6 Tips to Survive Writer's Block

Every writer has gone through it at least once in her lifetime. Writer's block––an affliction that paralyzes the imagination––is singlehandedly one of the worst and most common problems any writer faces or will face during her career. Sometimes it attacks while in the middle of a writing project. Sometimes it occurs before a single word is committed to paper. It can last briefly, or it can afflict its victims for years on end. To its sufferers, it's a debilitating process to work through. When the creative juices stop flowing, any writer, no matter how established and lauded, loses confidence.

While most people know what writer's block is, most don't know what causes it. It's dubious to single out any one cause since it depends on the writer and her particular problem. Personal or emotional issues, stress, lack of time or sleep, perfectionism or lack of confidence, family responsibilities, or other distractions can all contribute to writer's block. There is also that dreaded sophomore slump experienced writers endure after they've published their first book, especially when it's a critical and financial success. What do you follow that up with? How can you compete against your previous success? The pressure of expectation can lead to a serious block. Writer Michael Chabon's second novel, 1995's Wonder Boys, which was made into a movie a few years later starring Michael Douglas, dealt with the sophomore slump and the psychological effects it had on the book's protagonist.

Whatever the reason, writer's block affects all writers the same way, leaving them unable or incapable of beginning or completing a project. If you are struggling with writer's block, here are some tips you can use to work your way through it and begin writing again:

Walk Away

When I found myself struggling with writer's block, especially while working on a project, I found the best thing to do was to simply walk away. Usually, struggling to work out a particular problem in the narrative or plotline tended to hurt more than help. In other words, overthinking the story was a huge problem. I compare it to trying to untangle a knotty ball of yarn. No matter how hard I pulled and tugged at those threads, I only ended up getting more knotted and more entangled. Resisting writer's block was futile, largely because it left me frustrated, angry, and on the verge of tears. Some writers claim that writing in such an emotionally charged state is good for writing honest work. Personally, I don't think it's helpful since writing is more than laying down the truth, honesty, and gut emotions; it is a craft. I've heard of some writers who wrote while under the influence, only to be disappointed the next morning by the previous night's output. Writing requires the careful crafting of ideas and images. But sometimes, overthinking your craft can lead to frustration and a block. When I walked away from the project I gained some distance and perspective, as well as calm and relaxation, making it easier to return to work with a fresh set of eyes. When you force yourself to continue working through a block or are focused on the fact that you're blocked, you become even more frustrated, which inevitably exacerbates the problem. So the best thing to do when you're facing writer's block is to simply walk away. Allow yourself some distance and focus on doing something else.

Do Something Else That's Creative

So what do you focus on when you're not writing? Try to do something else that is creative, something that inspires you. Sometimes just putting yourself in a creative state of mind helps those juices to start flowing again. Cook a meal for your friends. Try a recipe you've never used before and be creative about it. Take a walk. I've found that my imagination flows easily when I'm out walking. There's something about the physical exertion of pushing those thighs, swinging those arms, and pounding the pavement that puts me in a certain state of mind. I've conceived some interesting story ideas or different angles on a particular project I was working on while I was out walking. Another good idea is to immerse yourself in the creative endeavors of others. Watch a really good movie. Go to a museum or concert. Or if you can't afford that, go someplace quiet and peaceful, someplace that's preferably surrounded by nature, and meditate. By placing yourself in a position where your mind and body are calm and peaceful, you'll be better able to open yourself up to those creative intuitions. I enjoy simply going to a bookstore or library and browsing the books on the shelves. That kind of inspiration from published and more successful and classic authors can be invigorating.

Re-Evaluate

Another way to avoid writer's block is to re-evaluate the project you're working on. Of course, it's best to do this after you've walked away from it and gained some perspective. Re-read your work and figure out as a reader whether it works or not. This is where a good reader becomes a good writer. By evaluating your work from a reader's perspective you'll be better able to determine what works, what doesn't, and where you might be able to resolve those issues.

If you're having problems with what to write next, then you probably need to outline your story. One of the main problems I faced in my writing was knowing where to go next. I hadn't planned my story out as thoroughly as I needed to and this led to a creative block. One great piece of advice I've received was from the novelist and short story writer Robert Olen Butler's book From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction. In it, Butler suggests that you map out your story on 8x10 index cards. Take a card, turn it over on its unlined side, then write a simple sentence about a particular image or scene for your story. Continue doing this until you've written enough of these scenes to compose a piece of work. Place the cards in the chronological order you want them to appear in your story. Then, on the lined side of the cards, write in greater detail a synopsis of what occurs in that scene, who is in it, etc. If you think some scenes need to be added to fill out the narrative plot, then do so by going through the steps I enumerated before. By following this advice, I've found that my writing moved a lot more smoothly. I knew where I was headed story-wise and exactly how I wanted to write each scene. Now, instead of using index cards, I use spreadsheets, but the intent is still the same. Butler offers a lot of great advice. If you're having problems in this area of writing, I suggest buying his book.

Do Writing Exercises

Not all writers face writer's block during the middle of a project. Sometimes it occurs before they even begin writing. If that is the case, then walking away might not be the best solution. Here it becomes a matter of trying to get started. That's where writing exercises come in. Writing exercises aren't works-in-progress and don't necessarily have to be. Rather, they're simply a way to, like muscles, exercise your imagination and craft. Check out the many books in the writing reference section that offer great exercises. Author Natalie Goldberg has written several inspirational writing books, such as Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, that have included prompts. Her works are very helpful in not only finding the creativity and imagination lurking in every writer but also addressing their spiritual needs. Another book Fruitflesh: Seeds of Inspiration for Women Who Write has approached writing creatively from a feminine and sensual perspective.

Any prompt can help a blocked writer get started writing. It can be as simple as describing a fruit or a recent dream. Find something in your household that you can write about: an avocado pit on your kitchen shelf, an old family heirloom, a photograph, a comb, a thimble, a button from your favorite shirt that fell off, anything. Hold the object in your hand. Turn it over and over. Look at it. Examine it. What does the object look like? Describe it in words. Just get started writing about the object and see where it leads you. Don't pre-think or overthink what you want to write. Describe the object and let your imagination run wild.

Put on your favorite music. It can be something you used to love when you were a kid or it can be meditative. Whatever it is, close your eyes and listen. Again, don't think about writing, just listen. What images flit through your mind while you're listening? Does the music bring up old memories? Does it recall the present? Errands you need to run? Friends you had forgotten to call? Focus on what you are doing while listening to the music. How does your body feel? How do you feel? Or what about the music itself? Is there singing and in what style? What instruments are used in the piece? How does the arrangement affect you emotionally? Whatever the piece of music brings up, begin writing about that. Start writing the first image, the first emotion that comes to you while listening, and let that be your prompt to keep writing.

Daydreaming can be a great writing prompt, as well. We're all taught growing up that daydreaming is counterproductive and a waste of time. But to the creative artist, daydreaming is an exploration into the imagination. Find yourself a nice, comfortable spot in your house, sit outdoors if it's a sunny day, or take a long walk and let your mind wander. Be a kid again and imagine yourself in fantastic situations. Or imagine yourself in conversations you know you'll never have in real life. Free up your imagination and let it have a little fun.

Keep A Journal

Try journaling to exercise your writing skills. Write whatever you want: keep a record of something notable that happened that day, some incident that you witnessed, or that stood out to you. Your journal doesn't necessarily have to be noteworthy. You can keep a list of things to do for the day or things you need to pick up at the grocery store. Write bits of conversations you overheard at the coffee shop or at work. Keep a record of your dreams. Describe what happened in them and how you felt when you woke up. By having this record, you can use these bits and sketches for possible ideas for stories. A single line of dialogue you overheard or a recent dream could be the start of something larger.

Free Writing

Try free writing to jump-start your creative juices. As I stated before, overthinking a project can be the worst thing for a writer to do. The expectation that something is supposed to happen can be frustrating when it doesn't happen or doesn't happen the way you expect it to. Free writing simply releases those expectations and gets you writing again. The best way to get started is to put pen to paper and go. Begin with the first word that comes to mind and follow the thread your imagination takes. Or you can start with a sentence, such as "the first time I..." Everyone has a first time for everything, so this prompt is great for bringing up old memories or funny anecdotes that you can begin writing about.

Whatever comes to you doesn't necessarily mean it will be the germ of a new story or give you direction on a story you're already working on, but it can put you in a state of mind that allows you to be more creative. And that is what's most important. Writer's block is exactly as it sounds: it's a block on your imagination, preventing it from freely expressing itself. By doing things that inspire your creativity, whether it is journaling, listening to music, or taking a walk, you'll be able to remove that block and begin tapping into those creative juices that are waiting to burst through your imagination.

Cynthia C. Scott is the author of The Book of Dreams, The Naxos Academy of Psychic Studies for Colored Girls, Immortal, My Love, and The Haunted Child, which are available on Amazon.com and Kobo. Her short story, "Ruby's Paradox," was the 2018 Fairfield Writing contest winner, which appears in Here to Now: A Time Travel Anthology. She is also the author of numerous essays, reviews, articles, and short stories published in various publications such as Strange Horizons, Fiyah Magazine, and her own substack newsletter, The Portal.