Strategies for overcoming writer's block

Writer’s block is the common enemy of all writers.  Virtually every writer has experienced a block at least once in their career and it can be a frustrating and stressful situation.  Even Ernest Hemingway wrestled with this problem.  Once, when he was asked to describe one of his biggest fears, he replied, “There is nothing more frightening than staring down at a blank sheet of paper.”  If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to write, you may feel as though you will never regain your muse.  However, there are many things that you can do to overcome the problem; you just have to find a method that works for you. I have compiled a list of ideas that you can try to help you break through your block.  I experienced writer’s blocks periodically throughout my academic career, and one or more of these methods always worked for me.

Get a good night’s sleep

Doesn’t it seem as though one of the solutions proposed for nearly everything that ails us is to get a good night’s sleep? There is a reason for that.   If you do not get enough restful sleep, you will experience stress.  This happens when levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) remain high, while the level of serotonin and dopamine, chemicals which reduce stress and boost creativity, remain low.  So if you are experiencing writer’s block, the first thing you should do is get a good night’s sleep, in order to maintain the right balance of these chemicals.

Take a walk

Sometimes a walk is all that is necessary to rejuvenate your mind and your body.  Exercise is good for you; like sleep, it also reduces cortisol and boosts serotonin and dopamine levels.  Taking a walk – even a brisk, short one, will energize you and reduce your stress.  You may even be inspired by things you see or people that you meet along the way.

Change your routine

Routine can be a good thing.  Most of us enjoy some sense of daily.  It helps us structure our day and stay disciplined, and it can reduce stress by giving us a feeling of stability.  However, a routine that is too rigid can actually cause stress, which can stifle your creativity.  Try changing the way you do things for a few days.  Even a small change can help.  For example, instead of sitting down to work right after you have had your morning coffee and paid your bills, take a walk first and then sit down to write, leaving the bills for later in the day.  Or perhaps you could try a change of venue.  If you are used to working alone in your home office or at the dining room table, try going to the library or even to a local coffee shop.  A simple change of scenery or being around other people can work wonders for relieving writer’s block.

Try meditating

Meditation is a great stress reducer and is a wonderful way to clear your mind of stressful thoughts that stifle your creativity.   All you need in order to meditate is a quiet space free of children, spouses, pets or telemarketers.  You can sit on the floor or on a cushion, or if that is physically difficult for you, choose a comfortable chair or a couch. Rest your hands lightly in your lap, close your eyes and breathe deeply.  Next, try emptying your mind of all thoughts.  You may find it difficult at first to ignore the nagging thoughts that so often preoccupy us, but after a while, you will learn to free your mind and just relax.

Stream of consciousness exercises

Sit down with a blank sheet of paper in front of you and write the first word or thought that pops into your head.  Keep doing t his until you have a page full of random words and phrases. When you are done, read it back through several times, trying to form mental pictures or new ideas.  If you are still unable to come up with any ideas, put the paper away and come back to it a few hours later.  Taking a fresh look at your thoughts might just spark your creativity.  Read a book

There is nothing like reading a book to kindle the imagination.  Parents and teachers are well aware of this fact, which is why they spend so much of their time encouraging children to read.  Often, the act of reading another author’s words can help spark your own ideas.  Don’t misunderstand me; I am not suggesting that you copy someone else’s work.  However, something in the turn of a phrase or in the description of an object or an event can often spark your own creativity.

Listen to music

Studies have found that certain types of music, particularly classical music or “easy listening”, can reduce stress by increasing the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your brain, just as sleep and exercise do.

Talk it over

Don’t be embarrassed to admit that you are experiencing writer’s block.  Talk to other writers, fellow students, your professor, or your friends and family members.  Often, a suggestion or a bit of advice from someone who knows you and knows your work can help you regain your focus and your confidence and give you some direction.

Regardless of which of these methods you choose to try, remember that the problem is only temporary – I have never heard of a writer that suffered a permanent case of writer’s block.  Try not to become stressed or to obsess too much over it  After all, breaking through a writer’s block can be like trying to have a baby:  sometimes, when you relax and stop trying so hard, that’s when it will happen.