5 Top Tips for Overcoming Writer's Block

1. Take a break!

Really, put down your pen, shut down the computer and take a break from writing. You’re probably so bogged down in trying to solve your writing problem that you can’t see the trees for the woods. Take a break, do something different, go outside, play with the kids – anything that takes your mind off writing. You’ll be much fresher afterwards and the ideas will come to you once more.

2. Seek inspiration.

Pick up a book, switch on the TV, catch a movie. You may get an idea from a scene in a movie that will prompt you to think about your own writing. Perhaps a character reacts to a situation in a certain way and you think it may be interesting if one of your characters reacts the same way but to a completely different situation. Or maybe a location on TV had just the right feel about it and you can incorporate that into your own story.

3. Complete some writing exercises

Completing writing exercises will get you writing but will take your mind off your current writer’s block. As you’re writing the exercise you may find that your writing energy is on the up and you can think about your own story much more easily. You may even write something that you can transpose into your own story! Wake up writing has daily writing exercises for you.

4. Skip it.

You don’t have to write a story in the order that it will be read. If one particular scene is causing you problems, just skip to the next one. You can even write brief notes on how you want the scene to progress so you don’t lose track. You can always add details in later. Don’t feel that you have to jump to the next scene either. Skip to whichever part of your story you like. A lot of creative writing software lets you organise your story by chapters or scenes and you can write these separately and reorganise them. They also have places for you to flesh out characters and locations so you could fill out some of these whilst you’re waiting for the muse to hit you again.

5. Ask for help!

Find some good creative writing discussion forums and ask for some help. You’ll find writers who are in a similar position to you and most will be happy to help. Ask for help with writer’s block in general or write out a part of your story and describe the problems you’re having. Even if no one replies, the act of writing out what’s stopping you from writing may help you push past the block itself.