Whether you’re a blogger, an article writer, or a novelist, we sometimes suffer from writer’s block. Writer’s block is a horrible deadlock we get to experience sooner or later. This is a dreadful phenomenon where writers just don’t have any idea on what to write. They practically run out of words to write. Otherwise, they jiggle up so many ideas that they don’t know where to start anymore.
Having a writer’s block is the last thing an author wants to have. It is dangerous and is detrimental to our job. It significantly affects not only our work but also to our psyche. Writer’s block can halt our business’ operation.
How can we overcome writer’s block? Here are our top tips to help you beat it and start writing again!
Write an idea file
Most of the time we love having ideas because they act as our fuel when writing. However, it also has its dark side. Having too many ideas is detrimental because it divides your attention and focus. If you have too many ideas in your mind, you won’t know what to write first.
“But I can’t just abandon all these awesome ideas in my head!”
Yes, we encourage you not to abandon them. After all, we did say that they’re the fuel of writing. However, we will ask you to contain them. Write them in one file. Or if you prefer to do things manually, write them in a notebook. We recommend you write your ideas in separate sections. After you’re done, think about the one that interests you the most then start writing it. This will help you overcome your writer’s block without disposing of your multiple ideas.
Forget all the rules and just write
One of the main reasons why we have writer’s block is because our perfectionism kicks in. Often we feel sick just by reading our first drafts and seeing how horrible the grammar is. It may not be following the rules, the guidelines, the proper format, etc. The nagging feeling becomes too much that we find ourselves editing it over and over again. Although editing our work is good, we’ll get nowhere if we overdo it or become too evaluative.
Forget the rules for now. Just write. Keep writing. Gently remind yourself that you’re not perfect and that first drafts are always horrible. Write until you’ve transferred all the ideas from your head to your paper. When you complete, you can then start editing. Remember that it’s easier to edit a crappy draft than editing a blank page.
Seek an editor or beta reader
This tip is in connection with number two. Another reason why we recommend you to ditch all the rules and just write is that someone else will do the job for you. Remember that as a writer, you’re attached to your works. And because you’re attached to it, you cannot criticize your work in an objective manner. You’ll always be biased and in denial of your works, whether you like it or not.
Having an editor, instead, will help you correct your errors and mistakes. Your editor serves as an eye refresher of your work. They aren’t attached to it. That’s why they can quickly pinpoint the mistakes you’ve missed. They are also capable of suggesting new ideas that can improve the quality of your work. Of course, it’s up to you whether to accept them or not.
Set a deadline.
Deadline is one of the greatest motivators for a writer to keep going. Writers love challenges, that’s why they write until they beat their deadline. This will also help remind you that you don’t have all the time in the world. There’s no room for procrastination. You need to write, if possible, every day. Eventually, you’ll overcome writer’s block and then write naturally if you’ve developed a habit out of it.