Combatting Writer's Block

Writer's block is different among authors and writers... some writers get blocks when they run out of inspiration, and some get it when they get stressed from outside resources. 

Honestly, the first thing I recommend you assess when you have writer's block is the cause of it... is your body telling you it wants to stop writing (or else you'll burn out)? Is it your author brain telling you the story is dragging on or that it needs something more? Do you want to write something else? Or maybe... are you struggling with school and/or work and it's causing you burnout? 

Sometimes you cannot identify what's causing your writer's block, and that's okay. Give yourself time and some grace... you need to give yourself grace. 

Here are some tips on how to combat writer's block (keep in mind different things work for different people), and the different tasks for different types of authors. 

1. For writers who want to write, but cannot. 

- There's no need to fret. This is absolutely normal and I will let you know right now that I am currently suffering with this. 

- Writer's block can be caused by stress (a lot with me), and sometimes we want to sit down and write, but we have no ideas, so we procrastinate. 

- When this is the issue for the writer's block, I'd recommend just sitting down and forcing yourself to write. You don't have to have a basic idea, you don't have to break down and continue your story, forget about grammar, moral, and spelling issues. Just write. Write until you get in the zone again.  

2. For deadline writers (I need to get this done now). 

- If you are so stuck on your book and it needs to get done, ASAP, I recommend editing while your block is running.  

- If you don't have an idea for another chapter, just go back to old chapters and edit them. Grammer issues, plot holes, spelling issues... etc. Read them over and fix the broken mistakes... go back to writing later. 

3. For burnout. 

- Burnout is wildly common with me... although this one is usually caused if someone has insulted my writing and I feel hurt by it. 

- When it comes to burnout... try step 1 first, if that doesn't work... then take a break! 

- Go out to eat, go for a walk, go to a cafè. Do something else to distract your mind so you can come back fresh and ready to go. 

4. For method-writers. 

- Method writers are very similar to method actors, they will actually picture their character standing next to them and talk to them. Or they will become their character and understand them completely. 

- If you are a method writer and you are having issues with writer's block, then I'd say talk to your characters. You might not have a deeper understanding of them, something about them might be missing and you need to combat it. Maybe even discuss with them about scenes that could possibly come up in the future. 

- Writers block with method writing can just be because you don't understand your characters fully yet, so talk to them.  

5. You want to write, but you have no ideas that could stretch out into a novel. 

- Write a short story! 

- Short stories vary from 1,000 words to 10,000 words. So write one! 

- Sometimes, short stories are actually a great way to combat writers block because they give you a break from your big novel and to start something new.  

- Have an idea for a new novel but you don't know if it's the best? Write a short story about it! Go from there. 

- Sometimes, we just need a small writing task to get our momentum going. 

6. Everything is going on in my life, and I can't write because I'm so stressed. 

- Stressed? That happens! 

- With burnout that cannot be fixed with any other tips, another suggestion I have is journaling. Journaling can sometimes bring your writer out so you can identify the issues that are causing your writers block, and sometimes... while you're journaling... you can figure out how to fix it! 

- Journaling—while not novel writing—is a source of writing that can help you express your writer's block and kick it out of your system. 

7. I have a current book project, but I've run out of ideas. 

- Sometimes when we have a big novel project, it can stress us out. 

- Just remember (if you're not a deadline writer), you don't need to finish this novel right away. 

- Honestly, my autistic-self cringes at the thought of putting a novel down and doing something else, but sometimes? That's what we need.  

- If you are in the progress of a novel and are in burnout, start something new. Start a new book! It can be the exact opposite of what you're writing, it can be a side novel of it... just start something new. If you don't like that book, try something else. You'll get back to your previous works later. 

8. I have a designated writing space, but every time I sit down, I can't write. 

- This is very common with me. Sometimes... we need a new space. 

- With this issue, I'd suggest going out in public. Go to a coffee shop! Write at your campus! Write at the supermarket in the waiting area! Just go somewhere new! 

- Especially coffee shops and cafés, they have a very specific aesthetic that writers thoroughly enjoy writing in. 

9. I just finished a book in my series, but I don't know how to start the next. 

- Writer's block while writing series' is very common sadly, but it can be helped later. 

- If you just finished a book in a series, I'd suggest writing a standalone in between each book. This can refresh your mind so you can continue on without burning out of your characters. 

10. I worry too much about what my readers think. 

- Very common. Even with me. 

- My suggestion? Write for you. Write what you like, write what you enjoy. 

- Many readers can be cryptic, and you can never get famous without having haters. 

- Keep in mind that your readers chose reading your books because they enjoy them... don't worry about them. In fact, don't let them pressure you into making sequels of books that are supposed to be standalones... this can ruin your series'. Your readers want to read what you like. There's always an audience for the books you write. 

- Another suggestion? Don't look at reviews, don't look at comments, don't look at websites relating to people talking about your works. Because complimentary readers make you feel good, but the haters cut you deep and stick harder to your mind. 

11. I worry too much about the size of my book. 

- I've had this issue as well. 

- Turn off your word counter on your document, in fact... also turn off your page counter. This will help tremendously when writing because I've caught myself glancing down at the wordcount when writing and freaking out because it's too small. This can be a massive issue because it causes writer's block while I'm writing.