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Navigating the Slippery Slope of Writer's Block

Updated: Jul 14

By Mirabelle Jiang

 


It’s that time of the day – your designated writing time! You open your laptop, ready to unleash all the ideas that have been swirling around your head the entire school day onto a blank document. The document appears, but all of a sudden – nothing. Your mind goes completely blank, and the ideas that permeated your thoughts throughout the day have disappeared. 


Congratulations! You’ve hit writer’s block. 


Writer's block – the eternal nemesis of every writer, be it a seasoned author or a budding wordsmith. Below are some interesting tips and tricks to help you break free of the wretched grasp of writer’s block and, hopefully, return to writing as soon as possible. 


Read


Reading is my go-to method for getting into that “writing mindset” or coming up with inspiration for a new piece. I find that reading material that is similar to what I’m trying to write helps me find motivation the most. If you’re struggling to find your voice while writing, you can even read some of your old work to gain inspiration. However, don’t feel bound to one singular genre or author! Read anything you can get your hands on – poems, blogs, personal memoirs, television scripts – you name it. 


As a writer, we always need a constant amount of input if we continue to create output. In fact, I often come up with new ideas when I’m reading the works of other writers. Something random will trigger a memory in the very back of my head, and soon, I’m back to the grind. 



Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself


One of the most common obstacles I face (and one that most often leads to writer’s block) is being too meticulous when writing. I’ll nitpick over every sentence, stopping in the middle of one to go back and fix another just to realize that my corrections probably made it worse. This fixation on tiny details soon spirals into full-on writer’s block. 


When these situations occur, it’s important to remind yourself that first drafts aren’t supposed to be perfect. Don’t scrutinize every single detail, and instead, let yourself write whatever comes to mind – even if it sounds absolutely terrible. After all, that’s what first drafts are for! The imperfections that no one but you will ever see. 


What When Wrong?


While you’re in your block, try to analyze why you’re stuck and what led you to this dead end. Is there something wrong with the plot? Does one of your characters lack dimension? Are you unsure of the direction that your story or piece should go? Is it simply that someone’s comment made you lose confidence in your writing? Nailing down the root of your writer’s block will help you get right back on track. For example, if you’re unsure of the direction of your story, brainstorm a few possible options – but keep them short. If your character lacks dimension, work on their backstory. You can even scour the internet for character worksheets that will help you gain a better sense of who your character is. 


Just…Stop 


Sometimes, it’s best to let your brain rest. If you’ve been sitting in front of your computer for hours on end, writing and rewriting the same line to no avail, perhaps it’s time to take a little break. After all, when you’ve used up all of your creative energy, your brain needs to time recharge. 


So step away from your computer for a while, play some video games, go on a walk, or even take a nap – do whatever you need to do to clear your mind. When some time has passed and you feel like returning to your piece (this is the most important part: make sure to return to your piece!), don’t start where you just left off. Write something else, a new section, a line of dialogue, a character’s backstory… Give yourself a “win” before facing your last “fail”.  


Final Thoughts


Sometimes, we write ourselves into a dead-end and have no clue free ourselves. That’s perfectly normal. Hopefully, these tips have aided you in returning to your usual flow, but if not, don’t be afraid to comb through the advice that internet forums have to offer. 


Some last words: don’t let writer’s block get the best of you and keep you from your writing. Good luck, and I’m sure we’ll conquer this enemy in no time!


 

Mirabelle Jiang is a Genre Managing Editor at Polyphony

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