by R.L. Lake

Created on: September 05, 2009

Writer's block happens to everyone, from the new writer starting out to the established author with a string of bestsellers under their belt. You put pen to paper or sit down in front of the computer and-nothing happens. The harder you try to make the words come, the more frustrated and blocked you become. You become trapped in a vicious cycle that may have you thinking it's time to give up the writing game altogether. While there is no definitive way to overcome writer's block, there are some techniques you can try that might help to get the words flowing again.

1) Break up your writing routine. A writing routine is great for helping you become a more disciplined and productive writer but for a blocked writer, it only becomes a routine of not writing. If you're a morning writer, try writing at night before you go to bed. If you like to write for long periods of time, try breaking up your writing time into smaller blocks. A writing routine can become tedious and sometimes a small change can help to break the monotony.

2) Change your point of view. Instead of sitting down at your desk and trying to force your writing, get out of the house. Sit out on your front step and watch the world go by. While you're at it, take a walk around your neighborhood or visit a coffee shop. We tend to get so settled into our own little worlds that we often ignore the hustle and bustle going on around us. Find a place with a view and just sit. Allow yourself to observe the people, places, and things around you. You'll find that there are literally stories on every street corner if you take the time to look for them.

3) Brainstorm. Get a pen and paper and start writing down whatever words come to mind. Don't try to think of words, just write down whatever pops into your mind. Let your subconscious take you where it will. When you've filled up your paper, randomly choose five to ten words and try to write a poem or story that incorporate them all. It may not make sense at first, but it will get you on the right track towards writing again.

4) Keep a dream journal. Put a notebook and pen next to your bed and write down your dreams as soon as you wake up. When you're asleep, your mind is free to roam where it may and while your dreams may not make much sense, they may spark an idea that will.

5) Clean the house. Wash your windows or scrub the floors or do whatever arduous chore it is that you've been putting off for too long. Do something that's time-consuming and will keep your hands busy. Let your mind unplug and focus on something that doesn't have anything to do with writing. You may find that while you're busy scrubbing the shower, the plot detail or scene that's been bugging you will work itself out.

6) Read. Reread your favorites or pick up that book you've been hearing about. Try a genre that you're unfamiliar with. Read a children's book or a cookbook or the National Enquirer. You never know where an idea will come from.

7) Remember why you became a writer. Did you start writing on a whim or has it always been your calling? What is it that you love about being a writer? What are your goals for your writing future? By giving some thought to what it was that motivated you to start writing in the first place, you may find that what inspires you most is yourself.

Whether it's caused by stress, fatigue, too many ideas, or not enough, writer's block is an ugly truth that all writers must face at some point in their career. Knowing what causes it is not as important as knowing how to get past it and move on. Writer's block can and will beat you, but only if you let it. By taking a creative and proactive approach, you can bring new life to your writing again.

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