If you've ever had to write anything ever in your entire life, you're probably familiar with the sensation of writer's block. There's nothing to say about it except for it's the pits. It's no fun staring at your computer screen or scribbling in the corner of your paper while you wait for an idea to smack you across the face. If you ever get stuck with writer's block, here are a few tips that can help you get past it.
Get comfortable.
It's important to be relaxed while you're writing, both physically and mentally. Hop into a super comfy chair, lie out on the grass in your backyard, curl up in your bed, sit down at your desk, do whatever feels best for you. Make your writing space your own with things like music, snacks and the like. Even if you're writing a paper that's due the next day, comfort is key. Keep your mind and your body relaxed and your ideas will come to you easier than if you were cramped and nervous about finishing the assignment in time.
Minimize your distractions.
It's easy to get sucked into Facebook when you're taking a break or trying to beat the next level of a game on your phone which turns into a half hour of wasted time. It will take longer to refocus after you pull yourself away from your social media which will most likely be a source of stress. It's up to you how much distraction you want to eliminate from your writing environment, but something as simple as turning off your phone or putting it on Do Not Disturb makes a world of difference. Even putting your phone somewhere where you can't see it causes you to think about it less. If you're working on your computer and really feel that you need to focus, you can turn off your WiFi to prevent the use of the Internet. However, if you need to go online for research, desktop apps like SelfControl and Freedom block only the sites that you specify for any amount of time.
Use a writing prompt.
If you're just writing for fun but you don't know what to write about, a good place to start is a prompt. Barnes & Noble and Amazon have books full of writing prompts for you to purchase. Or, if you don't want to spend any money, there are many different sites that you can find if you just Google "writing prompts." There are so many sources of inspiration available.
Keep inspiration on hand.
If you ever get stuck, I suggest consuming some sort of media that you love. Keep a couple of your favorite poems bookmarked in a folder on your desktop. Watch a few minutes of your favorite episode of "The Office." Put your favorite album on and really listen to the lyrics. Watch this YouTube video of celebrities taste-testing P. Diddy's vodka, or any other video that makes you happy. Let the creativity inspire you.
Take some breaks.
If you're really getting frustrated, take some time to step back from your writing and relax. Do something calming, like coloring, reading, maybe some yoga, whatever might relax you. Just make sure that your break isn't too long or distracting, or you could get completely off track and it will take you a long time to get back on task. Use this time to calm yourself and regroup your ideas.
Have confidence in yourself.
Don't doubt yourself too much while you are writing. Do you think JK Rowling wrote the entire "Harry Potter" series in one sitting and without any mistakes? Of course not. Be confident that the ideas you're writing down are good and keep in mind that everything can and should be edited. If you have writer's block because you feel like the idea you have doesn't work or isn't coherent, write it down anyway and edit it later.
