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All writers will encounter writer's block to varying degrees and for different reasons. Writer's block can be the result of too many ideas, or of none. It can be due to lack of confidence, or to perfectionism. It can arrive with too much pressure, or not enough.

Every writer is different. The way to get over writer's block is to know yourself as a writer, to understand your own reasons for writer's block, to try and anticipate it, and to have plans to deal with it when it arises.

Know Yourself as a Writer.

Set yourself up for success by working out when, where and how you write best. Arrange your schedule to allow you the chance to write in the environment that suits you as a writer.

Arrange your writing around your strengths and weaknesses, if you are easily distracted make sure you have time when you will not be disturbed. "Ring fence your creative time," as Mark McGuinness explains in his free e-book, Time Management for Creative People.

Set up writing rituals to help trigger the creative flow. Write in a certain place, at a certain time, with a certain implement. Wear something special. Make a cup of tea. Play particular music.

Mix it up a bit. If something isn't working for you, change it. If you usually work best late at night, or in the kitchen, or in silence but are struggling with writer's block anyway, try going to bed and getting up early, writing in the bedroom, or a bustling coffee shop for a change.

Don't Write.

Have a break. Try doing something completely different, especially something physical like a sport.

Change the scenery; go for a bath, or a long walk, or out on the town.

Use the other side of your brain; do your household finances, or some maths puzzles.

Read. Do some research or read something you have written in the past. You might find a treasure that will inspire your current project. At the very least you will feel better about your ability to write.

Sleep on it. Look over tomorrow's writing project before you go to bed and allow your mind to work on it subconsciously.

Doing something on autopilot, like gardening or washing the pots, works in the same way.

Talk to someone. Tell someone what you are trying to write about, even if it's an imaginary someone. Talk to other writers, about the subject you are struggling with, or about writer's block, or just about writing.

Try some reverse thinking. Ban yourself from writing anything for a specific time, perhaps a day or two. You will soon be itching to get back to it and fired up with enthusiasm and

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