Don’t you hate that feeling when you sit down at your computer ready to write and the words just won’t come out. The dreaded writer’s block. This feeling is normally followed by intense panic as more often than not, you sat down to write for a specific reason. Maybe it’s a blog post, a sales email that needs to go out, or new content for your website. All things that should have been written yesterday.
Here are some tips to move that writer’s block and help the words flow again.
1. Get Out of Your Environment
The best way to get unstuck is a change of scene. Try and work in a new environment for new inspiration. Grab your laptop, or tablet, or even a pen and paper and try to work in a different place to where you normally would. Being outside is great, but dependent on weather and needs, so not always possible. A café, the local library, or even a different room in your house can help get your words out.
2. Take a Break
Don’t let yourself get stressed about your writer’s block because that won’t help anything! Take a break and try to relax. Grab a cup of tea, get out for a walk, sit and enjoy the sounds of the birds, meditate, anything that will give your mind a chance to rest. You will feel recharged when you get back and hopefully the words will flow.
3. Switch Projects
Shelve your problem piece for now, find something you are passionate about and just write. Once you have your writing juices flowing then return to the problem piece with renewed enthusiasm for writing.
4. Talk It Out
Talk the project over with a trusted friend, partner or colleague. Just talking about it should help you align your thoughts on the project. Your confidant may also be able to suggest an idea that you had not thought of. You will be back to creating in no time. If you can’t find anyone to talk to at short notice, then just take a pen and paper and write anything you can think of relating to the problem piece. This should allow you to organise your ideas and give you a framework to work from.
5. Set a Deadline
There is nothing like a little pressure to get you to pull finger! Knowing that you only have a certain amount of time to complete the piece will force you to get on with it.
6. Work When You Are At Your Best
There is no point trying to write first thing in the morning if you need an hour and a coffee for your brain to start functioning properly. Likewise, don’t leave tasks until late at night if you don’t do your best thinking then. You will produce your best work when you are at your best. Know what time of day works for you and save your important writing tasks for then.
7. Write to a Specific Customer
Picture one of your clients or tribe members. Write as though you are speaking to them. It may help you get clear on what you want to say.
Hopefully one or more of these tips will help you shift that writer’s block and allow you to get your piece written.
Do you have any other tips for beating writer’s block? I would love to hear them in the comments below.