If you think poor grammar and improper punctuation are the main enemies of a writer, you are wrong. It is writer’s block that hinders the productivity and creativity of a writer most. Check out the top tips for overcoming writer’s block that you should try.
1. Change Your Writing Tool
Change is the first thing you will need to cure writer’s block. Let’s start with trying a different writing tool. If you are a Microsoft Word user, switch to Google Docs or vice versa. Directly composing into WordPress or writing with pen and paper should also work.
You can also go through some minute changes like changing your font or typecase, font color, and font size. These changes, especially increasing your font size, will allow you to focus and write something interesting.
2. Make a Trip Close to Nature
Nature is your best friend, and facing writer's block is no reason not to embrace it. Many writers suggest going close to nature as the tip for writer’s block. You can also make use of this opportunity to visit your family or friends.
Driving is not the mode of transport we would suggest. Instead, take a bus, train, or plane to travel to your destination. Do not forget to carry your laptop with you so that you can immediately start writing once the writer’s block is over.
3. Try Writing at a Different Time of the Day
Most writers have the habit of writing at a fixed time of the day. While such habits promote creativity, they can become a source of procrastination and despair.
Hence, another effective tip for writer’s block is to break this writing routine. You can experiment by writing at a different time and see if it helps overcome writer’s block.
4. Change the Setup of Your Work Room
The ambiance works as the biggest influence on your mindset. To inspire your mind to think creatively, change the setup of your study room or the area where you write. Declutter your study by moving unnecessary elements to another room.
Changing the furniture locations are also helpful for a revamped look. Moreover, repainting the walls, installing more lights, and adding some inspirational posters will also work.
5. Write Somewhere Else Other Than Your Work Room
Leaving your desk is an effective method to get rid of writer’s block. When you sit down at your desk day after day to write, it can give your brain a sense of boredom.
By changing the venue writing, you will offer yourself a fresh start. Here are some top places to pen down your thoughts during a writer’s block:
- Public park
- Local library
- Coffee shop
- Coworking space
- By the pool or river
- Sea beach
6. Do Household Chores
Do you come up with your best ideas in the shower? Then doing household chores like washing dishes will be helpful for you in overcoming writer’s block. Staring at the computer or smartphone screen for long hours makes us counterproductive.
Spend some time doing chores like vacuuming and folding laundry to relax. These will also allow you to introspect and come up with new writing ideas.
7. Stop Overemphasising Grammatical Errors
Are you wailing because of that silly error in the last writing? Get over it. Stop bothering about being perfect and just get started with your writing. Get done with your first draft, no matter how bad that is.
Once you overcome writer’s block, you can invest time and effort in editing and revising your piece. You can also use tools like Grammarly to fix the grammatical errors your human eyes failed to notice.
8. Spend Time on Social Media
Yes, social media spoils your productivity. But when you're stuck with writer’s block and don’t know what to write, browsing through your favorite social media is a cool idea. Interact with your friends and move your focus from the writing.
You may also start a conversation in the writers' group to share your experience and get suggestions from others. Enjoy the time spent on social media to the fullest. Once you get back to the writing, you are bound to feel fresh and full of new ideas.
9. Read Through Your Best Publications
If you are feeling down and doubting your writing skills, here is one pro tip for your writer’s block. Read some of your best works word-by-word to get back your confidence. The talent is still inside you, and you may need a gentle reminder.
In addition, you can look back at your first publication and look at how much you have learned.
10. Try Writing on a Different Niche
Are you stuck on writing long blog posts? Try writing something on social media, or write an email. Your focus should be on getting back your productivity. So, instead of focusing on writing what you need to, try writing on what you want to.
If writer’s block is happening due to monotony, switching your writing niche will definitely help.
11. Create Challenging Tasks for Yourself
If writing is becoming a chore for you, you need to tickle your brain to make it a fun practice. To avoid getting writer’s block, you need to create new challenges for yourself. You can try incorporating some new metaphors in your write-up to see how it goes.
12. Attend Writing Webinars and Podcasts
While suffering from writer’s block, you might feel lonely and unmotivated. But you are not the only one who is going through this phase. You can attend any writing webinars and get a new perspective on your worldview.
Listening to writing podcasts will also help get support and strategies from like-minded writers. You can even start your own podcast to share your views of writing and writer’s block.
13. Pursue Your Hobby
Spending time pursuing a hobby is a great way to beat the creative blues. Your hobby is the thing your love doing, and it will force your brain to pay attention and focus. Also, your mind will get a sense of workflow and completion from it.
So, whether it is gardening, cooking, origami, or collecting Pokemon stickers, hobbies will help broaden your world of writing and overcoming writer’s block. If you do not have any hobbies, it is the right time to find one.
Overcoming Writer’s Block With These Tips
There comes a time in every writer's life when they experience this weird phase called writer's block. However, you can try some of these tips for writers' block to stay motivated and get started writing again.