5 Tricks to Fight Writer's Block

Every writer experiences that moment when the page becomes an insurmountable challenge, a project for which one cannot summon the enthusiasm. A writer gets bored. A writer gets down or disappointed. Distracted. Filled with the urgency to just finish the thing already. Overwhelmed by the vastness of the work.

Anxiety and uncertainty occur in every occupation, and writers lump all these occurrences together under the term "writer's block," the affliction in which a writer cannot think of a single sentence to continue writing, or a single reason why he or she should.

It happens. It will pass. Here are some tricks I've found that help me overcome it. Try them and see how they work for you.

Practice mindful writing.

Perhaps you keep a journal. Mindful writing is similar to journal writing. Julia Cameron calls it "morning pages." Natalie Goldberg calls it "Writing Down the Bones." Whatever you wish to call it, mindful writing is basically a meditation on paper, writing fully in the moment, without any regard to the outcome or finished product. This is writing without expectation or pressure. Every time I get stuck in my writing projects, I set aside a period of time to write just for the sheer joy of the process. And I come away reminded of how much I do enjoy the practice of writing, even when the result does not always meet my expectations.

Read poetry.

I am not a regular reader of poetry. I would much rather immerse myself in a story. But many times, when the creative well is empty, poetry is the answer. Poetry contains the most amount of artistry, creativity, and language in the smallest possible space. In other words, you get a lot of return for a little time spent with poetry. In a novel, there may be layered meaning, metaphor, and artistic language, but it also takes much more time and effort to absorb it. To quote Ezra Pound, "Poetry is language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree." I dare you to read poetry and not come away inspired in some way to continue writing.

Change your environment.

Changing your routine or location forces your brain to turn off its autopilot. When you feel as though your writing has become stale or a pointless effort, make a point to change your routine, even if you just drive a different route to the grocery store. When I get into a rut, I usually take a drive somewhere unfamiliar. I've lived in rural areas all my life, and so I get nervous driving in cities with a lot of traffic. When I feel like I'm in a writing rut, I drive downtown, grab a coffee, go to a restaurant to which I haven't yet been, or visit one of the local tourist attractions I haven't seen since I was a kid. I bring along a notebook and pen and write. You don't need to jet off to Europe, just go somewhere outside of your normal route.

Switch from typing to longhand, or vice versa.

We live in a time where writing is fast and easy on the computer. We can cut and paste and move around whole paragraphs, or chapters even, within seconds. We can type just as fast as our thoughts allow us, depending on the level of our typing skill. I write on the computer every morning. I also, when I'm stuck on a project, empty of new ideas, or full of boredom, pull out a notebook and pen and write. I have found that just changing the method sparks something in my creativity. Maybe the mental aspect of writing needs a change in its physical expression? I don't know the reason for it. I just know that it usually works.

Occupy the body with physical labor.

Wait, stay with me here. I'm not saying you have to go out and dig ditches. But I have found that when my body is occupied, my mind is willing to move more freely. Why do you think we always get the best ideas while driving, or in the shower? If you're stuck in your writing, get up and move around. Tackle some mundane household project. Clean the windows. Pull weeds. Let your mind wander. I have found that when I am stuck while writing, sometimes simply getting up and walking out to the mailbox will result in a new idea or a fix to the problem in the narrative. Other times I vacuum, bake a cake, or walk the dog.

Remember that while writer's block feels permanent in the moment, it is always temporary. In the meantime, try one of these tricks. And let me know if they work for you!