Sometimes, things happen in life that we don't like. In some cases, the unpleasant episodes seem to come out of nowhere. Other times, however, these events are echoed in our life through a streak of bad luck or even tragedy. Writer's block is one such unfortunate event that can often lead to a loss of creativity and feeling as though you're floundering without an answer.
It's not something to be ashamed of; you've got every reason in the world to feel defeated by it and frustrated with it becoming an obstacle in your path towards your ultimate goal — writing!
Thankfully there are many ways around this common writer's block problem, and today we'll explore them all! Let’s get started...
The first power up that you should try when writer's block comes knocking is a good dose of inspiration. Personally, I'm a big fan of going out and taking in some new experiences to infuse my writing with a fresh breath of life. The same can be done by watching movies, listening to music (especially something that inspires visual imagery), or by participating in activities that challenge your mind and push you outside your comfort zone.
The idea is to give your mind something to write about. It doesn't even have to be related to your writing; in fact, it often helps if it isn't. Your imagination will fill the gaps and you'll be able to draw on the inspiration of these new experiences. You'll start writing again and, as if by magic, writer's block will disappear... Well, almost as if by magic!
Of course, getting inspired isn't always easy. This might require some digging within yourself or taking a trip outside of your comfort zone — literally or figuratively.
Another option is to try approaching writing in a different way. When I was first learning to write, I would often force myself to write something — anything! — as fast as I could to get that writing bug out of my system. Of course, this didn't work at all!
Instead, I now prefer to approach my creative process by taking it one step at a time. I usually begin by laying down a vague idea for what the piece will be about and then flesh the ideas out into more detailed potential scenes using one of the following techniques:
-- Brainstorming . This is great for outlining your book or movie, but it's also useful for beginning your writing projects. Try writing down your ideas for each scene and how you want them to play out.
-- Journaling . I found that journaling for a few minutes every day before I began writing helped to clear my mind of all the nonsense that accumulated throughout my day.
-- Drawing or modeling. If you're an artist, this is something you might enjoy doing. You could lay out a series of elements (in the form of characters, objects, or scenes) that you want your story to revolve around or work from a general idea in your head.
The third power up I can recommend to help you get past writer's block (or regular writer's block) is planning. I think this has to be one of the best things you can do as a writing project when it comes to coming up with new ideas and creating more structure in your writing.
I often find that one day I have an idea for a writing project and the next day I find myself without that motivation and drive, so all my energy is focused on just completing what needs to be done before my deadline...
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