If you’re a writer or someone who likes to write, there are times when you just don’t have the writing muse inspiring you. You tend to run short of words, and there is a sense that you want to express so much more.
If this has ever happened to you, the chances of which are very high, you know we are talking about the writer’s block. Yes! That time when the Gods are angry with you and would not lend you a single word to pen down.
We’ve all been there. Writer’s block is almost inevitable if you’re into writing. Every single writer, ranging from the beginners to the absolute professionals suffer from the writer’s block. It is a phase when there is lack of inspiration, a lack of ideas and the writer’s vocabulary banks runs out of words. But, overcoming a writer’s block might actually be a lot easier than you would have thought. It all depends on what suits best for you. We have curated a list for all you writers out there that discusses a few ways in which you can get out of a writer’s block.
To begin with, let’s get a few things clear. Any and every writer can suffer from a writer’s block. So never be discouraged if you’re going through the tough phase. It is a temporary phase which eventually passes. But we do understand that to new writers; it might seem as if they can’t write at all. However, that is not one bit true.
There are a lot of reasons that can cause a writer’s block. For instance, sometimes you don’t have the right thoughts to pen down. That can be fixed by giving the thought more time to boil. Then, writers, mostly new ones, tend to get afraid of penning down their ideas and suffer from a writer’s block. When it comes to professional and experienced writers, their want of perfectionism often outs them in a tight spot and they run out of words. So, you see, it happens to everyone. Following are a few ways in which you can get out of a writer’s block. Take a look:
#1. Indulge In Other Activities
Yes, one of the best ways to get out of a writer’s block is by not writing for a while at all. If you’re someone who writes a lot, then it is only natural that your vocabulary bank will exhaust and you’ll need some time to replenish it. The best thing to do when in a writer’s block is to read things.
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Experts say that as you start reading more and more; new ideas come to your mind. You also get to know a lot of new words that you can probably use in your own writings. It is all about giving your brain a break. The truth is, no one can write every day. It is an extremely draining task. As you indulge in activities that don’t involve writing, your brain will get the time to rejuvenate.
#2. Go For Long Walks
We’d advise you to go on walks alone. Prefer a time when it is breezy out there and the world is still. Take a long walk, observe everything around you, and rest whenever you want to. While walking, talk to yourself, try to understand your surroundings. In fact, a recent study conducted at the Stanford University concluded that walking can increase your divergent thinking by almost 85%. If the science behind it is not enough for you to go out, consider this: when you’re out on the streets, all by yourself, you can actually work on your thoughts. The reason why it would be preferable to walk when it is quiet outside is so that you can hear your own thoughts loud and clear.
With personal experience, we can confirm it to you that long walks on nice wintery mornings are a great way to feel inspired and get parity in those cluttered thoughts.
#3. Dance
Turn up the volume and just shake that body. Scientific studies have shown that the body releases certain hormones when you indulge in dancing that can also help you in other creative areas of your life as well. Apart from dancing, yoga is also a great way to channelize all the energy you have in you, and then project it at writing. You’ll yourself feel the humdinger when you unleash all that energy that you have harbored by shaking your body.
Apart from that, dancing and yoga also relax your mind and give it the rest that it needs. When your mind is relaxed, it is more open and receptive, and that is when you can start writing like before, again.
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#4. Rid Yourself Of Distractions
This is a very vital element when you’re recovering from a writer’s block. The world is in a chaos and distractions prevail all around us. They can come in any shape and size. Your cell phone, your TV, your gaming console, these are all ways of distracting you. If you want to come out of the writer’s block, kindly stay away from all these things.
It is hard for your brain to concentrate when there is so much chaos around you. So, for a while, switch your cell phone off, plug out your internet connection and just relax. Even if you just lurk in peace and silence doing nothing, that is better than being surrounded by chaos.
#5. Eat Soul Food
Eat food that makes you feel good. The entire category of soul food or comfort food is there for your taking. Another thing that you have to remember is to stay away from junk food. Burgers, pizzas, fried things, these are all delectable for our palates, but for our brain, they can be absolutely devastating.
People who eat junk food appear sluggish as their body needs more energy to digest what they’ve eaten. On the contrary, soul food is easy on the body while being delicious at the same time. So, eat not only for your tongue but for your brain as well.
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#6. Change Places
If you think that your studio apartment with blinding lighting is not an ideal place to write, then you’re absolutely right. For the most of your life, the place where you write doesn’t matter much. But, when you’re going through the writer’s block, every little thing matters. They say that inspiration can come from anywhere and in this case, it can come by going to a place which appears to be better suited for writing.
So, a slight change in place and the setting can do wonders for you.
#7. The Best Way To Come Out Of A Writer’s Block Is To Write
And finally, if nothing else seems to do the trick for you, then this is your absolute solace. Don’t wait for a time when you’ll feel inspired. Inspiration is achieved through relentless pursuit. And the best way to do that is by starting to write. Take out your diary, your laptop, or whatever suits you and just start writing. Don’t be specific, don’t care about the punctuation. Just write freely. Imagine yourself like a pen refill that hasn’t been used for some time. You have to scrub that tip for some time before the refill starts working smoothly.
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Just put pen to paper and see the magic happen in front of your eyes.
So there you have it. To sum it up, writing is a matter of giving a physical form to your inspiration. But, you should not wait for the moment of inspiration but should seek it relentlessly. If you’ve previously been through a writer’s block, share your experiences on how you came out of it in the comments below.
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