Top 10 Tricks On How to Overcome Writer’s Block
Writing is not an easy job. Whether you are working on an eBook about self-help, a well-researched memoir, or a fun and interesting fiction novel, there comes a time when you cannot think of anything. Even if you do write a passage, it fails to meet your self-imposed standards. This is called writer’s block and there are lots of tips on how to overcome this block when you start writing your fiction or nonfiction piece.
Modern writing is extremely demanding, considering there are thousands of pre-published materials about your idea. And with so many writers available in the market, you need to be skilled enough to write something unique and appealing to the audience.
What To Do When You Experience Writer’s Block?
As a professional book author, you cannot afford to have writer’s block. So, what are you supposed to do when your thoughts are blocked and no matter what you write, it does not seem correct? You cannot just sit and wait for a wave of inspiration to hit you.
Some people like to take a break and watch something fun to refresh their minds, while others go on a walk or hang out with friends.
If these things don’t help you out, there are other ways to unlock your creativity. So, to help you get out of a rut, Hancock Ghostwriters has come up with a list of ten tricks on how to overcome writer’s block.
How To Overcome Writer’s Block In 10 Simple Ways
There is no need to get overwhelmed. We are not going to ask you to go on a long trip or spend thousands to overcome writer’s block. Our tips are super easy and will only take a little time of your day. So, without further delay, let’s jump to the list:
1. Have A Chat With Your Friend
If you are an insomniac, staying in bed and trying to fall asleep will never work. Likewise, sitting in front of the screen and forcing your mind to think is not the right way to overcome writer’s block. In contrast, such an exercise can put you under even more stress.
One of the easiest ways to break your mind out of paralysis is by refreshing it, and what better way to do it than talking to someone? Engaging in verbal conversation with a real or imaginary friend gives you a fresh mindset and can transform your ideas into words.
2. Turn Writing Into A Habit
According to an American Author, Twyla Tharp, “Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits.”
But many authors have an absurd understanding of this quote and think that creativity can be inborn or unpredictable only. And their mantra is to sit and wait for inspiration to hit you and break your writer’s block.
But that is not the case. No good will come with just sitting around. However, one thing that can lower your chances of having writer’s block is if you make writing an everyday routine. It would be best if you write daily, but there is no pressure.
All you have to do is dedicate a time of the day to writing. You can write for an hour or even thirty minutes. Making writing a habit will keep your thoughts functioning and ideas rolling and minimize the likelihood of writer’s block.
3. Keep A Distance From The Distractions
Distractions disturb your thought flow and affect the writing process, ultimately leading to writer’s block. So, you must find different ways to stay focused and minimize distractions as much as you can.
For starters, try getting away from any gadgets, be it your phone or any other device. Turn them off and even lock them if you are that impatient. You should also remove all unnecessary stuff from your workstation, any toy, a picture or anything else that you believe can cause distraction.
If you are working from home, we suggest that you also ask your family to respect your work and give you some privacy until you join them yourself.
Lastly, make the most of your writing schedule and write whatever comes to your mind. Unimportant material can be truncated later.
4. Write When You Are Most Creative
One of the best ways to overcome or avoid writer’s block is to think of that time of the day when you are at the peak of your creativity. For example, some people are at the height of their creativity in the morning, right after they take the first sip of their morning coffee.
Whereas, some find the silence of the night more peaceful and musing. So, we suggest that you figure out when you feel most creative in 24 hours and write at that time. Because when you are in your most creative phase, ideas fall like apples from a tree.
5. Move To Another Space
No, we are not talking about moving to a new house or getting out of the country. Moving to another space can be moving to another room in your house as well. Normally, staying in one place for a long time makes your mind feel like it is stuck in one place.
Gazing at the same wall while you work can also trigger writer’s block. If it happens to you pretty often, then you should try changing your scenery. A fresh view to the eyes will freshen up your mind and you will be able to write.
Moving to a café or even to a couch from a chair can help you break out of writer’s block and allow new ideas to form.
6. Do Not Get Stuck In A Specific Part
There is no hard and fast rule that you have to write a novel or even a script in a specific order. For example, many authors write the introduction of their book after completing all the chapters.
So, if you are stuck in some part of the book, skip to the next section and come back to it later.
Remember, writing something is better than not writing anything for hours. At least, when you write the next section, you will be one step closer to completing your story. You never know, maybe skipping to the next section will help you think of a good introduction to the story.
7. Take A Break From Writing
If you have been writing for a long time, to a point where you feel like you are having writer’s block and then wondering, “How to overcome writer’s block.” Take our suggestion and take a break from writing. You might think it is a lame trick, but trust us, it works.
Staring at words for too long can make your brain numb. If you feel like this at some point, leave your desk and do something else. Listen to some songs, watch an episode of your favorite show or just have some food.
Just do anything other than writing to refresh your mind. Doing these non-writing tasks will also provide you with different and interesting ideas to write about.
8. Start Freewriting
If you are wondering what freewriting is, it is where you just write and write without thinking whether your text has any structure or not. No need to stop and check the grammar or spelling. Just write for a specific amount of time, like 10 to 20 minutes.
All you have to do is sit, focus and start typing. Once you understand the freewriting process, increasing the time can make it more interesting.
How is it going to help with writer’s block? It helps you organize your thoughts and ideas while you let out all the stressful thoughts as you type. Once your time is up, read your written piece and you will find something useful.
9. Move Your Body Around
If you feel like you are disconnecting or losing interest in your work, you should try moving your body a little. Discomfort, sleep and daydreaming are one of the many things a writer feels after working on a piece for hours, and it sometimes prevents them from thinking of new ideas.
This happens because when we are sitting in a stationary position for too long, our mind takes it as if the person is asleep.
So, whenever you feel anything like this, get up from your chair, change your position, take a walk around the room or exercise for a little to make your mind and body work better.
Moving your body releases endorphins that boost the mood. Once you feel good, then you will be able to break the writer’s block and work on your piece more effectively.
10. Do Not Give Up
Every person fails at some point. Even the most successful writers think none of their ideas are good enough and feel like failures at times.
So, trust us when we say that failure is a part of the creative process. Keep in mind when you are writing with writer’s block, your goal is to complete the draft.
There is no point in ensuring that your work is perfect and that everything in it is up to your standards. It is perfectly fine, even if most of your text is unstructured. You can worry about all of these things later. Because if you give in and let yourself feel like a failure, you will not be able to regain your confidence.
Common Causes Of Writer’s Block
Now that we have talked about different tricks on how to overcome writer’s block, it is time to dive a little deeper and learn why it happens in the first place.
There could be many reasons which are still undiscovered. But the most common reasons for writer’s block include the following:
1. Perfectionism
One of the most obvious reasons behind writer’s block is the writer’s urge to create a perfect piece. We all want every single sentence we write, all the grammar and each line in the book to be perfect.
But some people take this urge of perfectionism to another level, which then becomes a protection mechanism. They spend so much time perfecting their work that even after it is complete, they feel like it still has some faults and needs more work.
This practice eventually leads to writer’s block because when people focus too much on perfectionism instead of creativity, their thoughts get blocked.
2. Fear
Fear is the one thing that can cause distraction, lack of interest and ultimately, writer’s block. It could be fear of anything, making mistakes, being judged or criticized over your work, or fear of rejection simply.
We are not saying that being afraid is a bad thing, but it can turn into a problem once it starts affecting your everyday work and your sense of creativity. So, do not let your fear overshadow your thoughts. If you have any of these fears, ask for help and beat them.
3. External pressure
You cannot force creativity. Many people get pressured by their peers, family and friends to write. It mostly happens with successful writers who are pressured to create another superhit just to stay in the game.
Authors need to resist pressure from their peers and even overenthusiastic fans and work on their own terms.
4. Self-criticism
Self-criticism is healthy. It helps us reflect on our mistakes. But some people take self-criticism to an extreme level. They start viewing their work so critically that all they see are errors.
Another mistake most rookie writers make is comparing their work with successful authors. They do not realize that those writers have also made mistakes. They, too, have failed in their earlier stages before their books started to gain traction.
Extreme self-criticism holds back creativity and does not allow us to see the good in our work. So, we would suggest that you get a little less critical about your work and give yourself a little more credit as a writer.
Your Ideas, Our Words: Hire A Professional Writer
Writer’s block is one of the many reasons why people hire ghostwriters in the first place. However, many people in the writing industry do not understand that hiring someone else to write your book is not illegal or even unethical.
While ghostwriters sometimes do write entire manuscripts, their work is based on the author’s idea. Ghostwriters are just a medium of execution.
Also, the author reviews every page of the book until it is finished. Ghostwriting companies like Hancock Ghostwriters and others allow the author to make any necessary changes because, at the end of the day, it is the author’s book.
So, if you have writer’s block and want to hire someone to complete your book, it is perfectly okay. Hiring a ghostwriter does not reflect negatively on you as a book author.
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Wrapping up…
Always remember getting writer’s block is extremely common and can happen to anyone. All you have to do is figure out a way to break through instead of forcing yourself to sit in front of the screen and struggle to work.
We assure you that these tips will be extremely helpful and with constant practice, you will be able to prevent writer’s block easily and effectively.
