5 Steps to Overcome Writer’s Block
By: Derrick Lee
Tags: Life Lessons, Personal Development, Productivity, Writing, Lifehacks

5 Steps to Overcome Writer’s Block

Put an end to your Writer’s Block for good.

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We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in front of your computer screen for hours and hours on end without making any significant progress. You try your best to formulate that clear coherent idea in your head, but on paper it looks like a pathetic, dismal excuse for a sentence. Time seems to speed up exponentially inching you closer to that dreaded deadline while you’re still stuck on your first paragraph.

Writer’s Block.

Growing up, I had a severe case of writer’s block. I nearly convinced myself to drop out of college because my first essay assignment was set at a grueling minimum of 12 pages long. As a rookie, I’ve had my fair share of hair-pulling episodes, all-nighters, and copious amounts of coffee until I finally learned how to crack the code.

Allow me to introduce you to my simple, yet effective 5 Step Process guaranteed to optimize your writing experience and give you the much needed tools to crush your Writer’s Block once and for all.

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Step 1: Eliminate Distractions

Find a quiet place. Preferably a library or someplace similar like a non-crowded local coffee shop, however, I realize that during the era of the Covid-19 Pandemic these are not viable means and so your basement, garage, or perhaps the porch of your house will do just fine.

Once you’ve decided on your location and right before you settle down into your spot, put away all of your electronic devices in the room. Turn them off and put them far away out of your reach. The mere physical distance between you and your beloved electronic devices will help deter you from instinctively grabbing and constantly checking on them every time you hear the buzz or chimes go off.

The ONLY exception should be your laptop or computer you are using to write your research paper, article, blog post, or whatever it may be.

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Step 2: Brainstorm

Instead of jumping into your introduction right from the start, take a step back and think of the ideas you want to include in your paper. Start by writing these out onto a blank space. Don’t worry about how unorganized they may seem. Sometimes, having the ideas visually presented out in front of us reduces the workload in our brains and helps our mind naturally draw connections that would aid with flow.

After you have all of your thoughts written down, start connecting the dots and work to transcribe these ideas into broader overlying topics and the eventual theme of your writing piece.

Once you have a clear grasp of the overarching theme and the following topics you would like to address, you are then ready to start writing your paper.

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Step 3: Divide and Conquer

Rather than typing up your paper in a grinding 10 hour writing marathon like you’ve most likely done in the past, try splitting it up for once. Divide the assignment into smaller segments over the span of multiple days maybe even weeks so they are much more manageable in order to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

These allotted time periods allow you time in-between to let ideas formulate in your head and ample opportunities to head in into every writing session with a fresh perspective. And if, by chance, you had a terrible writing session, the breaks will give your brain time to rest and rejuvenate before the next session giving you hope that in the future you have a better writing experience.

Step 4: Reward yourself

Give yourself an incentive to write by implementing small rewards throughout your sessions. Every time you hit a designated hour mark or whenever you finish typing up a well pieced paragraph, treat yourself to one of your favorite beverages or snacks.

You’ll quickly find out that food is a simple yet powerful motivating factor which will not only replenish your energy levels, but also help uplift your mood. However, refrain from snacking on processed foods and instead opt for the natural, healthier alternatives such as berries or nuts, which are both great sources of brain fuel. Likewise, stay away from the sugary sodas and stick with low-sugar beverages and sugar-free drinks to avoid crashing from a sugar rush.

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Step 5: Stay Active

Spending hours fixed to your computer screen and typing throughout the day can easily bog you down. Doing so can be extremely exhausting and can increase the likelihood of you experiencing some sort of mental breakdown, sabotaging your work progress in the long run. Don’t let a paper get the best of you and prevent you from partaking in a healthy lifestyle. Working out not only helps alleviate the accumulation of stress throughout the day, but it also helps to facilitate your body to produce and release endorphins which make you feel good overall. In addition to taking care of your body, it will also aid as a distraction to take your mind off of your writing for the time being.

Plan a time in the day to get some exercise in. Whether it be lifting weights, running, or even walking around your neighborhood, find time to elevate your heart rate and get a sweat going.

THE FINAL TAKEAWAY:

Step 1: Eliminate Distractions

Step 2: Brainstorm

Step 3: Divide and Conquer

Step 4: Reward Yourself

Step 5: Stay Active