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There's No Such Thing as Writer's Block

Submitted by: Lynda Forman




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You might have heard other writers complain about getting the dreaded writer's block. And as a writer, you might be worried that this will affect you at some point, crippling your writing and making you less productive overall. But there is a secret in the writing world you might not already know – there is no writer's block. It's true. That thing so many others call writer's block is not possible when you know these tricks.

Don’t Write for Too Long

The brain is only able to focus on certain tasks for a certain amount of time. While this varies from person to person, the average time someone can focus is 90 minutes. This means when you go over this amount of time, you run the risk of wearing out and feeling as though you have nothing to say. Instead, try getting up from your desk or from your laptop at least once every 90 minutes. This will help you to stay fresh and full of ideas. Go do something that's away from where you are writing – even washing the dishes can help you shift gears and begin to get back into the groove.

Get Out of the House

If you're a freelance writer, it's tempting to just sit at your desk all day until inspiration strikes. So when it doesn't happen, you might blame your lack of inspiration on writer's block. But how can you be inspired if you don’t get away from the office once in a while? You need to have new experience in order to write about them, so you need to get out at least a few times a week to keep your batteries charged and your creative muscles toned. Try going to a bookstore or to the museum for a few hours a week. This will help you take that step back you need in order to continue writing that great American novel.

Tell Yourself You Can't Write

Reverse psychology does work. If you feel like you're heading for a slump or a round of writer's block, just tell yourself that you're not going to write for a certain period of time. At all. By telling yourself to stop, you will often break up any tension you might have in your mind, allowing your brain to think more clearly. And even though you told yourself not to write, that might be all you can think to do.

Don't Believe It

Even though you might know a number of writers who claim to have suffered or to presently suffer from writer's block, do not believe it. By simply refusing to believe that writer's block exists, you can stomp it out nearly immediately. Each time you even begin to think that you might be shutting down your creative juices, stop, tell yourself it isn't true and continue writing. Just push yourself through the writing funk until the clouds lift – and they will. Writer's block is simply a convenient excuse to give up on a particular writing project – it is not a truth or something you simply can not avoid as a writer. You can be productive all the time, if only you work with your body and against the idea that you'll run out of ideas.

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Lynda Forman is a freelance writer living in California. She writes for national and international clients. Her website, Lynda Forman, is up and running, though constantly evolving.

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