The Best Tips for Beating Writer’s Block
Everyone’s heard of writer’s block. But for writers, just the thought of it can cause clammy hands and a pounding heartbeat. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not procrastination, fear or laziness that cause your inability to write. In fact, it often seems that the harder you try to write, the worse the block gets.
While writer’s block is a real thing that affects writers of every stripe, it doesn’t have to last long. And it certainly shouldn’t take over your ability to put words on a page. As a writer, you are in control, even if you don’t think you are.
Unleash the Magic!
In point of fact, penning any kind of document — from a novel to a blog post — is one of the most effective ways to overcome the affliction. It may sound antithetical, but once the juices get flowing, the dam opens up of its own accord. Most of time, writing isn’t magical, but in this instance, it can be.
Remember: your final version relies on editing, so the words you write now are only a bridge to that final product. You have to build that bridge with words, but they don’t have to be perfect words. To put it another way: it doesn’t always matter what you write, as long as you do it!
The Big Black Block
Writer’s block is a condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing. That implies that those first few words sometimes are the hardest to write. Without even an idea or a glimmer of a topic, starting any writing project can certainly be difficult.
But even if you have the idea and know where you want it to go, the process may be daunting, especially if you don’t do it all the time. But whether you’re a seasoned writer in the throes of a major block or you’re just trying to get out your weekly blog so you can get back to your real work, you can follow effective tips to ease your burden. And your friends at Ray Access can give you those tips.
Flow, Baby, Flow
These tips are easy and they work. Just ask the thousands of writers who’ve stared down the abyss of writer’s block and found their way to the surface. But like writing, these tips only work if you do them. A block doesn’t often disappear on its own, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from expressing yourself, completing an assignment or creating something you can sell.
You may not need all five of these tips; try them until you find the one that snaps you out of writer’s block syndrome:
- Hypnotize yourself. Hypnosis isn’t mysterious when you consider that all it entails is that you relax and open your mind to suggestion. Your answers lie within, so it’s relatively easy to tap into them when you take a few moments to totally relax and purge all the worry from your mind. Lie down — or even just close your eyes at your desk. Visualize the noise in your head and then watch it leave. Imagine words flowing out of your fingers. Now open your eyes and write.
- Brainstorm. The opposite of self-hypnosis, brainstorming requires that you let thunder and lightning explode in your mind. Jot down every thought that comes up. Start the exercise with a concept or even just one word that you want to include in your current writing assignment. Don’t edit or monitor your ideas as they pop into your head. Before you know it, you’ll have the beginnings of a great piece of writing. This tip works really well with another person too.
- Upend it. When you insist on starting at the beginning of your article, too often you set yourself up for perfectionism, one of the dreaded downfalls of writers everywhere and a major cause of writer’s block. Start a piece with the ending. Or just map out the various sub-topics you want to include. You can always go back and rearrange sections and paragraphs later. Many proficient writers always wait to write the beginning last because it’s the most difficult part of any writing project.
- Talk it out. If you feel paralyzed by writer’s block, start talking about what you hope to accomplish. Naturally, it’s nice when you can speak to another person, who might even offer some helpful insight. But even if you’re alone in your room, saying what you want to write about out loud triggers a part of your brain that creates sentences and turns thoughts into words. To add another layer to this tip, record yourself!
- Just walk away. Sometimes when you’re in the grip of debilitating writer’s block, you may just need a break. You’ve been trying too hard. Step away from your desk. Do some yoga, dance to your favorite tune, take a walk or work your muscles. Once the cobwebs clear, you can kick that writer’s block to the curb!
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