Whether or not you consider yourself a writer, everyone at one point has to write something for school, work, etc. Writer’s block is a completely normal thing to struggle with and it’s perfectly okay to feel stuck when it comes to writing! You may not have tons of ideas all the time and it can be hard to even get started. Here are some tips to help you clear your mind and get rid of writer’s block:
- Freewrite on anything you want!
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Sometimes it can be helpful to just sit down and write about whatever you want without having any particular theme or plan. It could be you writing about your day, your emotions, or even you complaining about how much you are struggling with writing. Free writing is just a way to get your creative juices flowing without worrying about grammar, structure or having the “perfect idea.” Writer’s block sometimes is caused by feeling the need to write the perfect essay, email, article, etc. Freewriting can help you quell your anxiety about all the little things and focus on just expressing your thoughts.
- Write an outline of what you have to do
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You probably remember your middle and high school English teachers making you write an outline of your essay and map out everything you planned on writing about. Outlines don’t have to mention everything you’re going to discuss, but they should express your general ideas about the topic at hand. It’s a great starting point for anything you have to write, as you’ll have some sort of a sense of direction of what you’re doing.
- Don’t feel like you need to start at the beginning
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It may be programmed in our brains to always start writing at the very beginning with the introduction or opening lines. It’s actually way easier to start in the body paragraphs, where you can highlight all the main points and then come back to the beginning. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what points you covered and how you want to introduce your work.
- Schedule time to write without any distractions
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I highly recommend blocking out 30 minutes to an hour where you write without letting anything distract you. This might mean turning off your phone, the text messages on your computer, and maybe even downloading an app to block distracting websites for a certain period of time. Everyone has busy lives, so it’s nice to just know that for 30 minutes, you are going to sit down and write and not have any other concerns with what you’re doing later.
- Take a break and go outside!
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Being in nature is always really nice after spending so much time staring at a blank screen or piece of paper. Sometimes all you need is a walk around the block as a way to destress and free yourself from the pressure of writing. Being outside in the fresh air may even give you some good ideas of what to write about!
- Read through some inspiring and motivational quotes
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Maybe you’re searching for some motivation and inspiration for your writing, so why not read some of your favorite quotes that inspire you and push you to be your best self? Quotes are positive reminders that you can pull through, even if it seems tough.
- Talk with friends or family to get some ideas
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If you want to reach out to any friends or a family member, they can help you brainstorm ideas so you don’t have to go through the process alone. It’s nice to have people around you that support you and give you some input.
Writer’s block is no fun, but you are not alone! Even the greatest authors and writers in the world suffer from writer’s block; it’s just a part of life. Hopefully, these tips give you some good suggestions to produce your best writing yet!