What To Do About Writer’s Block

I have mixed feelings about writer’s block.

On the one hand, there have been times when writing has been impossible for me. I’ve actually felt the physical sensation of my words being blocked.

It’s like having an unscalable wall between the desire to write and the act of writing and not knowing what to do to move past it.

On the other hand, though, I know for sure that there are countless ways around and under and through that blocked feeling. It doesn’t have to stop you from doing your work.

While I do believe that the feeling of writer’s block is real, I don’t think it’s something that has legitimate power over writers. And I do think it’s fairly easy to defeat.

Here are some ways to do it.

See It For What It is

The paralyzing feeling of writer’s block is often a result of fear, boredom, insecurity, indecision or some other factor that brings your writing to a screeching halt. It’s uncomfortable and frustrating and sometimes feels endless.

But recognizing writer’s block for what it is — a form of mental resistance — can help end it fast.

Instead of letting writer’s block say something about who you are as a person, see it as a temporary condition you can work around.

It’s not a personal failure if you don’t feel like you can write right now.

It’s a moment in time where you must actively help yourself write. It’s temporary, and it’s just a hurdle you can overcome by taking deliberate actions.

Do The Opposite Of What Writer’s Block Tells You

It’s easy to feel complacent when writer’s block strikes. The block is telling you not to write because (insert false reason here) and your instinct might be to follow those instructions.

But don’t! That’s how perfectly good months or years of writing time slip away from a person, lost forever to a made-up affliction.

The only way the resistance wins is if you DON’T write. So putting even one sentence down on paper is a win for you and brings you a tiny bit closer to not feeling blocked.

When your writer’s block says don’t write, do the opposite. Write about anything you can for just a few minutes. Start small, but take action in the opposite direction of the resistance.

Address Other Factors Outside Of Writing

There’s a difference between depression, anxiety, or generally feeling sad versus having writer’s block. I want to make that distinction clear.

If you feel your writer’s block is a result of another issue, like a mental health problem or high stress levels or a medical condition, give yourself a break. It’s ok to cut yourself some slack, put writing on the backburner, and take care of yourself.

For many of us, ongoing health issues definitely play a role in our ability to write. I have a chronic autoimmune disease that sometimes causes fatigue, brain fog, and other physical issues that completely distract me from writing.

This is not writer’s block.

Writer’s block is rooted in a false belief we carry about our writing and/or our capabilities. Writer’s block is not a medical condition. It’s a way we feel resistance.

So if you do have a medical condition to contend with and it impacts your writing life, go easy on yourself. It’s ok to take time off from writing to get well.

If All Else Fails, Try Something New

Sometimes writer’s block is so intense it’s hard to fathom writing even a few sentences. Or maybe you can write a few sentences, but over time you realize it doesn’t help anything.

I don’t think it’s worth the energy to force yourself to do something over and over again if it feels lousy. Try something else instead.

There’s no law that says you have to overcome writer’s block by writing.

In fact, I think one of the best ways to get over a creative block is to do something besides write.

And not just any old thing, but something deliberate. Something that you think will give you a creative spark or some new ideas you can incorporate into your work.

See a play or a concert. Go to an open mic night and listen to others read their writing. Take a class. Learn a new skill that requires the use of your hands, like hand lettering or woodworking or knitting. Find a local museum (RISD is amazing if you’re in Rhode Island!) and spend a few hours wandering around.

You get the idea. Sometimes it takes a different approach than writing to overcome a bout of writer’s block. 

And if all else fails, you can always spend the extra time reading. Eventually, you’ll find your way back to your writing!

Have you ever had writer’s block? How do you handle it? Tell me in the comments!