Top 5 Ways to Bust Through Writer’s Block

Struggling to finish writing that essay, report, or book? Need to get creative juices flowing again? Read more for the top 5 ways to bust through writer’s block.

1. Do not edit while you write

Ideas in the brain can be like cars on the road; they get better gas mileage when they’re able to drive at a steady speed without a lot of stop-and-go. Editing and self-censoring while writing can stall the ideas traveling from the brain to your fingers. Ignore the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation (if you can; this is near impossible for me to do). This form of writing is called freeform writing or freewriting and allows your thoughts to flow more freely. Write about something unrelated to your essay, report, or book so there is no additional pressure. It can be a funny story about something your pet did, or about your day in general. Do it every day until the pressure of writing is relieved, then go back to finish your project.

2. Find where and when you’ve felt most creative

Think back to a time when writing was easy for you or creativity was abundant. Where were you? What were you wearing? Was there noise or silence? Are you more energetic or focused during certain times of the day? How much sleep did you get the night before. Try to replicate the experience to find a “happy place” for writing.

Negative feelings have been found to correlate with writer’s block. A study performed by Yale University in the 70s and 80s found that feelings of unhappiness were present in most of the blocked writers. The four main categories were anxiety and stress, anger and irritation, apathy, and hostile and disappointed. Ironically, the writers overcame these negative feelings by writing and just pushing through.

3. Take breaks

A fatigued brain is not going to function as effectively as a refreshed brain. Take frequent breaks to give respite to your overworked brain and think of something other than your project. Eat a snack, talk to a friend, play with your pet, or take a trip. The break can be as short as five minutes or as long as a day off. 

4. Dream journaling

You might be wondering how journaling about your dreams can help with writer’s block. The first thing to point out is that you will be writing, even if it is not specific to your project. The second reason is that your dreams are your subconscious being in control, so there is no right or wrong when you’re detailing them. There is no pressure to make the writing entertaining, because it’s just recall. The New Yorker published an article stating writer Graham Greene allegedly believed that completely recalling a dream can provide a sense “of being catapulted into a different world,” and free “from one’s conscious preoccupations.” This belief ties into the results of the Yale University study previously mentioned. Detailing dreams reduces life’s anxiety and stress around writing. And maybe, analyzing one’s dreams can be therapeutic, which in turn would lead to more contentment and thus relieve some of the blockage.

The researchers studied different intervention strategies for the categorized groups of writers. One strategy was to focus on creating colorful mental images, or ‘daydreams,’ in a calming setting. They would then be asked to visualize something from their projects in a “dreamlike experience.” After two weeks, most of the writers showed improvement with their writer’s block. 

5. Try a different method

When I was a teenager, I had trouble falling asleep. Sometimes after tossing and turning, I would reposition myself 180 degrees in bed so that my feet were at the head of my bed instead. Many times, I would be able to drift off to sleep afterwards. The change in position would reset my sympathetic nervous system from an anxiety-driven “fight or flight” state to a more relaxed resting state.

Changing the method of writing can provide the same results. If you find yourself staring at a blank computer screen with an equally blank mind, try handwriting with a pen and paper. If you have access to a typewriter, try it out. Equally effective is voice recording ideas, storylines, character development, etc. The different methods trigger different sensory responses in the body and can also trigger good feelings of nostalgia. 

Have you tried any of the top 5 ways to bust through writer’s block? Was it successful? Leave a comment with your tried and true methods.

Ready for an editor? Book an introductory meeting with me now to discuss how I can help you accomplish your writing goals.