Tips For Combating Writer's Block | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Books Lit

The Secret Ingredients For Combating Writer's Block

Suggestions on how to write when you're at a complete loss of words.

14
person writing in journal
Pexels

Writing can be really difficult at times, especially when you're not in the mood to write about anything in particular. I say this as I'm sitting here not having any clue about what to write about for today because the past week has not been particularly exciting in my life. Whenever something really exciting happens in my life is when I feel the most compelled to write my thoughts down. The piece that I'm writing isn't even the exciting event sometimes, rather my feelings generated from the said event.

Whenever I encounter the infamous writer's block, I usually treat it by putting my phone and computer down and by first taking a nap. Naps are my cure to absolutely everything because waking up from a nap is like a fresh start. I then go for a drive to someplace I haven't gone before to give my brain some relaxation time. When your brain is running low on energy, I find that it's very difficult to be productive. I don't think I can accomplish anything when my brain is tired. There's no point in writing when your brain can't think straight for five minutes without distraction. If you write like this, usually I find the things I write make no sense at all or have no flow.

To generate new ideas about what I want to write about, I like to read the newspaper. Articles and editorials generally get my brain working and allow me to think about what is going on in my community and the world around me. Often, I find that I am most compelled to write about my own life experiences of travel and hardships I've faced or about current events and social movements. Writing about social movements has been my favorite thing to write about recently because there are so many of them going on and they often correlate to the major that I'm studying.

I also often find that the best pieces I write are often ones that are triggered by anger and wanting to see some sort of change happen. Whenever I read something that makes me mad, I immediately want to write my feelings about it down.
Whenever I feel like something should not be allowed to happen, I write my feelings about it down. Whenever I think that something needs to be changed in the world so it happens less, I write my feelings about it down. Whenever someone says something to me that makes me really upset, I write my feelings about it down.

When genuine emotion is triggered, the content you write will be better because readers will hear your voice come through the piece. I find that recently, a lot of the things that have made me want to write due to anger have been stories I've heard on the news, and op-eds in the newspaper. Writing a response to someone's opinion is one of my favorite things to do. Especially because not enough people know how to respond to someone's opinion without attacking them. It is completely OK to disagree with someone and write your feelings down in response to what they have said on an event that may have occurred.
This type of writing works very well for the era we are in because it seems as though everyone always has something to say about everything.

Writing can be difficult when you have absolutely no inspiration. For example, the reason I'm writing this is that I am angry that I have absolutely no clue what to write about because nothing has gone on that's exciting. I suggest when you experience writer's block, to just take a break from trying to think about what you're going to write and rather just let the idea come to you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1477
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

2862
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2934
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments