How to Overcome Writer’s Block
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Anyone who writes often will occasionally be hit with writer’s block. It doesn’t matter where you write: it could be a journal, a blog, or even stories and poems. We tend to hit that proverbial wall, and just get stuck. Here are some tips from Amir that can help you get past these times, and keep the words flowing.
- Don’t force yourself to write. – Step away from the computer for a day or so and just ease your mind. This will release tension in your mind and allow your ideas to flow more freely. If you can’t stay away from the computer due to work obligations or something, then just stay away from blogging (or whatever other writing you’re doing).
- Go outside. – Go for a walk, hike, bike ride or just get outdoors… maybe even with a friend. This is a different concept to many Geeks but it really does help. Putting yourself into a new environment gives you some time to change your perspective.
- Turn on the TV/Radio. – This helps a fair amount. TV shows and radio stations can not only give you ideas, but can change the way you perceive certain topics or subjects. This could lead to ideas for an eventual blog post.
- Read other blogs. – Surf the Internet and find some quality content to read. This gives you an idea what other people are talking about these days. Not only are you helping yourself, but you are helping support a blogger and their community.
- If you haven’t already, sign up for a news aggregator service such as Google Reader, Bloglines or Feedly. – Looking for some more content you can view and voice you opinion on? Save yourself the legwork, and let all the news you want come to you via a news aggregator.
- Blog about your day. – Let’s go back to basics here and start simple. Instead of writing a heavy, opinionated and lengthy post, try something simple. Think of this as an online journal. Odds are, not a whole lot of people want to read a blog about what you did that day. But this can help you quite a bit by allowing you to get back into the idea of writing. Getting your consistency back is a big step to recovering from writer’s block.
- Turn you blog into a photo-blog for a couple days. – This may not work for everyone, but for some it does make things easier. Taking photos and going on photo walks can revive that imagination and get you into your writing mood. Taking photos can bring back perspective on things you are fond of, leading you to be able to turn your photos into blog posts.
- Don’t let that empty page intimidate you. – Start small with your posts, and then increase the length over time. A large part of recovering is to know and respect your limits when it comes to writing. This tip doesn’t just apply to writer’s block. You may have trouble with other things that require you to understand your limits.
- Ask, ask, ask. – Quite often, questions can be more powerful than answers. If you belong to an online community – ask around. Remember, you’re not the only one who can experience writer’s block. Facing writer’s block can be as easy – or as hard – as you make it. It’s your choice.
- Just want to write something – anything? – Write your own Top 10 tips on anything that interests you. You just never know when Chris might use it!
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5 Comments
Review the Book
September 10th, 2009
at 12:48pm
It was very refreshing to read this post. Even the most accomplished of writers get writers block and have to find something completely unrelated to what they are writing about.
I used to go ice skating; the sound of other skates and laughter would usually clear my head. These days, its not as simple!
Thank you again for the enlightening post!!
Happy Writing!
Health & Fitness Addict
September 10th, 2009
at 9:02pm
I usually go for a run which stimulates my creative thinking “muscles” and provides me with great topics & ideas to write about
Bit Byter
September 11th, 2009
at 9:46am
I think the comments you added to the list tell something about the list.
…but I disagree with the first point. The advice isn’t bad–I just don’t think it’s going to help you start to write.
Force yourself to write; just don’t force yourself to write about one particular thing.
If you just sit down and write, put pen to paper (so to speak), and write whatever comes, eventually, you will write what you want to write.
I’ve started writing a blog with “TA-DA”. Sure, it got edited out later, but it was a start.
Chris
September 12th, 2009
at 7:15am
That is so true about not forcing yourself. It’s not the same as giving up or procrastinating. It’s listening to your body and mind, important skills for a writer.
Steal This Blog Post. | GAby Menta
October 1st, 2009
at 5:07pm
[...] block. On September 1, 2009 SEO Book wrote a post of the exact same title. Chris Pirillo wrote the same post on September 10, 2009. It’s not an altogether original post idea in the first place so I’m [...]