By Thaddeus Konieczny
Whether you are writing professionally, academically, or just for fun, everyone experiences writer’s block at some point. Writer’s block happens when, for whatever reason, you are unable to progress on a piece of writing. This can cause a great amount of stress and frustration, even more so when you are working on a deadline. Fortunately, writers with extensive experience have their own systems for pushing past writer’s block. Here are a few examples of how to overcome writer’s block.
1. Take a break
If you are not making any progress on your writing , it may be more productive to step away and do something else. Try to use these breaks to engage in an activity that allows you to relax and reduce stress. Exercising, taking a walk, talking with friends or family, or even doing household chores are all good ways to give your brain a break.
Keeping yourself healthy is a good way of preventing writer’s block in the first place. The human brain works better with a full night’s sleep, a healthy diet, and a good amount of exercise. Spending all your time on a project can actually make you less productive, so make sure to maintain healthy habits even when you are working on a deadline.
2. Determine what part of your writing is giving you trouble
Take a closer look at your piece and figure out which ideas you are struggling with. Once you figure out what specific part of your writing is holding up your progress, finding ways to move forward becomes much easier.. For instance, try asking yourself questions such as: “Is this part relevant?” or “Is there a way to rephrase or rework it to make it make more sense?” These kinds of questions can help you think about your writing in different ways and give you new directions.
3. Have someone else look over your work
Sometimes all you need is a fresh pair of eyes on your work. Talking to friends or colleagues can provide you with insights you may not have considered on your own. As a writer, it is important to remember how limiting our own perspectives can be and that different people may approach the same ideas in different ways.
This can be especially helpful in the world of technical writing. Speaking to professionals and subject matter experts can help you determine if there is anything missing or that needs to be reworded or reformatted. As a technical writer, it’s important to remember that you can’t know everything. Consulting with subject matter experts and collaborating closely with them is key.
4. Just write!
Writing is not always a linear or logical process. If there are other things on your mind that may be preventing you from progressing, getting them down on paper could be a good way to think them through. Once you get more ideas on paper, you might be able to sift through them to see which ideas are workable and which ones are not.
Additionally, if you already have an outline structure of your piece and know the direction you want to take it, working on another portion of your project might give you an idea of what you need to add to the current portion. Plus, this keeps your writing process productive rather than continuing to struggle over a single part.
In the end, remember that, while frustrating, writer’s block is not uncommon. No matter how talented of a writer you are, sometimes the words just will not come. However, do not let writer’s block discourage you. Instead of treating it as an obstacle, make it an opportunity to better understand yourself as a writer. Moments of writer’s block can then also become a chance to assess your skills and learn how to improve.
