TEN TIPS ON OVERCOMING
writer's block
At some point in every writers career comes the dreaded ‘writers-block’, that insurmountable wall which towers above you and seems completely impenetrable. Whether it’s your first major book or the tenth in a row, this temporary barrier can affect all levels of author regardless of past performance.
If you look at any of the most successful books and their authors you will find that they too have had their battles with writers-block, Samuel Coleridge, Leo Tolstoy, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemmingway and JK Rowling have all had to deal with it and of course they fought through to acclaimed success.
However, what can we learn from their experiences and also those practices from the many other accomplished? Here we look at some great advice on overcoming writers-block and practical strategies designed to help get back to your flow and finish that masterpiece.
1) Stop! - Don’t panic, at first it will seem like you’ll never be able to get to the other side of this, believe me… YOU WILL.
2) Relax – Take time away from your laptop (or pen and note pad), find a quite spot and try to empty your mind of thoughts, there are some great techniques employed in meditation which require the counting of your breaths both in and out (it gets you to apply your focus upon something other than your subconscious thoughts). This is a great way of not only relieving stress but also clearing your mind and paving the way back to your normal working flow. Writers block can come from over work and tiredness, so ensuring you stay fresh will help keep you focused and creative.
If you look at any of the most successful books and their authors you will find that they too have had their battles with writers-block, Samuel Coleridge, Leo Tolstoy, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemmingway and JK Rowling have all had to deal with it and of course they fought through to acclaimed success.
However, what can we learn from their experiences and also those practices from the many other accomplished? Here we look at some great advice on overcoming writers-block and practical strategies designed to help get back to your flow and finish that masterpiece.
1) Stop! - Don’t panic, at first it will seem like you’ll never be able to get to the other side of this, believe me… YOU WILL.
2) Relax – Take time away from your laptop (or pen and note pad), find a quite spot and try to empty your mind of thoughts, there are some great techniques employed in meditation which require the counting of your breaths both in and out (it gets you to apply your focus upon something other than your subconscious thoughts). This is a great way of not only relieving stress but also clearing your mind and paving the way back to your normal working flow. Writers block can come from over work and tiredness, so ensuring you stay fresh will help keep you focused and creative.
3) Mix up the routine – if (and like many authors) you have set a fixed schedule for your writing sessions, alter it a little. This may be as simple as changing the time you choose to write or it could be the location, the main thing is adding an element of variation to your normal routine if you design a routine which is flexible you can still cover a great deal of time but without stress.
4) Have you a plan? – Sometimes writers-block can come from not having a clearly defined plan or map for your work, go back and revisit your road map. When you do this it’s worth trying to be as honest as you can with yourself, if it’s not working it’s clearly time to re-do.
5) Exercise – I’m not saying you have to go out for a 12 mile run either, even if it’s just a walk around the block for twenty minutes, getting out and using your muscles (even gently) will get you thinking in a far more positive way and allow you to get back on track.
6) Brain-Storm – Take a clean sheet of paper and start scribbling, draw, write, sketch and even design how great you'd like things to be! This is a great way to force out new ideas and give yourself space to think outside of the box without worry.
4) Have you a plan? – Sometimes writers-block can come from not having a clearly defined plan or map for your work, go back and revisit your road map. When you do this it’s worth trying to be as honest as you can with yourself, if it’s not working it’s clearly time to re-do.
5) Exercise – I’m not saying you have to go out for a 12 mile run either, even if it’s just a walk around the block for twenty minutes, getting out and using your muscles (even gently) will get you thinking in a far more positive way and allow you to get back on track.
6) Brain-Storm – Take a clean sheet of paper and start scribbling, draw, write, sketch and even design how great you'd like things to be! This is a great way to force out new ideas and give yourself space to think outside of the box without worry.
7) Time to talk – spending time with other creative people (both fellow writers and even artists) will always help to rekindle your imagination and creativity. It’s even worth joining a local writers group or creative writing course to help.
8) Read – Yes, read. Take time out to become fully engrossed in a classic book of literature, it can be helpful if you choose a genre which is the same as the one you are writing in too.
9) Movie time – sit down and watch a favorite movie or even a new one, it’s amazing where inspiration can come from.
10) Research – getting online and doing further research for the finer details within your plot is a surprising way of getting your creative juices flowing once again, you can even combine it with a field trip to specific locations to really get back in to the mood.
Even if you have to take a couple of days away from the creative process it’s just worth keeping in mind that like the greats before you, writers block can always be overcome.
