writing 101: how to overcome writer’s block

I. AM. BACK. (for good this time…hopefully, if you couldn’t tell because of my posts recently). Also, thank you guys so so so much for 2.1k on Instagram ❤ – that means a lot! Anyway, onto the topic at hand – writer’s block. The bane of every writers’ existence.

Writer’s block is something that even the most passionate writer has to deal with from time to time, so it’s totally normal. The most important thing is to try to push through the best you can, and not do what I did (take a long break and tell yourself you’re coming back “soon”).

ANNOUNCEMENT

Writing 101: crash course on improving your writing! This will be updated weekly, so come back soon 🙂

• WEEK 1: How To Write Dialogue That Sounds Authentic
• WEEK 2: How To Improve Your Writing Speed
• WEEK 3: How To Overcome Writer’s Block 
• WEEK 4: How To Overcome Writer’s Block (pt 2)
• WEEK 5: How To Write Effective Character Descriptions
• WEEK 6: How To Self-Edit Your Writing Effectively
• WEEK 7: How To Write Engaging Opening Lines and Hooks
• WEEK 8: How To Develop and Maintain a Writing Voice
• WEEK 9: How To Create Believable and Compelling Story Arcs
• WEEK 10: How To Research for Your Writing Projects

– what is writer’s block? –

You’ve probably heard the term somewhere before; it’s pretty common in the writing community, as well as basically any other one where creativity is required (for example, I’ve seen people talk about art block quite a bit).

Writer’s block is basically a psychological obstacle, which stops writers from coming up with new, creative or meaningful work. It shows up as almost a mental block, where you really just don’t want to – or can’t – start, continue or finish a project. It can be super frustrating, but don’t give up!

– figure out why you have writer’s block –

There are quite a few reasons why you might get writer’s block, and it can be hard to narrow it down. Sometimes, it can be caused by more than one thing! Stop and think about it: when did you stop writing? What were your feelings about writing before you stopped? Did you start feeling bored, or like you wanted to try writing something new?

Lack of Inspiration	Fear of Failure	Perfectionism	Burnout
Sometimes, it feels impossible to come up with a fresh idea to fuel your work.	A common cause of writer’s block is being afraid that you’re not going to meet your personal/external expectations. This can lead to self-doubt and avoiding writing.	Similar to the fear of failure, some writer’s put off writing since they’re scared of making mistakes while writing. Keep in mind that the wish of flawless writing can block your creativity – no first draft is perfect!	This is a super common one. When a writer pushes themself to write too much, too fast, their brain just kind of wears out. It’s important to take breaks!

The above reasons aren’t ALL the reasons you might get writer’s block, obviously, but it’s a good place to start. Figuring out the root cause can give you a starting place to figure out a solution.

– establish a writing routine –

The most writing I ever did on this blog was when I had a routine. Every night after I did any homework or extracurriculars, I’d sit down and write for an hour or so. I would aim to finish one book review (or book-related post, like an interview) and one writing post a week. I had these scheduled for weeks in advance, knowing that if I missed one week, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Obviously, this is more catered towards writing a blog – but what I’m getting at is this:

Get into a routine, and give yourself goals. For instance, my goal was to write two posts a week. Your goal depends on what you’re writing. For instance, you could write one chapter a week, or even more. Hold yourself accountable for it. Give yourself a deadline; for instance, tell yourself you’re going to write 150 words every day (that’s a random number, though. You know what works for you).

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of SMART goals, but they’re a great way to hold yourself accountable to your goals. Here’s an example.

SPECIFIC
– Be specific about what you want to achieve.
For example: Write a short story in the fantasy genre that follows an 11 year old girl discovering a magical world

MEASURABLE
– It has to be measurable; for writing, it could be a word count
For example: Complete a first draft within one month, and a word count of 2,500 to 3,500.

ACHIEVABLE
– It has to be something you can do, realistically. If you know you can’t write for five hours a day, don’t make it part of your goal. Also, make it so you can accomplish it within a certain time frame.
For example: At least an hour of focused writing, and break down your writing process into more manageable tasks (like outlining, drafting, revising and editing)

RELEVANT
– It should align with your long-term goals and what you hope to do/interests.
For example: Writing this short story lets you improve your skills as a fiction writer and aligns with your interests of fantasy and magic

TIME-BOUND
– Set a realistic but preferably ambitious date that you’re going to accomplish this goal by. This can help you feel more motivated to finish – but don’t go too hard on yourself, since this can actually make you lose motivation if done wrong
For example: Finish the first draft by the end of a month, and schedule specific times every week that you’re going to write. Stick to them to make sure you’re consistently making progress

– brainstorm & freewrite –

Instead of pressuring yourself to write something perfect, have fun! Push yourself to be creative and break the ‘mental block’ that pops up when you haven’t written in a long time. Just brainstorm, and write whatever you feel like. You can use online generators that’ll give you ideas if you feel stuck. Don’t worry about turning this writing into a polished piece; just write for fun.

– change your writing environment –

Changing up where you’re writing can help your brain ‘restart’, so to speak. But don’t change it up too much. It can actually help to have a designated writing space, so your brain automatically shifts into writing mode.

My favourite place to write is the living room; I love hearing other people talking around me, and it just feels cozy. I’ve also tried writing on a desk in my bedroom, but after a while it felt lonely. Right now, my living room is the best spot – but I might change it up again later! Experiment with different spaces, whether it’s a library, or a cafe with a steaming cup of coffee at your side, or sitting in your backyard in the sun.

There are so many tips and tricks to get over writer’s block, so part 2 is coming soon. I hope this helps in the meantime, though! What are your tips and tricks? Let’s chat!