Is Your Writing Life a Blur? 3 Ways to Eliminate Writer’s Block!

@Wendy Scheuring, The Author’s Writer, October 16, 2024

Does your writing life seem like a blur? Just within the past couple of months, several aspiring authors have confided in me about “writer’s block”, and how they wished they could get rid of it.

In thinking about this problem, which plagues all writers, whether they care to admit it or not, I decided to make a few suggestions to help you get rid of this rather unpleasant problem once and for all.

So, let’s begin.

STEP 1: Start chilling.

I mean really chilling. Every day, when you are doing your favorite activity, whether it’s walking the dog, swimming, hiking, running, cycling, sitting outdoors, beaching–you get the picture (You need to be active? Yes!), take time to just chill.

You see, writing and chilling are intertwined. If your mind is clogged, your thoughts and distractions will affect your writing. You may not see where the clog is, but a clog is a clog. Many famous writers over the years have said this. I’m just repeating what they have already said.

Now, don’t skip this step. Because it’s really important.

If you say you don’t have time, then that may be another reason why you are experiencing writer’s block. Because if you want to write, you have to free your mind and focus, and sometimes that takes a little time.

Now, after you have spent time outdoors, write down any new ideas that may have popped in your head. Don’t write down any of the garbage. Only the new ideas. Do this every day until new ideas continually start popping in your head! It may not happen every day. Just be patient.

Keep doing this even if it takes 30 days. It takes a while to form new habits.

STEP 2: Start talking to yourself. 

Aloud.

Yep, when you’re cleaning the house, driving to work, or taking a shower, talk to yourself. Talk like no one is listening. Talk about things that are on your mind, problems, concerns, rants, complaints. (This is the one time you don’t have to feel bad about complaining.)

Get rid of all the negative garbage that’s been holding you back.

This goes back to what I said in Step 1. Your writing is affected by your thoughts.

STEP 3: Write for 15 minutes a day.

Make this 15-minute writing session a part of your daily schedule.

Even if you don’t feel like it.

Force yourself.

To do this exercise, get a notepad and paper (NOT a computer or a pad) and set a timer for 15 minutes. (Whoa, whoa, whoa…you may be saying. Write with a pen and paper? How antiquarian! Don’t complain. Just write.)

During this 15-minute period of time, write nonstop. About anything. Don’t worry about what you are writing, don’t worry about how it sounds, don’t worry if you have nothing to say.

Don’t worry.

Just write.

Peter Elbow called this “free writing.” I just call it writing. Nonstop. For five minutes.

Then, don’t read it. Or, read it. Or throw it away. It doesn’t matter.

Do these two timed 15-minute writings back-to-back for 7 days.

By the end of the week, you will have achieved:

1. at least 15 minutes of exercise and/or outdoors time daily,

2. an unleashing of everything that’s been bugging you and thus stopping you from writing,

3. about 7 to 14 pages of writing.

It doesn’t matter if you liked what you wrote.

It just matters that you wrote.

Now, continue chilling, talking, and writing and make it part of your daily routine.

Stay tuned for more advice in the second segment on this series on how to cure writer’s block!

Want to learn how to write a book in just 15 minutes per day? Shorten your learning curve once you learn that focus is your friend, and time is not your enemy!