How to Overcome Writer’s Block

For a writer, nothing is worse than writer’s block. As writers, we have an inner need to write. When you don’t get the words out, you might not only miss a deadline, but you feel suffocated as well. That’s because you can’t express yourself in the way that is most natural for you; by writing.

I’ve had my share of writer’s block. After staring at a blank document on my computer for minutes, I manage to write a few short sentences that seem forced and awful. This has happened to me so many times, I needed to find a solution.

After doing some research and experimenting, I have managed to overcome my writer’s block, at least for the most part. I’m going to share with you 10 proven cures for writer’s block that have helped me. Give them a try and see if you can get your creative juices flowing!

10 Proven Cures for Writer’s Block

1. Walk More

Sitting at your desk trying to get something written is not the best way to stimulate your brain. Take a walk and see if your writing goes better after. Exercise and fresh air help boost creativity.

2. Sleep More

Sleeping more can help you write more. Sleep is very important for creativity. I often get ideas for stories from my dreams, as I have very vivid dreams and I usually remember them.

3. Read More

One of the best ways to inspire writing is to read a lot. It doesn’t matter if you read physical books or listen to audiobooks, as long as you read. You can read anything you want, but If you want to write fiction, make sure you read fiction books as well. This will help you build your storytelling skills.

4. Write More

This may not be what you want to hear when you’re struggling with writer’s block. But the truth is, the more you write, the easier it gets. Start small, but try to write a little every day. It doesn’t even matter what you write. You can write some nonsense in your journal, it’s still writing and helps you build your writing muscle.

5. Write Something Else

I’ve noticed I’m not always able to write exactly what I want, but I can write something else. Sometimes I just can’t find the inspiration for a short story I’m working on, but I suddenly get an idea for a non-fiction article. When this happens, I work on the idea at hand. Eventually, I will come up with the inspiration for the short story as well.

6. Do Manual Labor

When the body is at work and the mind is idle, I always seem to get ideas for new stories. When I was painting the walls of my room, a short story idea started playing in my head. The story was related to painting.

7. Write Outdoors

This summer I wrote a short story outdoors. It was a warm and sunny day, and sitting in front of my computer indoors seemed like a waste. So, I took my laptop and sat down to write in our yard. The garden chair was not particularly comfortable to sit in, but somehow, I managed to write the whole short story in one sitting. This rarely happens to me, so I’m convinced that writing outdoors really works.

8. Write First, Edit Later

Perfectionism is one of the most common causes of writer’s block. If you worry about the quality of your writing before you even start, you may not start at all. Allow yourself to write anything that comes out and edit it later.

9. Write About Writer’s Block

Writing about writer’s block is better than not writing at all.

- Charles Bukowski

If all you can think about is your writer’s block, why don’t you try writing about your writer’s block? My writer’s block inspired me to write a magical realistic short story in which the protagonist was suffering from, surprise, writer’s block.

10. Deny Your Writer’s Block

Denial is usually not the ideal way to heal from an illness, but writer’s block is an exception. Remember, writer’s block is not an actual diagnosis. If you constantly think about how you can’t write because you have writer’s block, guess what happens? You can’t write.

Instead, deny your writer’s block and start writing. Again, it doesn’t matter what you write and how good it is. When you just write something, you’re well on your way to curing your writer’s block for good.

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