Are you struggling to get words out and are experiencing a massive writer’s block? Don’t get discouraged because this happens even to great writers. If you feel like you’re stuck with the first paragraph and are starting to feel frustrated, try out these four effective tricks to get back into the flow of writing:
1. Step away from the screen and do something creative.
If you can’t get any writing done, it is recommended to step away from work and do something creative. You can paint, write poetry, make a scrapbook, build something in your garage, edit pictures—anything that you enjoy. After working on something creative for a few hours or days, try to get back to writing. When you jump into another task, it can activate your creativity and you will eventually tap back into your writing flow.
2. Do some freewriting for several minutes.
As much as you can, spend at least 15 minutes per day writing non-work related stuff—anything that comes off the top of your head. Don’t mind your grammar or punctuation too much; just write freely. Write something random.
It is okay to switch subjects several times. You can write fiction or even just vent out your frustrations into writing. By doing this, you train your brain to tap into the words in your mind and give them a place to live in your journal or laptop screen.
You can do some freewriting 15 minutes to get your thoughts running and then return to your writing project immediately. Who knows? Some of your freewriting pieces might even inspire new ideas that you can use for work.
3. Remove any distractions in your environment.
It is also possible that you are having writer’s block because there are too many distractions in your environment. With this, the best possible solution is to get rid of these distractions. Turn your phone into silent mode, disconnect from social media, use the internet solely for work purposes, clean up your work station, turn off the TV, etc.
Set a time in your schedule which you will only use for writing. Once you’ve set a schedule, ask your family and friends to respect your space so you can do your work without any interruptions. When you are having writer’s block, solitude is important so you can stay focused.
4. Write early in the morning.
When you just woke up, your brain is still in Theta mode. This refers to the brainwave pattern that your brain experiences when you are dreaming. Based on experience, it is easier to write when you wake up at 4 or 5 in the morning and then get to writing immediately.
Final Thoughts
Having writer’s block can be extremely frustrating, but trying out one or all these strategies can get you back to work in no time. Writer’s block is just a minor speed bump that you can overcome with the right approaches. Happy writing!