Breaking Writer’s Block

Written by James - 5 Comments

If you’re a freelance writer, you’ve certainly sat down to write at some point and couldn’t find the right words. Worse, you could have ended up staring at a blank page. Writer’s block happens and it brings creative juices to a grinding halt. Most likely, if you’re a freelance writer, you panic. This is your job, after all, and no writing means no income. What do you do? How do you break through writer’s block? Here are some ideas for breaking writer’s block:

Take a break.

When you can’t find the right words or are struggling penning a concept to paper, take a break. Step away from the word processor for at least 10 minutes. A 20-minute break is even better.

Take a holiday.

Everyone needs playtime to enjoy activities and hobbies, so take a day off writing. Get out of the house, and go have fun doing something unrelated to writing. Your creativity will appreciate the holiday and you’ll come back to your computer refreshed.

Do something else.

If you’re writing a technical article and can’t seem to think in linear terms or are having a hard time writing straight explanations, do something different for a while. Switching tasks to give your brain a rest is as easy as working on emails, surfing the internet, or visiting blogs.

Go look for new ideas.

If you’re feeling that your work is redundant and needs a fresh idea, go look for one. Getting out into the world for a while and observing the things going on around you can help bring a new take on what you need to write. Find fresh material and change the concept of what you were writing on to something new and different.

Read a book.

You may still be dealing with the written word, but giving your brain a break by absorbing words instead of writing them can be a good trick. Reading a fiction novel instead of writing a business article can give your head a rest. You could choose to read a book on the subject you need to write about to learn more or find new ideas.

Stop worrying about it.

The more you worry about writer’s block, the less you’ll be able to write. Relax, and tell yourself the situation will pass. Writer’s block may last a day, a week, or a month, but it will go away. The more you struggle with the situation, the worse you’ll feel and the harder it will be to write.

While writing is a job, it’s a special type of job. No one can write for hours without taking a break, and writing for more than four hours a day can leave you feeling tired and drained. Be effective and take breaks often. Write in many small sessions rather than one big, long haul at the computer. Do something you enjoy in between writing so that you can relax and come back to your computer with fresh eyes and renewed imagination.

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