5 Very Effective Ways To Overcome Writers Block
When you're writing a novel or any creative piece of literature, there almost always comes a time when you get stuck. Writing slows down; you don't know where to continue, doubts assail you, and, in the end, you no longer want to continue with that story. It has happened: you are blocked!
Being aware that you have a blockage can generate a lot of anxiety. And yet it shouldn't be. But we still haven't understood that blocks are part of the normal writing process. Only, your brain is taking the time it needs to create, to solve problems with the plot, the characters, etc. So, don't see the blockage as a problem, but rather as an opportunity.
The blockage usually always has a cause. And if you find it, you can stop it effectively and continue with your work.
In any case, it is widespread to fear that this block is something permanent that prevents you from writing ever again. Stay calm because that rarely happens.
However, to reduce anxiety, we will give you some tricks that you can put into practice so that that slowdown phrase in writing lasts as little as possible.
Here are five very effective ways to tackle writer's block.
1. Stop Writing And Do Something Else.
To overcome writer's block, but the story you were working on hold for a season. To feel better, you can set a specific time, for example, a day or a week. That will reassure you because you know that there is a time already set to pick up your writing.
However, you should take advantage of that time.And you must make your creativity exercise during that period: paint, take photos, knit, do crafts. This way, you will get your mind to refocus. Also, while you think about other things, your brain will not have forgotten the story you were working on. Unconsciously, keep working on it and looking for the best way to continue where you left off.
Freewriting consists of writing uninterruptedly for a predetermined period, without a pre-established subject and without paying attention to spelling and grammar. That is to say; it is about letting yourself be carried away and freely writing everything that comes to your mind. Of course, you must do it for a fixed time. The recommended is ten to twenty minutes. We advise you to do your freewriting exercises by writing by hand (with a pen and paper), and not with a keyboard. Why? It is proven that the brain thinks better when we write by hand because it has more time to articulate thoughts by doing it more slowly. Try freewriting, and you will be amazed at its results to overcome writer's block.
3. Permit Yourself To Write.
Writer's block is nothing more than a state of mind. Many times it is insecurity or lack of preparation that leads you to it. Doubts about your writing, you fear you are doing something that will not deserve to be read. You wonder if you have the ability and resources to bring that story to a successful conclusion. That is why you must train as a writer. You will know how to handle the different resources and when to use them. You will receive the expert and impartial opinion of a reader trained on your texts and your style. And that will give you the security to write without fear. So, to get past writer's block, you have to permit yourself to write. To get it wrong, to make a mistake, to make one mistake after another. Only then can you improve. The world is not going to end because you write a bad novel. The next one will be better.
Mind mapping is one of the best things you can do. It is used to undo a block, but you can also do it when you start typing. Take a blank sheet of paper (or a blackboard, or a wall and post it) and write in the center the theme or the main idea that your novel revolves around—for example, time travel. Then create a second level of ideas related to the main one. Continuing with time travel, we could think of clocks, past, present, future, technology, etc. It descends further down the scale of related concepts. But now you must think of ideas about the words of the second level: clock-calculator, past-carriages, present-economic crisis, future-space travel, technology-computers, etc. Finally, connect the third level words with the central idea: how is a calculator related to time travel? What about a carriage? Rest assured that this procedure will provide you with some ideas that you will want to get to work on right away. And you will have overcome writer's block.
5. Prepare/Work With Fresh Ideas
In the same way that is sometimes writing slows down, other times, on the contrary, it seems that you cannot cope with writing all the ideas that come to mind. Well, now is the time to work to prevent a blockage from occurring. When you have a creative effervescence stage, spend a fraction of your writing time taking notes and sketching all those ideas that flow incessantly. Thus, when you are paralyzed, you will have an arsenal of ideas to draw on that, well organized, will be very useful as a seedbed. And as you write and develop them, you will surely come up with more. You already know, the next time it happens to you, and you find yourself blocked, try some of these ideas. You will see that some work for you, and you will be able to get out of creative stagnation. But learn to give yourself time, know your writing process. This way, you will also know what works best for you when it comes to overcoming a blockage. Another way to overcome your writing block is a book that can help you. The name of the book is 5000 Writing Prompts. This book is handy, and there is a lot to learn from it. In this book, there are many inspiring ideas to overcome your writer's block as well as thousands of prompts, plots and creative exercises to keep you engaged. You will not be able to stop writing!
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