleased with the extra attention.
My husband loves it when I get stressed out or I have writers block.
6. Sleep on It
Once you’ve had good sex chances are you will have a very restful sleep. This is excellent. Our minds often problem solve in our sleep and by the time morning arrives the problem has left us. Often we just need a break, some fresh air and a good rest to stop writers block.
7. Change your routine
Often we are stuck in a rut and we always do the same thing at the same time, in the same place.
So have a cup of tea instead of coffee, use a notepad and a pencil instead of your laptop and sit in your garden under a tree instead of your desk in your office.
8. Brainstorm
Perhaps by now you have come right, but if you haven’t don’t stress. Brainstorming is a good process to follow.
Just jot down ideas for writing, let it be free flow, so anything you think of write it down. Just keep writing.
9. Check your Ideas Notebook
Always keep a notebook for ideas. I have a notebook I keep in my handbag and it goes everywhere with me. I come up with ideas all the time and I just jot them down and leave them there.
Now is the time to pull that notebook out. Keep your ideas stored however you like them, for me I like the old fashioned notebook. I love the act of reading all my little scribbles and then crossing things out as I go.
10. Plan your Writing and get started
Yes there is a time to stop knocking your head against the brick wall and there is also a time to get cracking again.
Choose your topic, plan the points you want to cover and by this time all you will be needing to do is flesh out your article.
Because you have now done something that feeling of helplessness and despair is probably lifting and it won’t take too much to finish up your article.
And if all fails and after a day you are still struggling, just be kind to yourself, continue to follow these steps or your own method that usually works and know that it is temporary and before you know it you will be back on track.
For these special moments of what I call "My Stuckness" I just contact my favorite content writer here and place an order till I'm back to my normal self with the creative juices flowing again.
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I find it really helpful to simply shut down my computer and do something else. I sometimes do some chores or go shopping or simply watch TV or play a game. Anything that makes you forget about writing is fine actually. Later, maybe several hours later, or even the following day, you can start afresh and I often manage to be very well focused and full of writing energy. Writer's block is a common problem, but it can be resolved with some rest most of the time. Generally I get a block when I am too tired.
Some helpful tips there :) I find it really helpful to simply shut down my computer and do something else. I sometimes do some chores or go shopping or simply watch TV or play a game. Anything that makes you forget about writing is fine actually. Later, maybe several hours later, or even the following day, you can start afresh and I often manage to be very well focused and full of writing energy. Writer's block is a common problem, but it can be resolved with some rest most of the time. Generally I get a block when I am too tired.
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TommyCarey
I also have another trick, which could be similar to what you've mentioned above, but I'm going to go over it anyway
Whenever I hit a wall and I need to boost my thoughts, and I've exhausted all the methods and tricks that you posted about, I'll hang out with my little girl and do random little kid stuff lol.
It sounds odd, and it sure it, because I tend to be playing with Barbie dolls, shopkins or anything that she's currently playing with at the time lol. Normally when she's playing with her legos I'll stop working and make a pretty sweet space ship, and then she'll tell me I'm doing it wrong
Other than playing with toys, we'll go to the park for at least 30 minutes and then we'll come home. Usually this re-energizes my writing ideas and I can hammer out a good amount of work.
The only thing that is required to do this is that you need to have kids. If you start going to the park by yourself and watching other kids play, you may get arrested for being a creeper.
Another thing I like to do is take a nap
Does anyone else have some ideas on how to stop writers block? Writers block definitely sucks, and luckily I've never really hit a wall because I use a few of the tips and tricks you mentioned above :D I also have another trick, which could be similar to what you've mentioned above, but I'm going to go over it anyway :D Whenever I hit a wall and I need to boost my thoughts, and I've exhausted all the methods and tricks that you posted about, I'll hang out with my little girl and do random little kid stuff lol. It sounds odd, and it sure it, because I tend to be playing with Barbie dolls, shopkins or anything that she's currently playing with at the time lol. Normally when she's playing with her legos I'll stop working and make a pretty sweet space ship, and then she'll tell me I'm doing it wrong :D Other than playing with toys, we'll go to the park for at least 30 minutes and then we'll come home. Usually this re-energizes my writing ideas and I can hammer out a good amount of work. The only thing that is required to do this is that you need to have kids. If you start going to the park by yourself and watching other kids play, you may get arrested for being a creeper. Another thing I like to do is take a nap :D Not like a 4 hour nap, because that's just you sleeping for 4 hours. I'll take a quick 45 to 60 minute power nap in order to get out of my head. This also helps me out because it's like leap frogging through time and it won't feel like you're wasting time doing something pointless in order to get ideas on what to write :D Well, at least that's what I like to tell myself :D Does anyone else have some ideas on how to stop writers block?
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