3 Simple Tricks to Get You Writing Again (Despite Having Writer’s Block)
Photo by Goutham Krishna on Unsplash
You sit there, bored and uninspired. You’re waiting for inspiration to strike at your door, but it doesn’t come. You get up and peek out the door, trying to see if it’s anywhere in sight.
Is it on its way? You sit back down, defeated. Nothing tickles your fancy and you want to bang your head against a wall.
Your problem is that you’re waiting for inspiration to strike. In truth, it rarely does. Most often, you have to go out and wrangle it yourself. You have to wrestle it into submission.
Here are a few good ways to make inspiration your own.
Get Back to Your Roots
Remember why you are writing. What is it that originally compelled you to pick up the pen? There’s a reason why you started doing this. There’s a reason you continue to do this, even when it pains you. And there’s a reason you will continue on, despite your insistence that you’re done.
Ask yourself what it is that made you start. It serves as a guiding post. Remember why you started and you’ll find things you want to write about.
Or find something new that appeals to you. Your goal is to put words on the page. It doesn’t matter what the words are, so long as they show up.
When I feel really stuck I ask myself two questions:
What made me want to start writing?
What do I want to write about right now?
Borrow a Framework
When you’re feeling stuck, you can always borrow a framework from someone else. I’m not saying steal their material, but I am saying you can follow formulas to help you.
Reading is a powerful tool to get you there. It helps reignite your imagination. Read other pieces and consider how you respond to them.
Is it a topic you’re interested in? Do you have your own take? Does it inspire an adjacent idea?
Likewise, an easy solution is to find prompts online. You can google ‘random prompt generator’ and find thousands of things to write about.
You can also phone a friend. I always find that after talking to someone I come away feeling energized and full of ideas. It doesn’t even have to be a friend.
Try striking up a conversation with a stranger. They’ll tell you all about their life story, and it’s possible it’ll inspire something in you.
Get Away From the Page
Lastly, if you’re still struggling to write, get away from the screen. Often it can induce more stress trying to come up with something than taking a break.
The best thing you can do is take a break, go outside, and live your life. The best ideas will come when you’re lost in your own thoughts.
You can try:
going for a drive
hiking in the mountains
swimming at the beach
walking in a park
There’s no doubt that being in nature is good for your brain. It helps you think clearly and realigns you.
Any time you spend on your own is time you spend reflecting. You reflect on yourself and the world around you. You’ll make observations. You’ll get space from the screen.
Final Thoughts
Inspiration is never there when you want it and everywhere when you’re busy. You’re going to have to chase it and pin it down sometimes.
That means showing up to the computer even when you don’t want to. It means returning to your why. It means borrowing inspiration from others.
And when it’s causing you more stress than not, take a breather. You’re here because you enjoy writing. If you’re not enjoying it, then it’s not worth it.
Make sure you’re enjoying the process.
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