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Just about every writer suffers from writer's block from time to time. It's easy enough to spin ideas in your head and dream up all the wonderful things you'll write about, but getting them down on paper (or the computer screen) is another matter. It's like everything dries up as soon as you try to commit your ideas to writing. So what causes writer's block, and more importantly, how do you get over it?

If you have a bad case of writer's block, it could mean that you're expecting too much from yourself. Many writers want their first draft to be perfect. They also worry about what others will think of their writing.

Many people claim that they can't write unless they feel inspired. That's all fine and good if you're only writing for yourself, but if you're serious about getting your work published or you have deadlines to meet, you can't afford this luxury.

Whatever is causing your writer's block, here are some tips to help you beat it:

* Just Start Writing
Getting started is often the hardest part of writing. Gene Fowler had another way of putting it: "All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." When you're afraid or simply aren't in the mood to write, it's all too easy to put it off. I often find that making myself get started is all it takes to get the words flowing.

* Give Yourself Permission to Write Badly
Your first draft doesn't have to be perfect; that's what second and third drafts are for. You can fix everything later. Just concentrate on getting the words out, and try not to make revisions along the way. Editing as you write will just slow you down and dry up your well of inspiration. It's much easier to revise something you've already finished than it is to write perfectly the first time. Your Inner Critic won't abandon you when you need him, I promise.

* Make a Schedule
If you never seem to find time to write, then you need to make time for it. If you devote an hour or two a day strictly to writing, you will be amazed by how much you get done.

* Do Free-Writing
This where you write nonstop for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. It doesn't matter what you write; the important thing is to keep writing. This is like limbering up before you exercise. You might even come up with something brilliant in the process, but that's a bonus. Once you've spewed out a bunch of nonsense, getting down to business is a lot less intimidating.

* Turn Off the Monitor
It might sound silly, but it's effective. If you can't break the habit of editing as you type, turn off the monitor. It forces you to focus on the act of writing. You won't be distracted by all the glaring typos, misspellings, and clumsy sentences.

* Keep a Journal
Writing in a journal every day is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a writer. You could even have multiple journals for different purposes, but try to have at least one. Write for fun. Write for inspiration. Write to sort through your feelings. Just get in the habit of writing something every day. The more you write, the easier it gets.

* Take a Walk
Sometimes the best thing to do is to walk away for a while. Go for a walk, wash the dishes, or just do something else to get your blood moving. By the time you get back to your project, you just might return with the inspiration you were looking for.

* Write for Money
It's one thing to write for your own pleasure, and quite another to write because you must. Few things are more motivating than a deadline. When you write for others, you are putting your reputation on the line. It helps if you need the money to pay for the bills, too.

When you're a freelance writer, you learn to write no matter what. Eventually you learn that writer's block is but an illusion.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Neely.
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