Writer’s Block: 3 Strategies If You Can’t Write

At a recent writer’s group meeting, we discussed writer’s block. This affliction is real. It can paralyze you.

Almost everyone in our group has suffered from it, so we discussed useful tools and strategies to help us to manage it in the future.

If you’re dealing with it right now, ask yourself whether you can identify a cause.

Writer’s block: can you identify a cause?

Perhaps you’re undergoing severe stress. That’s unsurprising, given the pandemic. If so, the last thing you want is to pile on additional stress. Do what makes you happy, whether it’s what you “should” be doing or not.

You may have over-worked. If you’ve had little sleep for several days, you may be burned out.

Whatever the reason for your writer’s block, try these strategies.

1. If a project is stressing you, work on something else

Writers often block when they’re trying to start or complete a major project like a book. If this sounds like you, take some time off.

Or write something else. Taking a coffee break, then working on something else will shake you out of a mental rut.

Tip: even if you’re not suffering from writer’s block, it’s a good idea to work on several projects concurrently, so that you can switch projects when you’re stuck.

2. Write an email message to yourself about your writer’s block

Subconsciously, you know what’s causing your block. Write yourself a letter about your writer’s block. You may find that the reason for your block comes out in the letter. Perhaps it’s something trivial: you’re angry because you haven’t been promoted, or someone made you a promise and didn’t keep it.

Anger at someone or something often causes writer’s block. If this is the case, becoming conscious of what’s troubling you is often enough to release the block.

Even if you have no idea why you’re blocked, writing a message will release negativity. You’ll feel lighter—you may even start writing again.

3. Three wishes: what do you wish?

Try this; it’s fun.

Imagine you’re granted three wishes. What would you wish for? Write down your three wishes.

As we get older, we lose the capacity for fun and whimsy. Our life, and our writing, becomes hard work, instead of fun.

Writing your three wishes can be powerful in connecting you with your creative source.

The message of writer’s block

Writer’s block always has a message for you.

The strategies in this article will help you to decode that message and start writing again.

---