5 Tricks I Use to Conquer Writer’s Block
I’ve overdue on two blog posts. I’m banging my head against the wall on a new project (figuratively, though I might do so literally in a minute). My under-breath mutterings are becoming increasingly hostile.
Yep, it’s official: I have writer’s block.
It happens to the best of us, and it frustrates the best of us. And reading blogs or articles about how writer’s block doesn’t really exist, how it’s all in our mind (duh), how only weak or inexperienced writers go through it just makes me want to chuck my laptop out the window and become a professional kitten cuddler.
We all have our little tricks to get past it. Tell you what. I’ll share mine here and you share yours in the comments, and together we WILL get through this.
1. Take a walk around the office and bug other people.
Sometimes I just need to see what other people are doing. Bugging others has a number of benefits. I might feel a lot better about my job when I see what other people have to do. Or someone has a funny story or YouTube video to share. Or I go stare at our designers’ screens so I can look at pretty pictures. When I return to my desk, I often feel mentally refreshed and have knocked off the mental impediment.
2. Ignore it and work on something else.
Those of you who live and die by deadlines know how much of a challenge this is, but I’m telling you, it can be the best solution. It’s like how your best ideas can come just before you go to sleep, or while you’re in the car. When your brain’s engaged with something else, the Idea Fairy will often slip in and drop a gift-wrapped present in your lap. Then, stop what you’re doing and unwrap it before that fickle pixie steals it away.
3. Spotify your workday.
Some people always work to music. With me, it depends, and what I listen to also depends. When I just need something in the background, it’s usually baroque classical or indie singer-songwriters. When I’m in the groove, I want something upbeat to keep me moving forward. And sometimes, I choose music to set the mood of what I’m working on. If you always listen to the same thing, try mixing it up.
4. Talk (or vent) it out.
When I get REALLY frustrated with myself, I’ll find someone to vent to. Ok, I guess it’s not always venting. More often, I just need to talk it out with another person. They don’t even have to contribute much to the conversation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hit on the perfect idea or solution while just talking through the project and the various approaches I’ve tried and discarded.
5. Do SOMETHING, even if it isn’t perfect.
This is painful even to write. There will be times you just can’t hit on the perfect point, word or sentence. It always makes me feel like an abject failure and I start going back to that kitten cuddling gig. Here’s the thing. Regardless of your headspace, something must be turned in. And you know what? It’s not the end of the world. TBH, a lot of times I need to turn in that turd (or, what’s a turd in my view), and then once it comes back to me, my mind's in a place to find a much better approach. Imagine that.
