Writer’s block is different for every writer but it still sucks nonetheless. Here are a few ways I combat writer’s block and no, I’m not going to repeat the typical advice such as “go for a walk.”
Get Extremely Sleep Deprived (Or tipsy)
Okay, this is pretty unconventional advice, but our minds have a knack for stifling our creativity. You might think of an idea that’s a little outlandish but you don’t even indulge it because you write it off too quickly. When I’m going through writer’s block, I like to get a little less sleep than usual one night then see what ideas I come up with the next day. With my uncensored thoughts, I often find that I come up with things I wouldn’t have “in the right mind.” Same goes for when you’re drinking. Sometimes when I’ve had a drink or two I begin to unpack ideas I wouldn’t have paid any attention to before. (note: I do not condone underage drinking).
Read in your Genre
Another way I like to get rid of writer’s block is by reading stories in my genre. Not only does reading give you a mental vacation away from your story to recharge, seeing the techniques that other writers use when it comes to similar stories might give you some inspiration.
Watch a movie or TV show
Going off of my last point, watching TV shows or movies is usually very inspiring for me in the same way reading books in my genre is. I get to see how other creatives tackle dialogue, plot, suspense, character development and so on and apply it to my own writing. It’s a way for me to study craft and get new ideas while being entertained.
Go Exercise
Yeah, sorry I said I wouldn’t give the typical writers block advice, but this one seriously works. Go exercise because exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy. Happy people have good ideas. Just sayin.
Write in a different way
Ditch whatever you usually write with and write with something new. If you usually write on a computer, grab a notebook. If you usually write with a notebook, grab a computer or a typewriter. Heck, write on your phone even. Using different tools to write usually helps me when it comes to getting unblocked. I don’t know why, but it does.
Draw a Picture
I’m an extremely visual person, so I can get writers block when I can’t “see” a scene properly. When this happens, I like to draw a picture for myself. For example, one time I couldn’t figure out how my protagonists would infiltrate the villain’s HQ and I was blocked for a long time trying to work it out. I finally just drew a picture of what I wanted the HQ to look like, with all the twists and turns. Then it made it easier for me to write a sneaky way for my heroes to get inside.
Talk Through Your Story with Someone Else
Talking about your novel with someone else can be extremely scary, especially when it’s not very polished yet. But sometimes you literally need a different brain to see the problem in a new light and come up with better solutions to fix it. And even if they can’t help, talking through the problem out loud might help you reach your own epiphanies.
Start All Over
Yes, you read that correctly. If a scene isn’t working for me, I sometimes just scrap it altogether and start over with a completely blank page. Sometimes I start over a couple scenes back. The point is not feeling dragged down by that scene (or scenes) that was causing the blockage. I try writing a few iterations of the same scene with a different character narrating or from a different POV or in a different setting. Just keep trying out different scenes until you make it work.
Date Your Characters More
Sometimes I get stuck simply because I’m not sure how a character would react to a particular situation. This is a telltale sign that I didn’t court my characters long enough. They’re still kind of strangers to me, and that’s okay. To get to know my characters better, I write out all their qualities such as their likes and dislikes, their hobbies and interests. Sometimes I even read through personality types such as the Enneagram or Meyers-Briggs and assign my characters a type. Then I can look back when I’m stuck and see how an Enneagram 4 would react or how an INFP would react to a certain situation. Filling out character interviews like this one does wonders for me too.
How do you get rid of writer’s block?
Love this!! Especially the first one lol
Haha thank you!