The Quickest Way to Get is to Give

In this post I'm going to go over how to get more of what you want: compliments, friends, food, money...whatever it is you're after.

The key is not necessarily in what you do but rather in what you give out. Get this one technique right and I guarantee you'll notice the results quickly. It's that easy.

Writer's block can sometimes be a real head-scratcher for writers who are getting accustomed to their craft. I still remember my first bout with writer's block, though it actually lasted 3 months.

I started to think maybe it was a sign that I wasn't cut out to be a writer. I thought it might be too late to pursue such a career, so I turned to other options such as business or medicine.

But here's the thing about writer's block: Just because you're having a hard time writing doesn't mean you're not cut out for that career. It just means that you need to learn how to deal with writer's block first .

Now, if your lack of inspiration is coupled with stress and anxiety, then perhaps writing (and any job in general) is not for you...at least not at the moment. Perhaps taking some time off will help you regain your spark.

In any case, writer's block can be overcome if you know how to overcome it. To help you along the way I've decided to tackle this topic from two angles:

1) Ways to fight writer's block and 2) Ways to deal with writer's block once it does happen.

So here goes...

Fight Writer's Block Using These 7 Techniques:

1. Know When You're Getting Too Busy To Write: Every author has dealt in some way or another with "writer's block. " It's the pest of a writer's career, so you must learn to recognize it when it happens.

In fact, writer's block is a common problem that many authors suffer from. And not just for long periods of time...but for short periods as well.

Writer's block is more than just not being able to write: When you're having an extended bout with writer's block, it can actually make your hand shake while you're typing and often cause your eyes to dart around the page.

It can also cause your thoughts to wander while attempting to concentrate on what you're trying to write. It's a very strange feeling.

If those symptoms sound familiar to you, then you're probably suffering from "writer's block."

You can fight writer's block using the following techniques:

2. Know When You're Working Too Hard To Write: Writer's block can also show up when you're too driven to write in order to achieve something .

In fact, writer's block is usually more pronounced when your expectations exceed your ability to achieve them. There are no limits on what a person can accomplish if they really set their mind and determination to it, right? So why should writing be different?

Writer's block can also lead writer into exhaustion. I know because I experienced it myself.

It's never fun trying to write when you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. It's like a heavy blanket that no one wants wrapped around them.

If you're experiencing writer's block because you're writing for something greater than yourself, then perhaps it's time to take a break from writing. You deserve it.

3. Know When You're Not Writing Because You Have Nothing To Say: Sometimes writer's block is more psychological than anything else, so maybe it doesn't really exist at all...you just believe that you have writer's block.

In such cases, you need to know that there's a very fine line between procrastination and writer's block.

If you think that is what you're experiencing, then it might be time to take a break from writing. You deserve it.

Procrastinating on writing is usually the result of not knowing exactly what you want to say in your writing (which is quite common as a new writer). When this happens it's no wonder why writer's block would occur.

So if that situation sounds familiar to you, then try this technique: 5)  Know When You're Suffering From Bad Writing Habits: Bad habits are one of the most apparent causes of writer's block.

When you're having a bad writing habit, you may not realize it, but it's a big obstacle that can prevent you from finishing your book.

Are you making typos or sentence errors? Can't seem to form complete sentences? Getting lost in the middle of your book and losing time?  Are you skipping important words, sentences or paragraphs because you're reading too fast or too slow? All of these are problems that can cause writer's block. If any of these issues seem familiar to you, then it might be time to take a break from writing. You deserve it.

4. Know When You're Anxious or Depressed: Anxiety, depression and stress can cause a whole host of problems when it comes to writing your book.

If you think all of those issues sound familiar to you, then that means you will often have trouble with writer's block.

It seems the common denominator in all cases is anxiety , depression and stress . If any of these are real issues for you, then ask yourself "how much time do I really need to write my book?"

Is it as much as two hours? Three? One hour? Ten minutes? The answer to this question will help you determine if writing is really worth the risk or not.

5. Know When You're Not Writing Because You Don't Think You're Good Enough: This is one of the worst versions of writer's block that you should be aware of. If you've reached a point where you think your writing sucks, then perhaps it's time to take a break from writing.

This type of writer's block is especially true if you think your writing isn't good enough because you have lost your inspiration.

The best way to fight this type of writer's block would be to take some time off and do something else like read other people's books, visit blogs or forums and even blog yourself (if blogging is your thing). Remember, inspiration can come from anywhere...

Conclusion: Now that you know some of the major reasons why writers get writer's block, you can better understand how to fight it. 

In fact, the best way to fight writer's block is to remove yourself from writing completely and doing something else...anything else.

If you do this enough times, then you'll eventually find your inspiration again. It may not be tomorrow or even next week, but it WILL come back.