We have all been there. We know we need to write that blog post or newsletter. We open up a fresh Word document and…..nada. Our brain is one big empty blank space. I have always wondered why I could come up with ideas when it is inconvenient but when I sit down and I am ready to write it is like my brain seizes up and everything I type looks and sounds like crap. Yes, I make a living doing this and I feel this way all…the..time. I asked other writer friends and they admitted that this happens to them. We have all heard the stories of writers who get drunk and drugged up to bang out stuff, but I wanted to avoid that road. Jack Kerouac, I am not. So below is the list I compiled that helps me get past that “block” and get to writing.
Change your environment
There are days when I start to feel like that dude from The Shining and my brain is all screaming GET ME OUT OF HERE! So I pack up my computer and head to either a coffee shop or the library. This works wonders most of the time.
Go For a Walk
I resisted this for a long time because I am the laziest human being ever. Then one day I had Awful writers block and I thought I will try it and see. After I had got into the groove, my brain loosened up and started working again. So now I go on lots of walks and they HELP A LOT!
Hash it out with a trusted friend
Sometimes two heads are better than one. If I am not clear on an idea I will talk it out with a friend and get feedback. I just joined a mastermind and it is helping. I can tell you from experience that being isolated is a creativity killer
Hop in the shower
I seem to get all my best ideas when I am in the shower. I finally bought an Aqua board so that I could write them down. My brain seems to forget ideas really quickly so I try and have a capture device with me at all times.
Give your brain a break
If you try everything else and you still can’t get the idea wheel rolling then go read a book, bake a cake or hang out with a friend. Sometimes your brain needs a break and once you stop thinking about the idea so much then your brain will work on it and it will come to you.
Hi Hillary,
Thanks for the tips. Do you do all of these regularly or do you have a ‘favourite’ one? 🙂
My favorite is go to a coffee shop and work. I find that it really stimulates me.
Yeah, coffee can do that 🙂 haha
it does. I can’t function without caffeine!