For any kind of writer, “writer’s block” could very well be two of the most dreaded words.  It means glaring at the screen, jabbing at the keyboard, and ripping your hair out — or is that just me? — amongst other things.  It often comes when we can least afford it, and sometimes it can stay days or weeks or even months at a time.  So, what do you do?  Keep reading to find out!

Know when it’s a block and when it’s not

Wait, what?  Exactly. Sometimes you have to take the gloves off and take a look at what’s preventing the word flow.  Is it writer’s block, or are you just being lazy or distracted?  Once you’ve taken a look at the tips to help you see that it is writer’s block, you can do something about it.  

Something to remember when you can’t write

Let’s say you figure out that you’re not dealing with writer’s block.  You may feel like you’re a failure or you’re not working hard enough, but writer burnout is a thing, too.  Being honest about the fact that you aren’t struggling with writer’s block isn’t a bad thing.  It just means you need to come at it from a different angle!

How to get over writer’s block

Here are some tried-and-tested tips to help you kick writer’s block to the curb and get back to those words feeling refreshed and ready to go.

1. Try “doodling”: Doodling doesn’t have to be scribbling on a notepad.  It can be anything that helps loosen up that creative side of you.  Personally, I really like doodling by writing out a scene that’s been stuck in my head or writing a few skits with a favourite character.  Sometimes, simply succeeding at writing something from start to finish is enough to destroy that writer’s block for good.  

2. Read over the content: Whether you’re novel writing, article writing or ad writing, it’s a great idea to read out the content that you’ve written so far.  Often, writer’s block comes when you’ve (creatively speaking) lost your train of thought.  Rereading what you’ve written already can help you suddenly see where you were going with that sentence, and you’re off to the races again.

3. Take an offline day and come back at it: When you really just can’t get any kind of words to flow, take a day for yourself.  Just stop writing.  Maybe you can make yourself busy with housework, or you feel like baking, or maybe going to the beach.  Just thinking about something else can sometimes help you get that eureka moment that will have you typing up a storm the next day when you sit back down with your project again. 

Whether you’re a business content writer, a novel writer, or a writer just for fun, writer’s block happens.  Know the signs, try breaking that block in the best way for you, and get those words flowing again.  

Do you have any foolproof tips that can help you jump the block when it threatens to stop you in your tracks?  Feel free to share them below!

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