The Ultimate Guide to Beating Writer's Block

Writer’s block is a period of time where an author has no idea how to continue their story. It’s like a pirate’s black spot in the writing world because once you get it, it seems to haunt you for a very long time, possibly killing your dream. But here’s the good news: Every writer can beat writer’s block and here are the steps to kick writer’s block to the curb.

1. Recognize you’re stuck

This step is simple enough: Realize that you are in a bout of writer’s block. Some writers have a tough time admitting this, but even the best writers get stuck from time to time. Realize that you need to step back from your work for a moment and get your bearings.

2. Know you won’t be stuck forever

Unlike the previously mentioned black spot, writer’s block will not be the end of you as a writer. Every writer goes through writer’s block at some point, but if you follow the next steps, your writer’s block will be gone and you can continue to grow and improve as a writer. Embrace this obstacle because it will help you become a better writer in the long run.

3. Figure out where you’re stuck

Figure out where in your story writer’s block is stopping you. Is it a period of no action? Is it a conversation that never seems to come out the way you’d hope? From what I've noticed, people get stuck in areas of writing where they aren’t familiar. For example, a writer who does well writing suspenseful scenes may not know how to effectively write a meaningful internal monologue. They may also be stuck because something just doesn't seem right. Whatever the reason, really dig deep and be honest with yourself.

4. Figure out why you’re stuck

A lot of writers say, “I just don’t know where to go from here,” and that tends to be a very generic answer to a complex problem. Some people get writer’s block because they are afraid of failure, so it isn’t that you don’t know how to continue, but that you are afraid to take a leap into the unknown. The best advice for these writers is to just write. Yes, it may not come onto the page very well, but at least it’s there and then you can work with it to make it better later.

Other writers get stuck because they can see their story go in three different directions from where they are stuck, and the best solution to this is to try writing those three directions and seeing which one feels right with the story (I can assure you, the right one will stand out). Or, if you want to save yourself some work, make an outline of your story and determine which direction will get you most effectively from this point in the story to the next.

Writers may also deal with writer’s block because they just don’t feel like writing for a while. This is perfectly normal! Writers need breaks just like the most conditioned athletes. If you feel this version of writer’s block, which is actually called writer’s fatigue, then take a step back and write something else. This does not mean stop writing, but take a break from your current project to work on anything else writing-related. Working on outside projects may spur your creativity or renew your zeal to work on your original work.

No matter your reason for your particular writer’s block, think long and hard about why it’s there in the first place. This may take some time, but from this experience, you will learn about yourself as a writer and know how to combat the problem when it arises again.

5. Kiss that writer’s block goodbye!

You’ve taken the steps to get to know your work and yourself as a writer, so congratulations! You’re on your way to defeating your writer’s block and you’re ready to face it again should it rear its ugly head. Yes, writer’s block can be a curse; but after some practice of tackling your creative thought process, writer’s block can be a tool that makes you and your writing much better than before.