15 Tips for Dealing with Writer’s Block

I adore writing fiction for fun. I have loved writing since a young age, and maybe, one day, if I try hard enough and sacrifice to the right demon I will become a real girl published author and can live my dream of faffing about in Italian cafes writing as a career.

Enough of my rambling, you’re here for my tips! Every writer is different of course, and you might find these tips completely unhelpful or you might find them mind blowing. Either way, I’d love to hear how you conquer writer’s block so comment below!

1. Go for a walk

I often find when I’m in a rut fresh air and some power walking really jostles my mind loose. It helps if I add on music, particularly music that fits the theme I’m writing in.

2. Change your writing location

If you have a usual writing spot change locations. Does your desk work the best? Try the couch! Go to a coffee shop* or take a blanket to a park.

3. Music

I often listen to Sirius radio while I write, or sometimes I just find classical playlists and vibe to that If I really have to concentrate. Find what genre works for you, or listen to the genre that matches your writing. Writing an angst filled murder fest? Blast some heavy rock or emotional songs.

4. Edit

When I’m extremely frustrated at how my writing is going and I absolutely cannot write anything new, I often stop trying to remake the wheel and just edit what I already have. Sometimes this jogs new ideas loose, sometimes this amps me up to write more, but even if it doesn’t I still feel productive with my writing. Keeping your spirits up is the key component.

5. Change to a different story/blog

If you’re writing one thing this might not help you, but I often have a few irons in the fire. When I get stuck in one project I immediately switch to the next to see if that helps. If you’re working on a book, for instance, perhaps write a short story to get your mojo going. If I’m really struggling on my original work, I might focus more on my blog instead.

6. Forced writing exercises

I learned this one in creative writing class, but use this exercise: set a timer for five minutes and write the entire time, not stopping once. When you are writing, just put down what’s in your head, no matter what. Even if what’s running through your mind is “this is stupid and I hate Hermione’s Secret Library” keep writing that down. After five minutes, don’t read what you’ve read but start again. Do this as many times as needed to shake the cobwebs out.

7. Inspirational images on pinterest

I’m currently writing a fantasy novel, so I like to go to pinterest and find gloomy, atmospheric, fantastical images to get my sense of wonder pumping again. You can print them out and hang them up or just pin them on your board. I pin images to my board Secret Places because this makes my sense of childhood wonder awaken.

8. Immerse yourself in water

I often have random thoughts while I’m showering, so surround yourself in water! Take a bath, shower, take a swim in a pool, float on your back and close your eyes. Visualize your story.

9. Exercise

This one doesn’t often work for me because I detest exercising so much, but I know it works for other people. Do something mindless like the elliptical and plan how you want your story to go. Keep something nearby to write notes on if inspiration strikes.

10. Find your writing hot spots

This might sound exceptionally weird to everyone but me, but I often find certain places have an aura to me where I feel like I can write, and other places I couldn’t write in if you paid me. That’s why I try out different coffee shops. I even have a specific table at a specific coffee shop that worked well for me every time I went there. Try different areas of your home, even if you think it wouldn’t work for you. That leads me to my next tip.

11. Create a cozy writing spot

If you don’t have a writing spot that works for you, create one! Maybe you love string lights like me.  Maybe you want some lava lamps or twinkly stars or warm colors or shelves of books or a pile of cozy pillows. Maybe you want a stark empty room free of distractions. Create a space that gets you excited to write.

12. Go to a pool or beach

This might be strange old me again, but for some reason going to a pool to write has always worked for me. I’ve literally floated in a pool and hung on the edge and written that way, but usually I just lay by the pool, occasionally swim and think, and hand write when I get out. Not everyone has the luxury or living near water I know, so maybe try playing some waterfall white noise or hanging up a poster of water.

13. Hand write

While I generally write on a computer, I find hand writing sometimes works better for me. if you’re a hand writer, try switching to computers. The point is to mix up what you’re doing.

14. Go in the outdoors

If you don’t want to take a walk or lounge by a pool, you can still go in the outdoors to write. Recently I bought a little mini set of table and chairs for our balcony and started writing out there. Something about fresh air and the sound of leaves rustling really sets me in a writing zen.

15. Create writing food rituals

Not the most original idea of mine, but if you like coffee and writing, make yourself a cup before sitting down. Eat a pastry if that helps you think of your story line set in Paris, or drink some tea in fine china. The point is to associate the food with writing happiness, and creating a little Pavlovian response in your brain. For me, I take a Starbucks drink you can buy in a grocery store to my little balcony bistro so I feel like I am writing in a coffee shop.

*if you’re not in the middle of a global pandemic

So what are your strategies for beating writer’s block? Comment below!

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