You just poured coffee into your favorite mug, the baby is asleep, and afternoon rain is tapping against the window. Perfect. You open your computer and are so ready to start writing that new chapter and…nothing.
Nothing!
You sit there for the next hour and a half writing dumb sentences getting anxious and hyper from the 3 cups of coffee you’ve chugged.
Writer’s block. I’ve been there. It’s the worst.
But here are 3 weird ways to overcome it that actually work:
1. Visit your local art gallery
Pick out 3 paintings and sit with them for a few minutes. Answer this question for each of them: if this were the cover of a book, what would the synopsis be? What happened right before this scene? What will happen after? Write it down!
2. Read a book or watch a movie from a genre you don’t like
This Jane Austen nut was hesitant when her husband begged her to watch the first episode of Stranger Things with him…and now it’s literally my favorite show. (But can we talk about that ending?? LOL)
All of this to say, pick up that “western” or a “fantasy” novel–even if it’s from the kids’ section. Spend some time with it. Stretch your mind in new ways.
3. Bounce ideas off your best friend
This is hard for me because it can feel like I’m admitting that I’m not good enough to “do it myself.” I think we writers can get into our heads too much (it’s part of what makes us good writers!) But community is so important to draw us out when we’re stumped, and to support and encourage us as when we feel like we’re failing.
It was my husband who suggested that “Clavier” the rat should play the organ foot pedals instead of the keyboard. This casual comment ignited my imagination and helped me find an exciting (and adorable) new direction for my story.
Conclusion:
Writer’s block awful, but we ALL get it at some point. Don’t let it get you down, it’s no reflection on you!
The key is finding ways to get outside of yourself, whether that’s by experiencing other forms of art (paintings, music, etc.), stepping into another author’s head, or getting an outside perspective.
(But sometimes you just gotta treat yourself to some coffee. That works too…)
Thank you for reading my blog!
I’d love to hear from you! Let me know if any of these tips were helpful and if you have any tips yourself!
Leave a Reply