Writer's Block and Ways to Overcome It

I don't believe in 'writer's block'. It doesn't exist. It is merely an excuse to procrastinate when writing. OR it may be that my brain is tired and I need to take a short break. But when that break takes much longer than it should, then I have to admit that I've been procrastinating.

I'm writing this post to help my fellow writers overcome this seemingly-tremendous hurdle we all face in the writer's world.

'Writer's block' - or whatever you want to call it - is a trap. It will lead you to believe that your story is worthless and it's never going to be something good. If you continue to believe that, you will soon find yourself giving up on it altogether. Don't give up on your story!

How do I overcome 'writer's block'?

Here are four ways that have helped me.

1. Leave yourself hanging!

When you're on a writing spree (before you run out of ideas and think you have writer's block), it might be good idea to leave your writing off in an exciting place. That way you will want to come back later and continue. You, as the author, can leave yourself hanging on the edge of a cliff. Leave off on an exciting note, take a break, and return with enthusiasm. You'll want to go back and save your MC, and let him/her know you still care and you've returned to help them get through.

2. Pray about it!

If you are writing to honor the Lord and bring Him glory, He will bless your writing. Ask, and you shall receive. He wants you to include Him in every little detail of your life, not just the bigger areas. Remember that. He is the greatest Brain-Stormer, the One who can refill your pond of inspiration until it's as deep as an ocean.

3. Don't follow that bunny trail!

A lot of people think that if you take a break from writing in your current novel and write about something else, it will get the creative juices flowing. This can be a good idea. BUT while it does help me to write, it doesn't always help me write in my current story. Only use this idea during your 'writer's block' if you're going to type up a blog post or write in your nature's journal - both innocent pastimes. DON'T EVER use this idea to start writing another story - even a short story. I am soo guilty of doing this all the time. It only gets me distracted and more interested in writing something else. I no longer want to go back to my original story. Instead, I start to follow little trails of new, interesting ideas, and my original story is left behind in the dust. Some people can handle working on multiple stories, but if you're not a professional author, don't try it.

4. Make sure you have a story outline!

This is something you should do long before you even begin to write your story. Why does this help? When you come to a standstill, and the creative juices run dry, you need to know that your story still has somewhere to go, even if you can't continue at the moment. If you write without an outline, even a rough one, your ideas will run out eventually. I'm not saying this to offend those who write that way - sometimes it works. But don't take that chance. It's much better to have your ideas written down instead of letting them float around in your head.

One last thing I like to do is draw my story characters. Sketch out your main characters. Maybe you have some quirky creatures you'd like to bring to life on paper. Also, try making a map of your story world! Bringing my story to life really helps motivate me - sometimes it's nice to see my story as more than just writing on a page. Add some color!

Questions? Thoughts? Plain old (much appreciated) comments? By all means, share!