How to Overcome Writer’s Block

7 Ways to Keep Writing

I watched a lesfic writers panel a few weeks back. Someone asked, “Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you deal with it?”

One author said that because she’s a “plotter,” she never has writer’s block because she always knows where the story is going.

Another said that so long as she kept traveling, she never got stuck. She just needed new experiences to inspire her.

Others said they did sometimes get writer’s block, and the way they handled it was by either stepping away for a while and taking a break, or by taking a vacation if they were burnt out.

And finally, most said that if they felt stuck, they would just write, write, write…and most likely erase it all the next day if it wasn’t any good. But they’d always get their word count in that day.

I’ve used similar methods to deal with writer’s block, and I’ve also used meditation.

When you meditate before writing, you turn off the “filters” that stop your flow. So instead of constantly editing yourself, you can write unhindered. This is similar to the “just write anyway” method because it has the same effect of turning off your filters.

But lately, I’ve noticed another kind of writer’s block.

It’s the block that says, “I know exactly what I want to write about…but I don’t feel like I can share it publicly.”

Sometimes, the pull to write it is so strong that I can’t think of anything else I want to write about.

When this happens, I open up another piece of virtual paper and I start to write what I really want to say. Sometimes, this inspires me with a sub-topic that I can share.

But if it doesn’t, I resort to two final methods.

The first is the “corrections” method. I learned this from therapist and coach Brent Charleton.

The second is the Lefkoe Occurring Process, which I learned from the Lefkoe Institute.

They’re both very similar.

You start by identifying the thoughts that come up for you in this “writer’s block” state. Then, you identify the feelings associated with those thoughts.

In the Lefkoe Occurring Process (LOP), you use a variety of methods including “alternative interpretations” to see that what you’re telling yourself isn’t necessarily the truth; it’s just a possibility.

Once you do that, the associated emotion dissolves, and you no longer need to avoid writing.

With the corrections method, you dig a little deeper to find the history behind your feelings and thoughts. Where did you learn this reaction? If you could go back in time to yourself as a child, what sort of guidance would you give yourself about it?

7 Ways to Keep Writing

Do you experience occasional writer’s block? If so, here are seven ways to help you overcome it so you can keep writing.

1. Plot in advance so you know where you’re going.
2. Go for a new experience, or create one virtually to get inspired. If you’re stuck at home (thanks to the pandemic, for example) consider YouTube videos, podcasts, immersive video games, TED Talks or even National Geographic shows.
3. Take a break, then come back to it later. Walks are great for this, but you can also put on some music and dance, or anything else that takes your mind far away from writing.
4. Set a timer and just write, write, write. A personal favorite of mine is the 25-minute Pomodoro timer. You set it and ignore everything else.
5. Meditate. Nothing fancy needed here. The simplest way I know to meditate is to feel your inhales and count your exhales 10 times.
6. Journal, or write about the thing you really want to write about. Then, see if it inspires you to write something else that you can use.
7. Figure out what’s stopping you. What thoughts are coming up for you, and what feelings? Work through them and see if you can get rid of the thoughts and emotions that are holding you back. These resources may help: