Writer’s block is an ugly place to be and every writer experiences it at some point in time.

Writer’s block is wanting to write but not being able to. Or having to write, in case of a job or delivery, but being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing.

It manifests as a lack of ideas, inspiration or motivation, which are all very key to a writer. It can be caused by rejections from magazines/newspapers, disagreements with book publishers, discouragement from editors, pressure, lack of resources, and the like.

However, sometimes causes are internal such as self-doubt, perfectionism, self-downgrading, distraction, etc, which all tend to block creativity. 

Nonetheless, it would be foolish for one to just sit around as they wait for inspiration to strike back and neither can they force the ideas out on the paper.

Below are some tips, compiled from different writers’ experiences and experts’ advice. 

Read more

It may sound cliché but it is true that we draw inspiration from other people’s writings or ideas as well. What you read may spark a desire to push an opinion, conduct investigation or sort of research, which may be helpful for your own writings as well. 

It is not enough to just read but to read widely. Every writer, whether consciously or subconsciously, draws on their own knowledge and experiences to get inspiration. 

A good writer should then be able to accumulate as much knowledge as possible to form an informed perspective in their own writings.

Reading a variety of genres, from fiction to nonfiction, short or long-form stories, poetry, news, magazine and blog articles, helps in forming new perspectives and gaining new interests. Plus, read often.

The more you write, the better you get

It is believed that the more you practice something, the better you will get at it. Through experience, it becomes easier to generate more ideas. 

Also according to some writers, the more one puts out their work (publication) and by receiving recognition and encouragement from others, the more one develops motivation to go on.

Don’t pressure yourself, avoid self-doubt

Creativity often comes from a place of calm and soothing. As a writer, it is recommended not beating yourself up too much while experiencing a block, otherwise it frustrates the mind.

Go out and experience life

It is true that experiencing or observing something first hand makes it easy to write about it. One has to be in an active, exciting or stimulating environment to spark curiosity and inspiration.

Besides the usual events of your life, there are other things that could inspire your writing. For example, traveling, learning new cultures and languages, meeting new people and going on adventures, basically getting out of your comfort zone could spark your creativity. 

However, you don’t necessarily need a vacation to seek inspiration. It can be as simple as sitting in a café or on a park bench, watching people and listening to snatches of conversation, or simply observing the flow of the world around you.

Cut off social media

Most writers admit turning to aimlessly scrolling through social media when they are facing blocks. 

Experts say that social media takes away the ability to think, focus, or interpret anything intentionally. This is because one is distracted by the never ending updates on social media.

Focus on writing first, editing later

First write down whatever comes naturally, before you go back to correct grammar, change a word or rearrange a sentence. Don’t overthink it even if it doesn’t make sense or isn’t as fluently phrased as you would like.

Sometimes, all you may need is to have a good rest and chill for some time. Your body may be giving a sign that you are exhausted. Otherwise, remind yourself why you started writing in the first place, it always works.