5 Easy Ways to Beat Writer's Block

If you're a writer, you've probably experienced this countless times:

You stare at a sheet of paper and nothing happens.
No words.
Nothing.
You get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, grab a snack (if you're me, preferably salami) and then you come back.
And still nothing.

I get you. I've been there. And that's why today I wanted to share these 5 super easy techniques to combat Writer's Block.

How to Kick Writer's Block to the Curb

(5 easy ways that you can implement today!)

1. Allow Yourself to Write Crap

I'm being serious. Let go of the expectation that you're going to write something amazing and just write something really crappy. You heard me.

Set an alarm for 15 minutes and let your mind wander and your fingers type. 

Write a bunch of crap. Just write. Don't worry about grammar. Don't check email. Don't peek at Facebook. Don't get a snack. Don't scratch that itch behind your ear. (Well, maybe do that.) Just write.

And when the alarm rings, I guarantee you'll have something down on the paper. Even if it's just "I hate this activity and Ginger Li is a crappy writer." (Just kidding... I hope!)

Your writing will be pretty horrible, but who cares? No one is going to see this first draft. You wrote. You freaking CREATED something!

And once you've done 15 minutes, try 30 minutes, or even an hour. You'll be amazed at how the words will just flow when you don't place such high expectations on yourself.

This was a technique that I often used when writing my Light and Fire Series. Typically, I write at night when my sons go to sleep. I'm exhausted from the day and could easily find an excuse to do anything besides writing (hello, sleep?). But I just kept setting my alarm for one hour a day because I really wanted to flush out Lia and Kieren's story.

And after months of writing pages and pages of crap (because I just write novels straight through at first without going back to edit), I had a novel. Bam!

So do it. Write that crappy first draft!

2. Kill the Idea of "The Muse" 

Sounds dramatic. But let me clarify.

So often people believe that they can only create when inspiration hits them. That they can only make something when they get visit from "The Muse." (Insert hallowed music here.)

After years of writing novels (and doing other creative and artsy projects), I just don't think that's true. In fact, I think we do a disservice when we tell ourselves that we can only create when we're hit by the mood.

Honestly, I'm not in the right mood to create 99% of the time*. My mind is usually swarming with school stuff and work stuff and family stuff.  I'm usually never motivated by a "muse." But I AM  motivated by things like deadlines or the dream that I could one day call myself a published author.

But I still write.

In fact, often times it's in the middle of creating that tiny sparks of inspiration hit.

In my case, hard work spawns other ideas. Ever heard of the idea of "flow"? When I create, I find myself in the state of flow and that's where I find my ideas and happiness.

*Special note: By the way, I'm not talking about mental health here. I totally think mental health affects our creative ability and things like depression or anxiety can be debilitating. I'm just speaking from my personal experience and hopefully dispelling any myths out there that might be preventing you from living your creative dreams!

3. Show Your Work to People Who Will Like It

Writing is a hard and lonely journey full of moments of severe self-doubt. Nothing curbs my inclination to write like other people's negative opinions.

So when I'm in the beginning stages of writing something new, I only share my work with people who will like it. 

I'm not saying to just find yourself some "yes-men." I'm just saying that you should show your fledgling work to people who love you and want to support your dreams. And then once you've gotten your idea more fully fleshed out, share it with others who love you (but are more critical.)

Begining ideas and drafts are like seedlings. They need special love and care at first before they can brave the storms!

4. Set a schedule. Write.

Have you ever found yourself in the car suddenly driving someplace and not remembering how you got there in the first place?

We are creatures of habit and we can develop the habit of writing.

If you tell yourself that you'll write during a certain time, and you make an effort to keep writing during those times, pretty soon your body and mind will be conditioned to write at that time.

When is your best time to write?

For me, it's right after my boys go to sleep. I sneak into my bed, pull out my laptop, watch a couple of YouTube videos, and then write. My mind and body have come to expect this schedule and I feel like there's less of a struggle to get into my "writing mindset" when I follow this writing routine.

My friend's creative routine involves getting up super early in the morning before her kids wake up. She 's up at 5:00AM (a time that I affectionately call "the butt crack of dawn") and sews. And it works for her.

So whether you're like me, a vampire who shuns early mornings, or like my friend, a lovely morning goddess who sings with chirping birds, find your creative time. And write (or sew or draw or whatever)!

5. Write Anywhere and Everywhere

You're probably wondering why I'm saying this right after telling you to set and nurture a specific "writing time." Well, let me clarify. You should definitely set up specific times to write. It's a good habit to practice and definitely one way to defeat Writer's Block.

But I also believe that even when we aren't writing, our brains are still gathering and putting ideas together. Issues with characters are being figured out. Conversations are being created. Words are being strung together. Twisty plot problems are coming untangled.

So keep a notepad and pen with you (or just use your phone) to record ideas and write.
On the bus? Write.
Waiting for hours at a doctor's appointment? Write.
At the DMV? Write.
Waiting for that lasagna to bake? Write. (Or clean. But cleaning is overrated, so write!)
At your kids' sports game? Watch half the time, but also write.

Here's a tip- Use the time that you would normally use to mindlessly scroll through social media feeds to work ideas out and you'll be surprised by what you can get done!


Did you make it this far? Congrats. I hope you find this article helpful.


But Ginger- I've been following all these five tips and my writing stinks.

Help! My Writing Stinks!

I'm sorry. I know how it feels when you feel like you aren't writing enough or when your work seems like it's poor quality.

Maybe everything is looking stinky right now because it's a fallow period? (The term refers to the time that farmers will let portions of their field lie fallow and not grow anything there in order to let the soil rest.)

I think it's ok to honor this fallow period.

Even during these fallow times, your wonderful, marvelous brain is still learning and gathering information. You're doing some life growing and life gathering and that's nourishment for your writerly soul. Just make sure you keep putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard.) Because you never know what stories are brewing or how your mind is going to put all those thoughts and words together to create something new and beautiful.

Let's keep writing crap and creating together, ok?

~Ginger Li