Do This One Thing to Overcome Writer’s Block

If you are a writer, perhaps your greatest fear is something no one else could understand would be anyone’s fear. You fear it more than not being able to pay the bills. You fear it more than your friends calling you funny names, or messing up during a presentation. If you are a writer, the thing you fear most is not being able to write anymore.

I was watching a great documentary a few months ago about two legendary animators who worked with Walt Disney on some of the most iconic animated films of all time. I forget whether it was Frank or Ollie who said this, and I even forget the exact quote they said. But the essence of it was that the hardest part about drawing is that, at the end of the day, there’s a blank page in front of you, and a drawing that needs being drawn. The hardest part about the creative process is that you are the only one who can draw it. Nobody can do it for you.

Take that in for a moment. It’s the same thing for us writers. The blank page is a terrifying thing. And, unfortunately, for most of who work in writing jobs, that’s not the only thing we have to do. As jobs have gotten more broad thanks to software making it possible for one person to do multiple things at once, writing might just be the top of the list of things that we have to do.

Perhaps the greatest challenge to any writer is just overcoming the fear of facing that blank page. When the fear gets too much, we call it (over simplifying, perhaps) having writer’s block.

Fear is the Root of Writer’s Block

Wait – you are probably asking – fear is the root of writer’s block? That can’t be. Isn’t writer’s block something that just sort of happens? Well, maybe not. Here’s the thing: fear massively impacts the way our brains work. In fact, longterm stress can even shrink your brain and kill your creativity. That’s no good. And, left unchecked, fear can totally destroy your writing. For those passionate about writing, that can be an incredibly harmful thing. For those who write for a living, it can be debilitating.

So – want to get rid of writer’s block? Get rid of the fear! Doing so, however, is easier said than done. So I’m going to give you a few strategies that work for me when I’m feeling anxiety about writing.

Try Exercising to Get Rid of Writer’s Block

Exercising is a part of my daily life, and it’s not because I aspire to being a male model. It’s because without exercise, I simply cannot perform as well as I would otherwise. In fact, I recommend anyone who wants to get into a career like writing to do the same. Treat yourself like an athlete, because in some ways, you are. Athletes have to perform incredibly well under incredibly stressful situations. It’s the same for writers. Sometimes, it just doesn’t matter if you feel like writing or not. You just have to pick up the pen and write. The same way the quarterback has to pick up the pigskin and throw. In the same way that working out keeps athletes in shape for the big game, having a steady, consistent workout regimen will keep your brain healthy and help fight those negative fear hormones from clouding your thoughts and judgement.

The best part is – the kind of exercise you do can be whatever you want! Walking, running, golfing, biking – it can be anything as long as it engages your brain, your body, and helps you work up a sweat.

Try Letting Go In Order to Cure Writer’s Block

If you aren’t able to write, it might because you are holding onto something that would be better let out. Is there some past failure that’s getting you down? Or maybe there is something else going on in your life causing you to fixate. If you can’t just “let it go” to quote everyone’s favorite ice queen, try resolving it, or building healthy thinking patterns so when those things come up, you can keep them from overwhelming your creative process.

Try Lowering Your Standards

As a writer, you are a perfectionist about your craft. You want everything you write to be the best thing ever. After all, it carries your name and brand. Well, that way of thinking sometimes won’t get you very far. One of the reasons you might be experiencing writer’s block is because you are adding too much pressure to create the very best thing all the time. In reality, that’s not a realistic standard. Even professional athletes, for example, have good days and bad days. Don’t get discouraged over one bad piece.

Lastly, Take a Break

Sometimes, the most dramatic step might also be the most necessary – take a break from writing. To whatever extent that you can. If you write for work, take a break from any hobby writing. If you write for fun, just take a break all-together. Try other things. Get new experiences. By mixing up your day-to-day, you might find yourself getting the inspiration you need to come back at the challenge fresh. Sometimes, your brain just needs a break.

The trouble here is that after taking a break like this, you have to make sure to not do it for too long. Some people after taking a break never come back.

What are some things you do to stay inspired?