How to overcome writer's block

If you’re stuck in the middle of a story, try writing the story from a different character’s point of view. Entire novels have ended up being written in this way. Also, it can help enrich characters to learn about how they are perceived by other characters. This can be particularly helpful if you have been writing in the first person.Try writing in a different form and/or genre.If you’re writing a novel, try writing a short story. If you’re writing a short story, try writing a screenplay. If you’re writing a screenplay, try writing poetry.If you’re writing a romance, try writing a horror story. If you’re writing a horror story, try writing historical fiction.It’s a fun exercise to change genres, but it can be even more fun to bring your characters along with you. Bring a character from your romance to some horror writing. This may spark a scene that you’ll be able to bring back to your original story. Or, it may start something completely new.If you usually write by hand, try typing. If you usually type, try writing by hand.If you usually use a computer and don’t want to try writing by hand, try using a different font.If you write by hand and don’t want to try typing, experiment using your non-dominant hand. This might take a lot of patience, but it’s better than staring at a blank page.Mixing it up in any of these ways jostles your brain and might help get it on a new track.View the list »
Writer's block won't last forever!

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The world is a wonderful place when the birds are chirping, the grass is green, and the words are flowing on the page. But then that dreaded thing happens: writer’s block.

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You are not alone. Virtually every writer experiences writer’s block. The first step is to recognize the situation. Simply acknowledge and notice that you’re feeling stuck. Know that, though uncomfortable, it’s a normal part of the writing process. If writing were easy, everyone would do it. But it’s not easy, and those that are afflicted with the love of writing will power through the awful stages of the process.

Click through the list to read ideas to help you get past writer’s block. Though almost every writer experiences writer’s block, the way out of writer’s block will be different for everyone. Experiment with different strategies to discover what works best for your process. Take it easy on yourself and good luck!

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  • If you usually write by hand, try typing. If you usually type, try writing by hand.If you usually use a computer and don’t want to try writing by hand, try using a different font.If you write by hand and don’t want to try typing, experiment using your non-dominant hand. This might take a lot of patience, but it’s better than staring at a blank page.Mixing it up in any of these ways jostles your brain and might help get it on a new track.
  • Try writing in a different form and/or genre.If you’re writing a novel, try writing a short story. If you’re writing a short story, try writing a screenplay. If you’re writing a screenplay, try writing poetry.If you’re writing a romance, try writing a horror story. If you’re writing a horror story, try writing historical fiction.It’s a fun exercise to change genres, but it can be even more fun to bring your characters along with you. Bring a character from your romance to some horror writing. This may spark a scene that you’ll be able to bring back to your original story. Or, it may start something completely new.
  • If you’re stuck in the middle of a story, try writing the story from a different character’s point of view. Entire novels have ended up being written in this way. Also, it can help enrich characters to learn about how they are perceived by other characters. This can be particularly helpful if you have been writing in the first person.
  • Write part of the story that you never considered would be part of the story. For example, fast forward or back up 20 years in your character’s life and write any scene that might happen during that time of the character’s life. You never know what you might discover and it might help inform your story (or change it completely!).
  • Take a break in nature to let your mind rest and relax. Leave your cell phone behind so you’ll be free of distractions. This will create more room in your mind to explore creative directions.If circumstances restrict you from going out into nature, create an alternative escape. Again, leave your cell phone behind. Listen to recorded nature sounds and burn candles or incense with nature scents, such as pine.
  • Engage your creative process another way. Experiment with drawing, painting, music, sewing, crafts, cake decorating, or whatever else. This is a way to nurture and respect your creativity, which might help open it up for your writing.Depending on where you are in your process, you might also consider engaging in a creative process on behalf of one of your characters. For example, create a scrapbook that your character would make.
  • Rearrange and/or refresh your writing environment. Move the furniture around in your office. Rotate the table. Decorate the walls with inspirational quotes and pictures of your favorite books and authors.Also try writing in a different location. If you usually write at home, try a coffee shop or park. Switch coffee shops. Go to the other Starbucks across the street.
  • Engage in physical activity, especially something with repetitive motion. Go for a walk, clean the windows, wash the car, do some gardening, or shoot some hoops (consider an indoor hoop over a door and a Nerf ball to shoot between paragraphs). Regardless of the activity you choose, don’t purposely think about your writing. Let your mind go wherever it wants. If an idea does come into your head, welcome it.
  • Purposely write as badly as you can. Seriously, just be an awful writer. This removes the pressure to be great, which is so often the source of writer’s block. In “On Writer’s Block: A New Approach to Creativity,” Victoria Nelson says “there is an almost mathematical ratio between soaring, grandiose ambition...and severe creative block.” So forget about ambition. Just write something bad, at least for starters. See how bad you can be!
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Suggested by the author:

, San Mateo Creative Writing Examiner

Beth McMurray is a writer in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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