How to Write Stories People Will Love

16. Kick Writer's Block

I've had my share of writer's block like everyone else on the planet. It is NO FUN. I wish I could say there was a fool-proof method to get rid of it, but different things work for different people. All I can do is share my own strategies for dealing with the bane of all writers.

NOTE: If you follow my blog (you'd be, like, one of two people, haha) I basically copied this entry from there, because I wrote it up there first. I thought it might be helpful for all you writers out there.

1. Go for a walk. Sometimes what I'm stuck on is simply, "What happens next?" Walking literally gets your juices flowing, and the brain gets more oxygen, and all that other groovy scientific stuff. I often figure out my answer by the time I get back from the walk.

2. Leave it for a day. When no answer is forthcoming, I walk away from it for the day. Just go about my daily routine and not worry about it. One thing I say a lot is, "I'll find it when I'm looking for something else." I'll look all over the house for that one pot lid, but can't find it. Then later when I'm searching for the square baking dish, that lid will appear, wedged between pans. This can apply to writing as well. Sometimes we find inspiration when we least expect it. The more you push for inspiration, the harder it will be to come by. Allow it to breathe.

3. Switch to something else. After a day or two, if I still haven't gotten inspired, I'll set my project aside and find a different one to work on. You can't force creativity, but switching gears will often jar it loose. I'm usually able to keep moving forward by writing something else.

4. Take a brief hiatus. Switching up projects is usually very effective at keeping things fresh, but once in a while I can't seem to get the words out at all. I feel stuck, uninspired, or just plain tired. When this happens, it's usually a clear sign that I need to take a break from writing altogether. The length of this hiatus will of course depend on when your creativity comes back to you. Could be a day, two days, or a week. Don't let it go for longer than a month though, because it'll be even harder to get back into it.

5. Have fun. An important part of keeping creativity loose and agile is to make sure you have fun. If you feel stressed, go do something fun, even if it's just for twenty minutes. I like video games.

Finally, if all else fails you, check out this video I recently encountered about dealing with writer's block. It seems like pretty good advice...

*Vote please? What are some strategies that YOU have for fighting writer's block?