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Writers Block: What Causes It and How to Overcome It
If you are a writer then you know what I am talking about. You have everything ready, a drink, a snack, the topic,
and even reference material. You sit down ready to start typing or writing, which ever you prefer, and it happens.
You are stuck, your mind is blank and you have no idea how to fill that blank canvas in front of you. It is a
writer’s worse nightmare come true. You have writers block.
First you need to figure out what is causing it. There are a multitude of things that can be causing it. Stress is
one of the biggest factors that cause writers block. Whether it is stress caused by personal matters, deadline
dates, or fearing your article won’t be good enough it can block the words from flowing as easily as the should.
Sleep deprivation doesn’t let your mind function to its full potential. Getting a good night’s sleep is imperative
to having a clear mind and being able to focus.
The project itself could be causing the writers block. A topic you are not interested in can easily turn your
normally resourceful mind into jelly. The research on that topic turns into a grueling task. Then trying to put the
words on paper that make sense and will peak someone’s interest seem impossible. If a topic has personal meaning to
you it can be hard to write objectively about it. A simple informative topic can easily become a personal rant
session. Writing because you have to, not because you want to makes it hard to concentrate and focus.
Now that the basic causes have been covered, you need to know how to fix it. Writers block is not permanent.
Identifying the reason is the hard part. Relax. The world is not going to end if the article isn’t as perfect as
you feel it should be. Just because you don’t think it is perfect doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Go and read some
of your previous writings. Even if what you read has nothing to do with your current topic, it can be inspirational
to you. Don’t burn yourself out on a topic. Try to split up the writing process. Research and brainstorm one day
and write the next. This will give you time to think about your topic and figure out the angle you want to
write.
Talk your way through it. Call a friend or colleague and chat. Tell them the topic you are working on and get their
opinions or ideas. They may be able to offer fresh insight and ideas. Work on multiple projects at one time if you
can. Bouncing back and forth between a few topics can keep your mind hopping and will keep boredom at bay. Take a
break from you current project and write about something that motivates you. Chances are once you get those
creative juices flowing they will continue into your next project.
Make yourself a schedule and stick to it. If your schedule says 500 words by noon, write your 500 words and stop.
Even if you don’t have a project going, by writing daily you will stick to your schedule and keeps your imagination
going. If you write from home, which most of freelance writers do, make a quiet time and treat it like a real job.
If you have young children at home, write while they nap. Let your answering machine be your secretary. If it is
important they will leave a message. Most importantly remember why you started writing in the first place. Even the
best of the best have gotten writers block at one time or another.
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