© K.L. Hall and www.authorklhall.com, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to K.L. Hall and www.authorklhall.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
If you’re a writer of any kind, I’m sure you’ve experienced a spell or two of writer’s block. If not, and you’re wondering exactly what writer’s block is, it’s the “condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing,” according to Wikipedia. I thought it might help to share some of the tips I use when I'm going through the dreaded writer’s block.
1. Completely Unplug.
Disconnect from all electronics and social media. Put your phone on "Do Not Disturb." Sign out of all your social media apps. One of my biggest distractions is my iPhone. As soon as I hear one sound from a notification, my attention is ripped away from whatever I'm writing and thirty minutes later I find myself scrolling through Pinterest wondering how I got there.
2. Go Old School.
If you find it too hard to simply stare at just a Microsoft Word document on your laptop without getting distracted by the endless possibilities that Google offers, try going old school and write with pen and paper. Yeah, I said it. Bust out that notebook and get to writing!
3. Find a New Vibe.
Change your surroundings. If sitting in your bedroom, at your desk, or on your couch isn't working for you, get up and find another spot. Try writing outside or in a place in your home that you've never written in before. If nothing in your home is working, try getting out the house and going to the library or a coffee shop. (Don't forget your headphones!)
4. Get Lost in a New Book.
Read a book (in the genre you write, or not). Sometimes closing the laptop and opening my Kindle or even a paperback so that I can get lost in a new book helps me wind down.
5. Write Anyway.
As hard as that may sound, it's true. Write something different. This could be a short story, poem, blog post, or just whatever comes to the top of mind. Anything to get your fingers clicking against those keys or your pen flowing at a rapid pace against paper.
6. Listen to Music.
My music listening skills are strategic. For every book I write, I create a playlist of songs that relate to that book. That way, if I'm listening to songs that put me in mind of the book I'm writing, I'll be more inclined to actually write the book.
7. Take a Day Off.
If none of the above options work for you, then it's okay to step away from the desk, laptop, iPad, or notebook. Sometimes all you need is a little R&R to get the creative juices flowing again. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day and it's okay to NOT write. Just make sure you go back to it the next day.
I hope these few quick tips help. Happy writing!