by Michael Dehoyos
Inspiration is a strange beast, sometimes it is there and other times it’s not. When it is absent it feels as if nothing one writes is any good or worth expanding on. Ideas seem bland and conventional. And the motivation to sit down and write simply isn’t there. This lack of inspiration, accompanied by the aforementioned feelings, is referred to as writer's block.
Anyone who has spent a decent amount of time writing has gone through writer's block at some point in time. Like a flu, it almost always passes on its own given enough time. Unfortunately, there isn’t always that time available. There may be deadlines, commitments, or other external forces that require an individual to finish their writing within a certain amount of time. Because of this, it is often necessary to be proactive in getting through a writer's block. Here we will go over 11 important techniques for overcoming writer's block.
Change The Environment: Sometimes the mind needs a bit of change, something different from the ordinary and expected. Much the same way people often feel invigorated upon returning from a vacation, a writer can get a similar charge by simply changing where they are writing. It is no coincidence that famous writers felt the need to travel around.
Go For A Walk: It is conventional wisdom that going for a walk helps to “clear the mind”. “The famous German philosopher Emanuel Kant used to develop his ideas during his walks around his village. Even modern psychology has commented on the mentally stimulating qualities of a good walk.” writes Jesse Nygard, a lifestyle blogger at Britstudent and Writemyx.
Have An Alcoholic Drink: It is no secret that many writers had a penchant for alcohol. While we don’t recommend becoming intoxicated, a drink helps many people loosen up while writing.
Do Something Else: Sometimes one needs a reset from writing. Passing some time by indulging in another hobby or interest is a common way to reset the writing mindset.
Read Another Writer: Reading someone else’s writing, especially on a similar topic or subject can get the mind thinking in a way it wasn’t before. Sometimes something is read that switches a writer's paradigm or gets them excited about the topic all over again.
Take A Nap: It may be the case that the inspiration issue has more to do with tiredness than anything else. When one is tired it is harder to think clearly and come up with new ideas. Taking a short nap can do wonders for getting out of a writing block rut.
Re-read Previous Writings: This is especially true for those writings novels or short stories. Having a read of what has been already penned will get the creative cogs turning again.
Try An Economy Of Words: “Hemingway claimed his aim in writing was to do so with an ‘economy of words”, explained Jason Lacroix, a writer at Australia2write and Nextcoursework. What is meant here is that by writing in very simple terms it allows a writer to flesh out concepts and storylines without having to worry about the prose.
Refocus: A common cause of writer's block is a loss of direction or lack of vision. A writer can write so much they start to lose focus of what they were trying to convey in the first place. Taking a moment to remind oneself what they want to accomplish can help set back on the right track.
Determine Peak Writing Time: The body works on different internal rhythms which are in tune with several external factors. This being said, not everyone is the same. A good writer should pay acute attention to what times in the day they feel they do their best writing. When writer’s block takes hold begin by only writings during those ‘peak’ writing hours.
Reduce Distraction: Writers in the previous generation may have had a more difficult time typing and editing but they were much less distracted. While the computer offers a level of ease that the old typewriters did not, they are also a great source of distraction. It can be difficult to get into the proper mindset when one is constantly distracted by social media and other internet activities. Removing these distractions will afford the opportunity to focus solely on writing.
Michael Dehoyos has been editing and marketing books at Phd Kingdom and Academic brits for some years now. Aside from this, he is also involved in helping companies develop marketing strategies and concepts. An avid writer, he is a contributor to Origin Writings.