Writer's block is a big problem when it comes to being a writer. This can happen whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction. The problem with writer's block is that it leads to procrastination and then nothing gets done! Every writer suffers from it and I've suffered from it countless of times, especially in my fiction writing. Here are some tips that I've followed to get over the issue.
Keep Writing
One trick is to just keep writing. Write anything at all, even if it has nothing to do with the main topic that you are working on. Don't stop to read what you have written and never go back to edit it. By constantly writing, you are keeping your brain working and your hands moving and this can sometimes counter the problems of writer's block.
Move to the Next Chapter or Scene
This is another option available. Instead of constantly writing something that you are stuck on, think about moving onto the next scene or chapter in the story. This is possible as long as you have planned the whole story out. Sometimes, you need to know where you are going to know how to get there and you will get writer's block because you need to figure out what will happen in the next scene.
Make it clear where you have stopped and moved on so that you can easily go back and fill in the gaps when you need to. This is one trick that I use on a regular basis when I am writing fiction or when I write eBooks.
Don't Make Your Characters Do Something They Don't Want to Do!
After a few years of suffering from writer's block now and then, I've realised that this is my main problem. My characters come to life in my head; they build their own personalities and their own way of dealing with situations. There have been times that I've tried to make a storyline go one way but it is not in a character's nature to do something. This leads to a dead end and I have no idea how to get around it. By writing more, I've found that the storyline has become forced and it isn't as enjoyable as it could be.
To get over this issue, I've often gone back and read what was going on before and thought about what the character would do in the situation. Instead of forcing the character to do what I want, I let the character tell me what he or she wants to do. This keeps with the character's personality and often leads to a more interesting chapter with extra twists and turns.
If Your Muse has an Idea, Go With It!
My muse is like a friend to me. She pops up every now and then with a great idea but then disappears for a while to let me get on with my work. I now know that when she does pop up, she has an idea and she wants me to listen to her. No matter what I'm doing, I'll open an office document on my computer or grab my notebook and pen and write the idea down while she is telling me it - just in note form. Once I've done that, she usually let's me get on with my work. If I try to continue with work while she wants to tell me her idea, I get writer's block, especially with my non-fictional writing!
Step Away from the Computer
Now and then your brain needs a break. If you have been at the computer for hours at a time, your brain will start to shut down and you will not be able to get on with writing. There is nothing wrong with taking a break. Do something productive, such as the laundry, the washing up or even go to the gym. This will get you away from the computer and away from the problem at hand. Surprisingly, your subconscious will start to work out the problem for you and by the time you get back to the computer, the writer's block will have gone away!
This is actually something that works for any problem or subject. Taking time away from a situation instead of constantly pushing it will help you solve it.
Do Some Writing Exercises
The last on on my list is something that another writer taught me. There are times that moving on from a scene or stepping away from the computer just doesn't work, especially if I have set a specific time to do my writing. Instead of wasting that time by checking Facebook or watching funny videos on YouTube, I'll do a writing exercise or two. There are some great websites for writing exercises - some have a new exercise every day.
The best thing about writing exercises is that you could continue them on and create them into a story. This is something that happened with one of my works of fiction, which will hopefully be available as an eBook very soon. I took the exercise and played with it and soon a whole short story was coming together from it.
Whatever you do, when it comes to dealing with writer's block, don't panic! There is no point in staring at a computer screen and screaming at yourself about how much something needs to be done. There is a reason why you have come to a halt and this is something that will happen to every writer. Some of the above tips may not work for you - there are tips that other writers gave to me when I first started that really didn't help. The trick is to find something that does work and stick with it then the next time you suffer from it, you can get over it quickly and easily!
