As a writer, it can be frustrating when you’re faced with a blank page and don’t know where to start. This is commonly known as writer’s block. It can happen to anyone, no matter how experienced they are. The good news is that there are ways to overcome writer’s block. In this blog post, I want to explore the best three ways I’ve found to combat staring at an empty screen page.
Don’t fret! Many writers have suffered from writer’s block. You’re in good company.
- Ernest Hemingway – Hemingway is considered one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. However, he suffered from writer’s block later in life, which he attributed to depression.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald – Fitzgerald is best known for his novel “The Great Gatsby.” However, he struggled with writer’s block later in life, which he blamed on alcoholism.
- Virginia Woolf – Woolf was a British writer who is known for her stream-of-consciousness writing style. However, she suffered from bouts of writer’s block throughout her career.
- Truman Capote – Capote was an American writer best known for his nonfiction novel “In Cold Blood.” He struggled with writer’s block later in life, which was attributed to his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
- Stephen King – King is a bestselling American author who has written over 60 books. However, he has also suffered from writer’s block at various points in his career.
- Harper Lee – Lee was an American novelist who is best known for her novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” However, she struggled with writer’s block and only published one other novel in her lifetime.
- Freewriting
One of the most effective ways to overcome writer’s block is by practicing freewriting. This involves setting a timer for a specific amount of time (usually 10-15 minutes) and writing continuously without stopping, even if what you’re writing doesn’t make sense or isn’t relevant to your topic.
The goal of freewriting is to get your thoughts flowing and to bypass the internal editor that often holds us back when we try to write. By giving yourself permission to write anything that comes to mind, you can break through the mental block that’s been holding you back.
Once your freewriting session is over, you can go back and review what you’ve written. You may be surprised to find that there are some nuggets of inspiration that you can use in your actual writing.
- Change Your Environment
Sometimes, writer’s block can be caused by feeling stagnant in your environment. If you’ve been sitting at the same desk for hours, it might be time to switch things up. Go for a walk outside, find a new place to work, or even just move to a different room in your house.
Changing your environment can help you break out of your routine and get your creative juices flowing again. You might find that a change of scenery helps you see things from a new perspective or gives you a fresh idea.
- Read and Research
If you’re struggling to come up with ideas for your writing, it might be time to do some reading and research. Whether it’s a book, an article, or even just browsing the internet, exposing yourself to new information can help spark your imagination.
Read about topics that interest you, and see if you can find a way to tie them into your writing. You might also find that reading other people’s writing can inspire you and give you new ideas.
Writer’s block is a common problem that can be overcome. Whether it’s through freewriting, changing your environment, or reading and research, there are many ways to break through the mental block and get back to writing. Don’t let writer’s block hold you back – try these tips the next time you find yourself struggling to put words on the page.
Where you can get resources you need:
- Writer’s Digest – Writer’s Digest is a popular website that offers a variety of resources for writers. They have articles and blog posts on overcoming writer’s block, as well as writing prompts and exercises to help spark creativity.
- The Creative Penn – The Creative Penn is a website run by author Joanna Penn. She offers advice on writing and self-publishing, and also has a podcast where she interviews other writers. Her website includes a section on overcoming writer’s block.
- The Write Practice – The Write Practice is a website that offers writing prompts, exercises, and challenges to help writers improve their craft. They also have a section on overcoming writer’s block, with articles and resources to help writers who are struggling.
- Writer’s Relief – Writer’s Relief is a website that offers a variety of services for writers, including editing, formatting, and publishing assistance. They also have articles and resources on overcoming writer’s block, as well as tips for staying productive and motivated.
These are just a few examples of websites that writers can visit for help and ideas to overcome writer’s block. There are many more resources out there, so don’t be afraid to do some research and find the ones that work best for you.
- Writer’s Digest – https://www.writersdigest.com/
- The Creative Penn – https://www.thecreativepenn.com/
- The Write Practice – https://thewritepractice.com/
- Writer’s Relief – https://writersrelief.com/