8 Ways to Beat Writers Block and Why it Happens

Your coffee is sitting in a cozy mug, steaming. Maybe you had a list of things you accomplished before you sat down and maybe you woke up and sat directly after acquiring that coffee or tea. Your hands hold steady, ready, hovering over the keys. Your mind excited to get those words written. Hand’s the touch keyboard and suddenly connection is lost.

What is happening?

Where are the words that so effortlessly ran through your mind while trying to fall asleep last night or when you stood in the shower this morning? What recess did they scurry to while you properly prepared to sit and get them recorded?

What in the actual F$#%?!

You might sit for a solid five minutes, type a word or two and stare into the blank white screen. Each letter disconnected from the actual thought you had before is infuriating. Why is this happening?

Writer’s block is as common as (insert preferred phrase here). If you wear the title writer, it has happened to you at least one time. Maybe you are lucky and it was a dry season but not a complete drought. For the unlucky, it can be devastating. So why does it happen? What can we do about it?

The WHY?

Writer’s block can arise from so many things. Common causes are:

Fear

Pressure (internal or external)

Perfectionism

Did I mention fear?

Underneath these the core issue is “I am not good enough” (and someone might notice) or some varying degree of fear surrounding worth. I have had a lifetime of anxiety as my constant friend and can tell you that fear all boils down to survival. Our survival in so many ways has relied on what others thought of us. If we become disliked and ostracized, it can threaten our very existence. Some of this is from catastrophic thinking. Some of this is conditioning from our environment. Some is indeed built in survival mechanisms.

My advice is to make friends with that fear. Elizabeth Gilbert likened this fear to a backseat driver. It can come along for the ride and you appreciate its input, but it’s not driving the car. (Based on my foggy memory, don’t come for me if I didn’t nail that).

I am pretty sure you know what I mean.

What to do about it?

Honestly, not one thing is a cure all. There is no magic pill. What I can tell you is that a combination of things like exercise, screaming into the night, lighting candles and performing seances work.

I am totally kidding.

Although if any of this has worked for you, please do email me!

I can tell you what has worked for me and others I have talked to about this affliction.

Start with free writing.

Set a timer and sit with a blank page and just write anything that comes to mind. It might feel weird and sound like nonsense, but when the timer goes off, read what you wrote out loud. Repeat as many times as you feel you want to. I suggest no more than 5-7 minutes at a time.