Writer’s block can hit at any point in the writing process and can feel all-consuming, leading to feelings of overwhelm, imposter syndrome and even despair. It is a well-documented phenomenon, often used in screen portrayals of the writer as a tortured artist – sometimes in a mocking and often cliched tone. 

Sitting staring at a blank screen or banging your head against your desk isn’t going to help! Here are a few ideas to help you get your mojo back and get the words flowing again, helping you to remember why you love being a writer and that you are damn good at it. 

1: Get away from that screen

Inspiration might strike from staring at a blank page or screen, but it is far more likely to strike when you move away from it. Get outside, look around you, appreciate nature, architecture, the weather. Go for a long walk or sit somewhere beautiful for a while; take a train and go somewhere you’ve never been for the day. You might see an object in a window that sparks an idea, hear a conversation, or see a person who intrigues you. Even if you don’t return home with an idea for a book, you’ll very likely feel better than when you left and looking after your mental health is vital.

2: Read (outside your genre)

We have to keep an eye on what our contemporaries are up to and stay abreast of what is popular in our genre, but don’t forget to read more widely – and for pleasure, don’t force yourself to read something that doesn’t appeal to you. Even if you are writing romance, inspiration can come from an amazing sci-fi plot or the pacing in a crime novel. Aside from providing inspiration, getting lost in a good book and forgetting your own work might be just the tonic you need to clear your head and relax.

3: Watch TV or a movie

Go to the movies or wrap yourself in a blanket and binge-watch The Gilmore Girls on the sofa. Give yourself permission to take some time off and give your brain a break. Indulge yourself in some comfort and be patient with yourself. Once you are feeling less tense and guilty about your lack of productivity, you will likely find you are itching to get back to your manuscript with renewed vigour. 

4: Get out the stationery

Use one of those fancy notebooks you’ve been keeping in your drawer (yes, the good ones!), get some nice pens and some Post-it notes and go back to the old-fashioned methods of writing or plotting. Using pen and paper can be a lot more comforting, and you don’t need to sit at your desk: get out to the garden, sit in a coffee shop. If all you do is journal how you are feeling, about yourself or your writing, or write some lists/goals, the act of writing on the page can get those juices flowing. Even doodling is known to be helpful when we’re stuck on something.

5: Talk it through

Speak to a friend, another writer in your community, or a writing coach. Find out what is causing the block: is it lack of confidence, striving for perfectionism, a particular plot point or character arc, a saggy middle, life stress or a struggle to fit in time for writing. Often writers I work with find that an hour of chatting, finding the root of the problem and discussing a way to work through it is enough to get them going again. Sometimes it takes a little longer as working on mindset is a long-term commitment, but you can change it with support and gain tools to make sure writer’s block is a thing of the past. If you’d like to talk about writer’s block or any other writing-related issue, get help setting writing goals or making a writing routine, contact me here.