6 Ways to beat WRITER'S BLOCK
It's Monday morning, and the script you've kept putting off for the past weekend is at the top of your to-do list.
You're familiar with the plot and characters, and you've created a detailed outline, but the words won't come out, and all you can do is look at a blank page.
We are in the same boat! It happened to all of us when we sat down to write that damned script.
It’s the worst enemy of any writer when it comes to getting work done. WRITER’S BLOCK!
You sat down to type and then just sat there, unable to produce anything. If you're trying to write a novel, a blog post, or something completely different, writer's block is a real thing that can not only put a stop to your progress but also irritate you.
If you write for a living, you should have methods in place to help you deal with writer's block, which concerns everyone. Not every tip will work for every author, but I've compiled a list of ways to beat writer's block while still producing content you'd be proud to show your peers.
1. Eliminate Distractions
We live in a world full of distractions, and it's all too easy to get caught up in what's going on on IG or endlessly checking your E-mails. In this age of information overload, eliminating distractions is a good way to concentrate on the task at hand. Switch on do-not-disturb mode on your phone when you're writing. Alternatively, switching off notifications for even the most important features, such as texts and calls.
You'd be shocked how so much time you save by not staring at your phone or scrolling through social media.
2. Fill-in-the-blanks
Play a little game with yourself like a child. Write some sentences with fill-in-the-blank.
Start with easy things. Something like:
The protagonist’s hobby is ________.
He wants to do ________ because ________.
If he doesn’t ________ then ________ will happen.
Making your task "fill in the blanks" is the quickest approach to escape writer's block. By outlining it in detail. And the more specific your outline is, the easier it will be to write. Now you have the answers. It's just there and you are the one who decides which part could be in the script.
3. Write Like An Employee
Have you ever heard a postman says: “I don’t know how to deliver these mails tomorrow?” Or have you ever seen a bank accountant staring at his computer wondering how to put the numbers in?
Great employees and professional athletes almost always follow the same routine while preparing to perform a job they've done a million times before. All the great ones have a routine, no matter what it is.
Have a simple routine. Something like this:
Wake up at 7.
Take a shower.
Have your breakfast.
Open your laptop (Or your notebook if you are an old-school writer.)
Take a look at your plot summary and the outline (Which is partly done with the tip No. 2)
Write!
Don’t kill your momentum. Nothing kills a routine faster than a day off. You don’t have a day off. Because you are a writer! Deal with it!
4. TALK!
Staying in bed and thinking about falling asleep is the worst way to cure insomnia. It's the same for writer's block: looking at a blank page or monitor and hoping for words to emerge isn't going to work. Talking to a friend, actual or imaginary, is one way to get out of this. Take notes on what you say when you talk. The conversation normally makes a good first draft.
We are social creatures, so finding the opportunity to socialize is a perfect way to re-energize and de-stress. Moreover, social situations open you to more comments and suggestions than looking at the same blank screen would.
5. READ!
One of the most common words of advice given to authors is that in order to be a successful writer, you must read a lot.
It also doesn't need to be anyone else's work. Going over old stories you've written, old blog entries, and even essays you wrote as a student is a good way to get to know your own writing style.
You must do research prior to writing in order to conquer writer's block. It's very quick to get distracted while writing. You'll eventually find yourself on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, with no idea why or how you got there.
6. FAIL!
When it comes to writing, most authors struggle on a regular basis. It's referred to as the Creative Process. Remember that the purpose of overcoming writer's block is to complete the first draft, not to write the ideal novel, story, or script.
Finish your first draft.
Rewrite.
Rewrite.
Rewrite.
Fail.
But next time, you will fail better.