5 Ways to Eliminate Writer's Block

Imagine that you are in the middle of writing your latest novel, short story, or poem, and the next day, you wake up with nothing to write. This happens to all of us. It’s called writer’s block, and it is one of the things that gets between a writer and his or her end goal.

Nevertheless, there are ways to fight this malicious monster. If you follow these rules, you may find yourself writing freely without worrying about when your next piece will be finished and published.

1. Get rid of distractions.

This seems like an easy thing to do, but when you have kids running around or neighbors that randomly decide to mow the lawn, it might not be as simple as you thought. In order to write, most people need a quiet area without television and the constant distraction of the people around them. Now, this might mean that you lock yourself in the office or bedroom for a couple of hours. You may even have to go to a quiet coffee shop or library, but when you set the environment up correctly, writing flows naturally.

2. Stop worrying about what others think.

There are several times that I am writing a chapter for a book or a poem, and in the middle of my piece, I start to wonder what everyone else will think about it. Stop! Yes, it is important that readers like your writing, but it is more important that you like it and that it is something that you are proud of. You shouldn’t have to compromise with what you say, because you are worried about the thoughts of others. If you follow this rule, you will find that though your writing may not appeal to one crowd, there may be another crowd that is more than excited to read your work.

3. Rely on other authors for motivation.

Social media has a variety of groups of authors that work every day to support each other. They share their works-in-progress, review each other’s recent writings, and even promote these pieces. Sometimes, it is more motivating to know that someone has your back, and by networking with other authors that may be combating the same stress as you are, you may find it easier to get back to writing.

4. Ignore those that feel like they are better than you.

Once in a while, you may be writing a piece and after sharing it, you find that someone is criticizing it publicly. This is just bad manners. Instead of listening to their constant complaints, use the time that they are wasting putting down your work to write. You will get more accomplished, and eventually, they will get off their high horse and leave you alone.

5. Feed criticism a compliment.

If you do get to the point that you stop writing, because someone is constantly criticizing your work, start feeding their critiques compliments. For instance, if someone says that they think you are a horrible writer and don’t know why you even got into the industry, just say, “I appreciate your point-of-view” or “Thank you for your honest opinion”. They don’t have much fuel to put in the fire of hate if you aren’t pushing back, and some people are just looking for an argument.

Conclusion

So, next time you are sitting at the computer, not knowing what you should type, find a good environment free of distractions, clear your head, and remember to write for yourself instead of worrying about how your writing might be perceived by others. Remember, every author has a story to tell, and though they are not all the same, they are all important.