Ten Strategies for Beating Writer's Block

Have you ever suffered from writer's block? You've got a deadline and your mind is blank. There is no inspiration and you can hear the clock ticking like a bomb in your head. What do you do? PANIC! No, that is certainly NOT the best plan of action. Here are some tips that may help you stay calm and get past the block.

1. Be Kind to Yourself

This is an attitude, not a behavior. Stop the negative self-talk and lecturing and switch on the positive instead. Be honest. Don't slather fluffy sweet-talk all over yourself that you know are lies; simply stop the negative talk and remind yourself that you can do it.

2. Give Yourself a Break

This is an action. Get up and move. Take a walk or brisk run. Do jumping jacks. Go swimming. Do stretches. Get up from your chair and move to another room or go outdoors. Do something that raises your heart rate.

3. Produce Something Horrible

Stick with your assignment and plow on through it even though every word and every sentence is horrible. Even if one sentence is disconnected from the next, it doesn't matter. Just keep writing and find encouragement by the mere fact that you have the guts to sit and work on it no matter how "bad" it is.

4. Simplify

Imagine you are explaining something (the subject of your assignment) to someone whose native language isn't English.

5. Do Some Research

Read at least 3 related articles and write out the good points you find in your reading and several questions that come to mind as you read. Then go looking for a couple of more sources. Read those then write out a reaction.

6. Change Your Environment

Take your work and go someplace else. Commit to writing something at the new destination. For example, commit to writing 2 pages, or promise to write the answers to two of your questions.

7. Spurt, Stop, and Spurt Some More

Vent in writing for 20 minutes. Then stop, even if you are in the middle of a thought and do something completely different. Then sit down again and vent in writing for another 20 minutes.

8. Set Tiny Goals

Break the writing assignment into different parts and then tackle just one of them at a time.

9. Write Something Else

Write a letter or a poem or a list. You can even copy something you really like. Simply doing the act of writing without fretting over the illusive assignment may work to jump start you back into action on the required task.

10. Play Q & A

List questions related to whatever it is you are stuck on. Don't worry about answering the questions, just list as many questions as you can think of. Go back later and write out the answers.

Writer's block is similar to insomnia in that the more you think about it and worry over it, the worse it gets. So the next time you feel stuck in your writing, don't freak out, just try these tips to get back on track before it gets the best of you.

Good luck!