Writer’s block is one of the challenges that can frighten a blogger or writer. Finding yourself unable to write or put out content can alarm anyone who uses writing as an essential part of their lives. If you find yourself experiencing an inability to put out the required creative juice to continue writing, it’s only fitting for you to find ways on how to get rid of writer’s block to stop it from hindering their progress in writing.
But what is writer’s block?
Writer’s block is when the writer cannot bring himself or herself to write or continue writing. It is the time when the inspiration and motivation to write seems to leave without any trace. It is as if you are a beginner with no idea how and what to write.
I find myself in the same situation months after I launched my blog. For more than a year, I only managed to have 13 posts which I think is incredibly underperforming.
I can say that writer’s block can give any writer serious worry and alarm.
What causes writer’s block?
There are several causes of writer’s block, and it could be one or more of the following reasons:
- The writer thinks that his/her inspiration is not worth it.
- Major life changes. This could be because some areas of life are demanding more time than usual. Or some devastating events in life like the death of loved ones.
- Struggling with perfection.
- Not so organized schedule
- Giving in to fear of putting out a not so satisfying write-ups.
- Lack of inspiration because it feels like your life or work is going nowhere.
It can vary from person to person, but I have mentioned what kept me at bay in my writing.
How to Get Rid of Writer’s Block
It is undoubtedly vital to figure out how to get rid of writer’s block and get back on your writing. Of course, identifying the root causes of the problem will help significantly in solving any problem. To overcome writer’s block, one should first understand what’s causing it.
However, suppose it’s not easy to identify the cause of writer’s block, I suggest you consider the following as these are effective for me too:
Overcome writer’s block by taking a break
You’re wondering why I’m suggesting a seemingly counterintuitive thing? Well yes! I am.
I find that taking a break helps a lot in solving writer’s block. But I won’t simply ask you to just take a break. It will be helpful if you do some self-reflection while you’re taking a break.
In a way, self-reflection is a tool to help you understand the whole situation. It will then allow you to see the problem more clearly and level-headed.
Prepare content outline or schedule in advance
Well, having a content outline or schedule applies to any writer. Whether you’re a blogger, book author, etc., preparing topics or the flow of the story of your book in advance will help you avoid writer’s block.
Preparing an outline or story flow during the days when you’re most inspired could really aid you during the time an idea or inspiration is out of reach. Keeping an idea notebook and preparing an outline for each blog post helps me push myself to write and publish content consistently.
Make time for your content calendar and adopt the habit of taking advantage of your most inspired and productive days to help your future writing process.
Hey! Thanks for stopping by! I did this free Content Calendar to help you plan your blog posts in advance. It’s free 🙂
Don’t give in to procrastination
I don’t know with you, but procrastination has been my biggest enemy. It sabotaged many areas in my life to a point when I find a way to fight it. But, of course, nobody’s perfect, so it is completely normal to fall off the process from time to time.
If you realize that procrastination is causing your block, you can head over to my blog post on how to stop procrastination and get things done. I hope it helps!
Try brain dumping
It can be so annoying when you keep remembering some things or conversations that bother you. Unfortunately, we have these situations. Some, including me, need a little advice on stopping unwanted thoughts from ruining our focus, especially when these thoughts linger much longer than we want.
Give some time slot on when you are free to worry or think of your problems. It sounds silly but hear me out. Give a time limit to think of your problems, put them on paper and give your problems some time to be analyzed.
Try dumping those annoying thoughts out of your mind and into the paper. In a paper, write all the thoughts that come into your mind. Let yourself trust the paper with these problems. Leave it there for a while and try to get back on your writing.
Have a writing routine
Do your ever notice how tough it is to break a strong routine or habit? We can also use this to get rid of writer’s block because in the days we are not as inspired or motivated to write, having a writing routine can save us.
Having a routine for writing starts with a clear schedule. To successfully overcome writer’s block, we need discipline and practice to set aside any distractions or activities that will not ruin our lives in exchange for writing time.
You can also start by adopting the habit of writing anywhere. You can do this by using your idle time to write using your phone or tablet.
Final thoughts on how to get rid of writer’s block
Other people think that writing is as easy as sitting there and blurting out words. Writing is not as simple as that because of the different processes that the writer needs to accomplish. Even if it is not easy, we cannot deny that writing is also an enjoyable activity. Maybe not for others but for us, writing is not just a means to survive but also to be happy and fulfilled.
How do you overcome writer’s block? Please let me know what’s your tips and tricks in the comment section below.
Be inspired, be motivated!
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