When you're sitting in front of a blank screen and you don't know what to write, it's easy to feel like you're just not cut out for this whole writing thing. It's easy to get discouraged and frustrated and want to give up. But that's a mistake. Because the truth is that we all get writer's block sometimes—even the most prolific writers.
As a writer, you know that sometimes you just can't seem to get the ideas out. It's frustrating. You have all of these ideas in your head and you fight to get them on paper, but you just can't do it.
It feels like a block–like there's something in your way and it's just not letting the words come out. You know the feeling: it's like your brain is full of ideas but your fingers are slow or broken or something and they just won't cooperate with the rest of your body. And then, when you finally manage to write something down, it's not what you wanted at all.
Writer's block is a real struggle. It can be hard to navigate the mental and physical obstacles that get in the way of your creativity, but it's not impossible. There are plenty of ways to beat writer's block, and they don't all involve medication or expensive therapists.
The first thing you need to do is accept that you have writer's block (and if you don't believe me, ask any writer). Once you've accepted it, then it's time to move on. But that doesn't mean you can't push through it. There are a lot of different ways to get your creative mojo back and keep writing. Writer's block isn't a problem with your writing skills or intelligence; it's just something that happens sometimes when your brain gets overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead of it and needs a break. Next, take a break! Get up from your desk and go for a walk around the office or outside until you feel ready to sit down again and get back into it. Your brain needs time away from whatever problem is holding it up so that it can come back fresh later on when you’re ready to tackle things again. If possible, try not to check email or social media while taking breaks—it'll only distract you from getting back into writing mode when the time comes!
Or maybe just write something—anything! It doesn't matter if it's terrible, because all that matters is getting the words down on paper. Then, when you're done, look at what you've written and ask yourself: What could I do differently? How could I improve this? You'll start finding ideas for new ways to approach your content as soon as you start looking for them.
You can also decide what kind of writing you're going to do: are you going to write poetry? Fiction? Nonfiction? This is important because different genres require different kinds of thinking. If you're writing poetry, try playing around with rhythms or words that make up a sentence—it might help break up some of those mental blocks!
Finally, remember why you started writing in the first place: because it makes YOU happy! So go back to whatever made you happy as a child—play with crayons, draw up some art projects or make some crafts.
In Conclusion
Writer's block is no joke. It's a little like having your brain stuck in a tar pit, and every time you try to move forward, it pulls you back down again.
You're not alone if this happens to you—everyone gets writer's block at some point in their career. The hardest thing about writing is writing. That's why so many of us have trouble getting started, and why we procrastinate on our work. But there are ways to beat writer's block and push through it—for good.
It sounds so simple, but it's true. You can't expect inspiration to strike you like lightning—you have to put in the time and effort to create your own inspiration.
Whichever route works for you, keep at it until something clicks, then keep doing it until something else clicks—and so on!
Identifying the problem and acknowledging it is probably the most important step in any difficulty. Lots of good advice in your article.