Ways I Crush Writer’s Block

I think most writers can agree on one thing.

No matter if you’re published or not, type with a computer or write by hand, create poetry or long stories, you can probably nod along as I say this:

Writer’s block is the worst.

So how do I beat writer’s block? How do I keep writing even when I feel like the creative juices just aren’t flowing anymore? Read on to find out. 🙂

That intro got kind of strange and commericial-y near the end. Sorry about that.  Anyway, before I get into my whole spiel, I’d like to note that if you don’t get annoyed by writer’s block or you maybe even like it (?) then I’d like to take a moment and applaud you. And also ask you if you can teach me your ways.

Please, show me the world where writer’s block is not a reason to cry.

Unfortunately for me, I deal with writer’s block all the time. On blog posts. On stories I’m writing. On school essays. Usually I’m either pounding out 39408234834958 words a second and making great progress or just sitting there staring at a blank screen questioning my existence.

Though I end up doing the latter quite a bit, I do have some methods for when it gets so extreme I start to consider just deleting my entire story. Or throwing it into a busy street. Or killing it in any other way that would be painful to us both.

So, let’s get started!

1. I stop writing.

Okay. That made me sound like someone who just gives up at the drop of a hat. I’M NOT, I PROMISE! However, I do know when it’s time to back down.

If the ideas have stopped flowing, sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it. Sometimes the best thing to do is close the ______ (insert laptop, journal, etc. there) and go do something else. Because if the creativity isn’t there, sometime it just isn’t there.

Something that helps get the wheels turning is to take a walk. Go to a park, fly a kite…

Let’s go fllyy a kite, up to the hiiighest heights…does anyone else’s mind think in musicals?!

2. Read a good book.

If I can’t think of the right words to say, it can really help me to read. Seeing other styles of writing from different authors inspires me to get back and get writing!

I recommend rereading books if you’re having writer’s block. 🙂 Since you’re more familiar with them, you can focus less on the plot and more on the words.

3. Do something that gets you focused.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ve probably heard me say (in many, many, posts) that I’m a very organized person. Personally, if I’m facing writer’s block, I’ll clean my room or organize some random drawers.

Maybe you get focused by scrolling through Pinterest (I wish I did), listening to music, or talking with someone. Whatever that thing is that gets you focused- take a break, do it, then go back to writing.

4. Have a change in environment.

I can’t stress this one enough! It’s seriously a game changer. 😊 And it’s pretty simple, as long as you have an easily available environment change.

If I have major writer’s block or I can’t focus on my homework, I’ll go to my local public library, a friend’s house, or a coffee shop. It’s so much easier to see everything in a new light when you’re in a different place!

Quick tangent- today I got my first pumpkin spice frappuccino of the season, and can I just say that I am so ready for fall?!🍂There may or may not be fall posts coming up. I just thought I’d share the photograph above, since it kind of goes with the whole go-to-a-coffee-shop theme. 😉

5. Read over what you’ve already written

I do this all the time. It really helps to see what I’ve already gotten down, and maybe instead of adding on I’ll start to edit. The creative juices get flowing when I see what I’ve managed to write already!

On the flip side, you can take an opportunity to read over what you have and make sure you’re taking your story in the direction you want to go. It could be that you’re getting writer’s block because your story isn’t going the way it should.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! 🙂 It was the epitome of writer’s block, because I’m literally writing it at 8:26 on Sunday night, and I schedule my posts from 12:00 am Monday morning. It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I was typing away.

So, do you suffer from writer’s block? (If not…TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!!) What do you do about it? Oh, and are you as excited for fall as I am?!? Hope to see you all in the comments.