4 Tips for How to Beat Writer’s Block
We all want to know how to beat writer’s block because it plagues every single one of us who call ourselves writers.
It doesn’t mean if you are a content writer or a self-published author, if you write…you have hit a creative wall.
And, if you haven’t, then I want to know why you are so perfect…
…so, let’s figure out how we can beat writer’s block together.
Step 1 – Recognize that it isn’t your fault
The first thing you need to realize about writer’s block is that it actually isn’t your fault. Even if you put yourself in a situation to get distracted, that does not make it your fault.
The human brain simply isn’t wired to sustain focus on something for very long.
Even if you are in a “flow state” it isn’t going to last and, at some point, you are going to lose that intense focus and concentration.
Now, to know how to beat writer’s block, you are going to have to acknowledge that, while it isn’t your fault that it happened…it is your responsibility to kick it back into focus mode.
How to beat writer’s block: re-engage
Here is the simplest way to kick writer’s block to the curb: start writing again.
Re-engage with your creativity.
Now, that can look like a bunch of different practices, but the point is that the only way through it is to push forward.
This might seem antithetical, and there are a lot of people who believe you need to step away, but hear me out.
This comes from personal experience. If you haven’t heard of the Pomodoro Method for productivity, then let me briefly explain:
- Work for a set period of time (I do 20 minute bursts)
- Rest for 5 minutes (or switch tasks)
- Repeat 3 times
- At the final 5 minute break, make it a half-hour break instead (or switch tasks for 30 minutes)
I write as a content marketer, so I would work on client work during the big bursts of time and then switch to a creative writing project for my rest periods.
By doing this, I was able to keep working and focusing way beyond the 45 minute mark while also working towards personal goals. During those 5 and 30 minute breaks I was able to start and finish an entire novella.
…
All this being said, if you want to know how to beat writer’s block, there are some other strategies you can try. This example was just one of the ways to fight back at writer’s block, pulled from my personal experience.
- Switch creative tasks for a period of time
As I mentioned above, the method I typically use is to just keep writing but switching to a different project.
This could mean starting something new, journaling, writing poetry, just keeping on writing nonsense until a timer goes, etc.
Use this time to keep moving forward while giving your brain something else to focus on for a few minutes.
- Rewrite a whole page
Sometimes, all it takes is going back to what you were doing in your flow state and rewriting the entire page.
You don’t have to keep it, but rewrite it entirely (but only a specific, predetermined chunk).
This will force your brain to start looking at things from a new perspective.
- Rewrite a scene from a different point of view
Similar to the last tip, try to rewrite the last scene you were working on but from an entirely different point of view.
Was someone watching the scene play out?
What did the surrounding characters think?
What did a certain inanimate object think about the whole scene as it played out?
Again, this will help those creative juices flow while also fleshing out a bit more of your story.
No writing time is ever wasted, but this can actually be incredibly helpful for your scenes, characters, and plot development!
- If nothing else, copy it all down
The most boring, but actually very effective, approach to beat writer’s block is to go retype or rewrite every single word of the last scene you finished up.
It is tedious but it can be incredibly helpful. Trust me. I’ve done it with content marketing work just to get out of a rut.
The act of copying it down will help internalize your style and the scene, which can grant the benefit of exploring the scene a bit more and even reinforcing the direction you are going–eliminating all self-doubt that is probably creeping in subconsciously.
Now that you know how to beat writer’s block–what’s next?
What are you waiting for?
Go out there and crush it.
If you like what you are reading and want to see more about what is going on at DSM Story Forge, then you are going to want to check out Stories From the Forge.
Want to see more actionable tips on how to write and how to market your books as a self-publisher? The Story Forge is going to be right up your alley.
If you are an author who has a book ready to go or you are wanting some help with the self-publishing route, then I would love to see what it would look like to be a DSM Author (read the info on the page and click the link to fill out an interest form so we can start talking).
