Five Steps to Overcoming Writer's Block

A common difficulty in a writer’s world is forming words on your blank page when you’re lacking motivation and/or creativity. Not such a big deal for those who write for pleasure, but what if you’re working to a deadline?

Every writer has different strategies, so it’s usually a case of finding what works best for you. Below, I’ve come up with five ideas to help you get those creative juices flowing again.

1. Take a walk

Sometimes, sitting in front of your computer or a blank sheet of paper isn’t exactly conducive to creativity. If you’ve been staring at that blank page for a good while, it might be time to get up out of your chair and take a walk. In fact, a study by Oppezzo & Schwartz (2014) showed that walking increases creativity, so chances are you’ll feel even more inspired to work after a stroll. Give your mind the chance to wander; don’t try to point it in a specific direction, just let your thoughts wash over you. You might find ideas start popping up that make you eager to get back to that blank page, so get moving! Take a walk around the block, or even around the office. The main thing is the movement, so enjoy the process and let your brain relax until it’s ready to bring its a-game again.

2. Sketch

I am absolutely terrible at drawing but when I’m working on a new story, I love to sketch. It makes me really picture what I’m writing about, and it makes my world come alive. It increases motivation by renewing the love I feel for what I’m creating. I start with a basic idea and just start drawing, and soon find inspiration adding more and more detail until I’m eager to get back to building the stories behind the sketches.

Sketching can also be planning ideas you want to convey in your writing. Numerous studies by American cognitive psychologist RT Kellogg have shown that if you’re writing an informative piece, preparing an outline is actually more likely to produce work of a higher quality. Start with a rough draft and build from there until you are confident enough to start writing about the topic. Having clear direction will help you when you stumble.

3. Read

Writer’s block is essentially not knowing what to write. Often, this can come from not having a clear idea of what it is you want to write about. So, dust off the encyclopaedias and fire up your researching skills! Similar to creating a rough draft, it is important to know what sort of information you will need to include in what you are writing. Read widely on the topic(s) you intend to write about and fact check everything. Reading will also get those neurons firing so when you’re ready to start writing again your mind will be clearer and more organised.

4. Talk to others/brainstorm

The idea of brainstorming is to allow creativity to flow, so taking the time to talk to others about your topic can produce ideas you otherwise wouldn’t have thought of. You may also find friends or colleagues to be a wealth of information, so use this to your advantage. Interacting with others is likely to stimulate the creative process, provided you stay on topic; for this reason, it’s a good idea to use those enthusiastic about your topic as your sounding board. Expressing yourself out loud can also be productive as it allows you greater comprehension of your own thoughts. You can also try brainstorming ideas on paper—just start with one idea and let your stream of consciousness flow onto the page.

5. Remember why you’re writing

If you’re writing fiction, chances are your writing comes from a love of creation. You’re driven by your desire to share your imagination with others. Stop trying to force words to come for the sake of your editor or publisher. Instead, pause and remember where your inspiration came from to begin with. Refresh your passion by imagining your characters in situations outside of what you’re writing about. Think about the first thing you ever wrote, or the first idea you ever had. If you’ve published something in the past, remember the feeling of finally having your work out there. If you’re writing non-fiction, find what interests you most in the subject. It’s a lot harder if you’re writing about something you have no interest in, however you wouldn’t be a writer if there wasn’t something about the formation of words that inspires you. Think back to what first put you on the path to becoming a writer, and let yourself be inspired by the optimism of your past.

Are there any techniques missing from the list that you have used to overcome writer’s block?

Further Reading:

Kellogg, RT. (1994). "The Psychology of Writing". SAGE Publications Inc.

Kellogg, RT. (2007). "Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology". SAGE Publications Inc. Opezzo, M. & Schwartz, D. (1994). Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory & Cognition Vol 40(4). 1142-1152.