Dealing With Writer's Block in Five Easy Steps

Paul Agada

“Ding Dong. Ding Dong,” the clock chimed.

Favour glanced at the wall. With each passing minute, he was becoming more frantic. The deadline was approaching and the task that was assigned to him was nowhere near completion. A cursory glance at the word count on his screen showed that he had completed less than 8% of the task.

“Arrghhh,” he sighed.

“I’m finished,” he continued.

Favour had been experiencing a severe bout of writer’s block and he could not seem to find a way around it.

“What do I do?” he thought to himself. His mind seem clueless

As a writer, do you sometimes find yourself struggling to turn on your creative flow and it seems every attempt you make meets a dead end?

What you experienced may have been a writer’s block, and it is a condition many writers deal with, so stay calm. Writer’s block is said to be in place when a writer finds it difficult to create a new work or experience a creative slowdown.

Truth be told, experiencing it could be a morale killing experience for you, and if not well managed, you may begin to question your ability. However, the good news for you is that the condition could be managed, if you are willing and able to apply the right tricks, nothing can stop you from flexing your creative muscles.

How can you overcome this condition the next time you find yourself struggling to express your creativity?

Let’s explore five ways to beat the blockage.

Keep a Journal:

Keeping a journal is one way to bail yourself from the tough situation writer’s block could place you. As a writer, sometimes ideas run through your mind, it is important that you note them. You could also take note of creative expressions that you observe other writers use in their work. Your note will serve as a good reference point anytime you experience writer’s block.

Do your Research:

As a writer, you should never underestimate the advantage research affords you. Before embarking on any writing adventure, be careful to do your study and expose your mind to enough knowledge. This makes it easy for your mind to process thoughts and initiate creative work.

Share ideas with a colleague:

The popular statement “A problem shared is a problem half solved” should come to mind in this instance. The next time you find yourself struggling with a block, you should consider talking with a trusted fellow writer. It is also advisable you join a community of writers whom you can share ideas with and reach out to for help. Holding a conversation with a fellow writer or a group of writers may help you break through the challenge.

Eliminate distractions:

Sometimes, being distracted could result in you experiencing a writer’s block. You should eliminate everything you consider a distraction, and that includes not just your physical environment but also your mental state at the time. Make sure you are in a good place and position to pen your thoughts in writing.

Take a break:

Do you remember how happy you would have felt whenever the break time bell rang while you were still a kid in school? The truth is humans naturally need a break to refresh their ability to function. Even if you consider yourself a superhuman, you sure do need to take a break if you want to stand a chance at overcoming your challenge. Why deprive yourself a needful break if it could help you overcome the writer’s block?

Bear in mind…

You do not have to be stuck with a block whenever you find yourself struggling. As a creative, you’re not exempted from challenges, but your ability to manage one could go a long way in determining how far you can go in your career.