The blank page of the word document stares at you! The words get stuck somewhere. The muse is miles away. The harder you try, the worse it gets. The amazing post that you want to write is not taking any form or shape. You struggle and fluster, you concentrate and stare… the result is still that blank page!! You think it is the headache or you are plain overwrought, but no, it is the dreadful Writer’s Block.
The reasons for a Writer’s Block could be anything or nothing at all. But the fact is that it is something that you want to be miles away from. And still it is there, staring blankly at you!
They say, writing is hard work and you can make it even harder by accepting the Writer’s Block.
Here are some key pointers that I use to overcome this distressing affliction, the Writer’s Block:
- Free Write : This works for me always. Somebody said it so rightly, “Dont get it right, just get it written”. I write whatever comes off the top of my head. I write about something random or my day or the garbled thoughts in my head and voila! I have a post ready. Try it, it works beautifully.
- Tea : Nothing refreshes me than my mug of tea. Yes, a mug and not a cup, and my grey cells get their oil and grease and they attempt to get their act together.
- Take a break : A walk in the garden, a swim, listening to some music for a few minutes, chatting with somebody or gentle stretching exercises can be very stimulating and refreshing. This is something that I love, as it kills two birds with one stone.
- Mundane jobs : I believe mundane jobs help me relax. I am not thinking much and just mechanically removing the clothes from the clothesline or folding them or ironing. And we all know that a relaxed mind can think better and perform better.
- Read : Inspiration can strike anywhere. So, I pick up a book or read something on the net or read my favourite blogs and sooner or later, I get the muse back.
- Time pass : This is the easiest thing to do. Staring at my Facebook wall and Twitter feed can turn the minutes into hours. No, it is not a waste of time. Social media is a BIG goldmine of ideas!
- Read old posts : This is another thing that I indulge myself with. Reading old posts when that writer’s block is snarling its head up, fills me with that warm happy feeling. It kills the self doubt that silently creeps in. It helps in giving that small push or a reminder that all is well and that I can do it, again!
- Brain games : It is always fun to tickle the brain with a word puzzle or a bubble breaker or a strategy game. The brain likes challenges and these puzzles certainly help my brain to come out of slumber.
We all are different and different things work for us. But the idea is to figure out what works for us and snap out of that Writer’s Block.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
Linking it to Write Tribe’s Wednesday Picture Prompt and Exploring Writer’s Block Prompt
Images Courtesy : Google Images and Morguefile
47 Responses
Tea and free-writing, those are my favourite. I tend to suffer from writer’s apathy rather than writer’s block though 😉
Nice post 😀
Good inputs….need to keep them in mind next time it hits me.. 🙂
Wonderful points there Shilpa .
Nice pointers Shilpa, sometimes it is best not to think too much and just let the words flow. Loved the Calvin and Hobbes image 🙂
Free writing is my way, as well as doing mundane tags or reading older posts… 🙂
Excellent tip. I especially like the tea part and the reading. Good way to replenish the well.
We forget to take a break, I know I do. Stepping back and gaining a new perspective helps.
Thank you for sharing this.
Very useful tips, and a brilliant take on the prompt. Wonderful !!
Those are some great tips Shilpa! But I am going through such a dip right now, I don’t know as soon as I open that word document, I go blank…need to get my act together now…Thanks for the tips 🙂
I have a diary where I regularly note down (possible) topics for new posts, whenever they strike me. I find that very useful when I don’t have anything else to write.
Destination Infinity
Oh, I don’t know Shilpa. I guess I wait for inspiration to strike :). Good pointers there.
That’s one useful post. It’s specially tough to get back to writing after a hiatus. I’m sure I’ll need it post the vacations.
Many of these are things I havent really considered ( free write/tea/reading old posts
).. I have suffered writers block so many times it isnt even funny 🙂
I usually look for inspiration in events around me – things I would want to read myself.
Easy escape routes would be movie/book reviews but i dont do that much these days.
Definitely prompts ( writetribe / contests ) help in stimulating the mind for me.
Taking a break works for me Shilpa.
Excellent, ‘nail-on-the-head’ post, Shilpa! This is something that every blogger needs to read. I do pretty much all of the above (Tea being the most obvious one ;). And you are very right when you talk about letting the mind relax and letting the thoughts flow. Nothing like freeing the mind to let it function effectively.
Wonderful tips … I feel I get.more ideas when I am not thinking about writing 🙂 or while reading a book.
Great post Shilpa 🙂 I hv so often faced the writers block…reading helps a lot – be it a current book I’m reading, or great blog posts of fellow bloggers or my old posts – works for me! Another is to just sit quietly alone and take in your surroundings…mull over n then pore your heart out!
very good tips ,esp reading old posts of oneself as well as of others.
One the best ways to battle a writers block is to refresh memories. Look at old pictures or notes. You will be tempted to write about them. Also I join a lot of blogging communities. Their prompts help me beat the block.
Nice post Shilpa. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
tea, free writing and reading books does the trick for me… nice roundup of idead Shilpa…thanks for sharing..
liked your pointers. Useful take on the prompt.
Some of what you have written like walk in the garden( for me corridor), stretching exercises, watching the birds building nest, drinking tea:)- i do them not to come out of the writerz block but to relax and keep myself away from system .
Yes, i do experience writers block, i don’t do any thing about that because i write weekly posts. Some thing or the other comes up in the 7 days.
Useful tips there, Shilpa:) Most often bright thoughts occur at daybreak so to pen them helps:)
Super point Shilpa. I am currently going through writer’s block. So how do I cope with it – just chill, take a break from writing and spend that time to read some nice blogs!
Great ideas for dealing with writer’s block. I drink tea, go for a walk, watch a comedy show…relaxes me.
I dont know.. i have been facing one for the past 3 weeks.. yes you read me right 🙁 What started as a week long break to make a trip home has ended up in a monstrous block. Been hiding under the guise of a viral (which I did get) but that’s no excuse now is it?
Your post was a welcome respite for me, will def. give all these points a try 🙂
Also reading Calvin & Hobbes 🙂
Yes, we seldom take the time to rework old posts. There are usually ways to make them a little better. Thanks for sharing with us!
Your take made me smile because I experience writer’s block a lot but then I usually do some or all of the things you listed and I am freed once again and write something. Brilliant! ♥
Relax. Do nothing. Go for a long drive.
Agree with all of them and cuppa tea, reading and doing mundane stuffs always work. But, the first one is majestic and me think, should try it out when I face writerz block..write kuch bhi:) A big thanks, Shilpa:)
http://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/wednesday-prompt-the-key-to-heaven
Thanks! This is a very helpful post…will definitely keep these points in mind!
I have tried everything! I am probably undergoing one of the worst kinds…
To overcome Writer’s Block, I normally switch to some activity, other than writing or reading, that needs concentration. After about 30 minutes, maybe earlier if I’ve had a flash of inspiration, I get back to writing.
yeah very much agree.i too try all that and when nothing works.i forget about blogging for 2 to 3 days so that i don’t completely go insane.nice pointers.
These are tips with a difference, Shilpa ji 🙂 Because they’re so practical, and workable, and most of them have more than one benefit 🙂 Thanks for sharing !
i had written a similar one long time back, and what an irony that I myself fall into this without able to bounce back fast.. 😀
http://archanaonline.com/2008/12/09/how-to-fight-bloggers-block/
I think the problem occurs when you think that you have writer’s block. That’s like accepting defeat. Your pointers work. Yes, I have tried most of it. One day I went and had orange juice, that solved the problem for me. 😀
There are times when you are ready to write,subject is decided upon ,mood is just right…but,somehow,it just doesn’t happen.
And then,something comes to your mind instantly and you have a blog done,done done before you realise .
The only rare thing about the writer’s block is that I get it often.
Thank you for the ideas, I’ll definitely try them.
When I’m short of ideas, I go for a walk in the nature. And I often end up having lots of ideas. But they are not worth putting on my blog, of course. 🙂
free write helped me too… and sometimes reading blogs also helps. good tips..
Thanks for sharing those useful tips, Shilpa. I totally go by the tea tip and also reading. Doesn’t it refresh your mind completely ? 🙂 I also like going for a walk.
Eloquent Mind (http://momentsilike.blogspot.com)
Ohh yes, the brain games – to get your grey cells on work 🙂
Great tips Shilpa…I agree with them all. I must admit for me sometimes when I’m out hiking or at the beach is where inspiration strikes! And then I have to quickly jot down ideas so as to not forget it later! 😛
Totally agree with you ‘Social media’ is a BIG goldmine of ideas- so its not a time pass rather somewhere time utilization if utilized properly!
Reading old posts have helped in past. Though sometimes reading my favorites put me under more pressure. They make me question myself- ‘when once you were able to write those why not something equally good or better now??’ *Sob!
Anyway I will surely do some brain stimulating exercises- some brain games or some aptitude tests- that’s a great idea! 🙂
Yes, yes and yes! I so agree with all the above, especially the tea and the social media inspiration. Love you for this post <3
Oh yeah, most of these work for me as well. But when none of these work a random picture or a quote I stumble upon online, gets me going!
Very interesting tips Shilpa. I agree with most of the points. A calm mind and some hot tea down my throat generally helps. Above all reading helps me the most.