Overcoming Writer's Block: Four Practical Strategies
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Chapter 1 The Dread of the Blank Page
How frequently do you find yourself staring at a blank document, feeling overwhelmed by the thought of hitting your daily word count? Do you often catch yourself refilling your water glass just to avoid confronting that blinking cursor? If so, you’re not alone in this struggle with writer's block.
After years of writing and mentoring others, I’ve crafted a strategy to combat this challenge. My approach focuses on reinstating writing as a natural form of self-expression while simplifying the creative process.
Section 1.1 Embrace Informal Writing
This doesn’t imply that you should write in a casual tone; rather, it’s about transforming writing into a spontaneous and authentic means of communication. Many writers experience stress because they perceive writing as a formal event bound by strict rules.
You've likely encountered the advice to schedule writing sessions with yourself, as if our schedules aren’t already packed. Sitting down at your designated time to face a blank screen can feel daunting.
Consider this: do you feel pressure when sending a text to a friend? Does tweeting make you anxious? When writing a heartfelt letter, do you experience writer's block? Probably not, because those forms of writing occur in a more relaxed context.
Let’s recreate that environment. Start your writing on a medium that doesn’t feel formal, like a small notebook, a voice recording, or even a text message. Personally, I prefer beginning my drafts using the Medium app on my phone. I click the "Write" button and list my thoughts as bullet points. This method allows me to write in a low-stress mode, as I can capture ideas anytime, anywhere.
Once you have a draft with your main points, you can transition to your computer for further development, alleviating the pressure of facing a blank screen.
The first video titled Crush The Writer's Block With This Simple Exercise offers practical techniques to help you break free from writer's block and unleash your creativity.
Section 1.2 Bridging the Gap Between Input and Output
Writing directly on your chosen platform provides another benefit: it minimizes the distance between gathering ideas and producing content.
Writer's block often brings feelings of futility and despair. The frustration of feeling far from completion can be disheartening. A solution to this is to bring your end goal into focus. By composing directly on your platform, you eliminate the hassle of copying, formatting, and premature editing. An article materializes right in front of you, with the "Publish" button waiting.
Chapter 2 The Power of Multi-tasking
The second video titled How to Overcome Writer's Block Once and For All discusses actionable strategies to help you break through creative barriers and find your flow.
I’m not suggesting you write while driving—focus is essential when crafting sentences. What I do advocate is maintaining multiple projects simultaneously.
With my informal writing system, you’ll generate numerous ideas across various drafts. While it’s fantastic if you can concentrate on one piece and see it through, don’t stress if you hit a wall. Set it aside and tackle another project. Since those drafts are already filled with ideas, they’re likely to flow more smoothly. Writer's block tends to stay contained within individual projects, so diversifying your efforts can alleviate anxiety and bolster your sense of productivity.
Section 2.1 Let Your Drafts Sit Before Editing
After completing a draft, the urge to edit and publish immediately can be overwhelming. However, it's crucial to resist this impulse for two reasons.
Firstly, editing right after finishing a draft often results in poor timing. The excitement and fatigue from completing the draft can cloud your judgment and hinder your editorial perspective—two vital components for effective editing. Personally, I’ve regretted my tendency to binge-publish without sufficient reflection.
Secondly, allowing your drafts to rest before editing is more efficient. Drafting is typically the most challenging and stressful part of the writing process, while editing is comparatively easier. By editing drafts in bulk after giving them time to marinate, you can enter a state of flow more readily, enjoying the process and making significant progress.
To conclude, I’ll leave you with a piece of wisdom from the late novelist Stuart Woods. When asked for advice for novice writers, he simply stated: "Write something." He followed up with, "It’s surprising how many writers forget that."
Writing is fundamentally a physical act. While contemplating writing is essential, it should never be mistaken for the act of writing itself. So, get to it—write something.