Writing tips#5: Writer's block

 Every writer faces writer’s block at some point. Whether your a novelist, blogger, or researcher, sometimes the initiative to drive your work vanishes. You feel drained and unmotivated. Even the sight of your work makes you discouraged. Understanding what this phenomena is can prove useful for writers.

1. Rest –  Constantly producing ideas and visualizations can tax the brain, leading to stagnation. Sometimes the mind needs respite from the routine of writing. This can be anywhere from an hour to several days.  Take a walk in nature, meditate, or focus on a different project for a while. You may find brilliant ideas or solutions arriving. This strategy can apply to activities other than writing.
2. Exercise – Working out, even only moderately, increases blood flow to the brain. It can also help with symptoms of depression or brain fog.
3. Surf the Net – The internet is rife with ideas. Exploring the web might trigger answers to your roadblock. Moreover, additional research into your given field or project can only help you.
4. Social Media – While Social Media can be a big distraction, it can also be an excellent hub for networking ideas between like peers. Describing your situation on a forum or live chat vents your frustration, releasing irritated energy that may be fogging up your mind. Sometimes your readers/fans/mentors will provide you with what you need to write forward.
5. Blog lurking – Checking out blogs can be a good source of inspiration. It can provide an idea of what others are doing and how you might do it differently to stand out. You can also contact a blogger with questions on how they handle similar situations like yours.
6. Time of day – Certain people are more creative at particular times of their daily cycle. Determine when these times are and capitalize on them. Personally, I find my creativity spikes late at night, a few hours before bed. Your mileage may differ.
7. Perfectionism – We all strive for perfection, but it’s an illusory goal. While a motivating ambition to have, clinging to this principal excessively will slog your writing and inevitably lead to the block.
8. Write for yourself – Sometimes we get too strung up with how others think about our work. This anxiety discourages growth and progress. Instead of apprehension about your readers’ comments, appreciate it for what it is. Every word written, even if deleted, is progress in the ultimate scheme of writing. Just be yourself and write how you want to. Enjoy this ritual to its fullness. You may be surprised at the results.

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This is an experimental writing series, an accumulation of pointers and ideas from the perspective of an amateur writer. Naturally, take them as you will, but I’ve found them to work well for me. If anything, they serve as a public listing of thoughts and techniques. This list is not exhaustive. Any comments or ideas for strengthening this list are appreciated. Thanks for reading!