Writer’s block is scary. Being stuck on a writing project can make even the best professional writers get angry or frustrated. When this happens, some writers resort to using AI, but that rarely solves the problem.
To help you get out of your funk and resist AI, I will share tips to help you beat writer's block. If you use the five tips in this post, you’ll enhance your creativity so that your words will flow effortlessly.
As a professional writer with over six years of experience, I have used the suggestions I am about to share with you to write news articles, reports, and blog posts.
Let’s explore these wonderful tips together.
Tip 1: Record your voice
Sound recorders are crucial for writing content. With a recorder, you can record your thoughts anywhere and at any time. Although you can use your phone’s voice recorder, purchasing a stand-alone device is better because it may come with an onboard transcription hardware.
You can use the internal hardware to change audio files into text. After you have converted the audio files, you’ll need to copy them to your computer so that you can capture ideas to use in the article or blog post you are writing.
Tip 2: Remove distractions
Turn off your technology. If you’re compelled to check your phone or tablet every 25 minutes, consider turning off all your devices. Creating outstanding content doesn’t come from a distracted mind. Focused writers produce terrific work by completing tasks without being distracted.
Tip 3: Choose a pen and paper
Writing on paper can cure your writer’s block. Many famous writers have ditched their screens for paper because it’s less distracting than their computers. Distractions are a major contributing factor to bad writing.
Besides limiting distractions, the act of jotting your ideas on paper might improve your memory. Japanese researchers have discovered that taking notes on paper can help writers retain more information. They have also found out that it can stimulate brain regions linked to vision, language, and recollection. To learn about this study, read this article: “Study Indicates Pen & Paper Beats Stylus & Screen for Memory Retention” by Rich Haridy.
Tip 4: Read, Write Better Right Now
If you’re stuck on an assignment, consider reading Write Better Right Now. Author Mary-Kate Mackey has filled her book with exercises that can free you from writer's block. These practices include copying written content, a five-minute free writing guide, and a what-is-in-it-for-me test.
For the best learning experience, consider buying the audiobook and paperback versions of Mackey’s masterpiece. Getting the two-book combo will help you memorize the lessons the book provides.
Tip 5: Use these freewriting techniques
Free writing will help you break through writer’s block.
Here are my favourite free writing techniques:
Letter to a friend
Would you like to conquer writer’s block? Well, write a letter to your best friend. Imagine one of your best friends, and write a letter to them on the topic you are writing about. The book The Art of the Click, by Glenn Fisher, taught me this unique writing exercise.
Here is an example:
Dear Megan,
I know you’re struggling with getting your essay done on time. So, I have written my favourite tips to help you conquer writer’s block. If you use my ideas, you’ll get instant results.
What are those results?
You’ll be able to overcome writer’s block and feel less stressed. Your grades will also improve because you’ll be able to clearly express your thoughts.
Questions and Answers
Q&A is a powerful exercise. Elizabeth Harper Neeld's book, Yes! You Can Write contains this wonderful activity. All you need to do is ask and answer questions about the topic you’re writing about.
Example:
Question: What makes your writing tips unique?
Answer: These suggestions stem from over six years of professional writing experience.
Question: How did you learn these tips?
Answer: I learned them by reading books and putting pen to paper.
Question: How do you know these tips work?
Answer: I have used these tips to help me write long-form and short-form content.
Looping
Looping is another fantastic writing exercise from Yes! You Can Write. In this exercise, you’ll pick a topic and freewrite about it for five minutes. After you finish writing, create a grounding sentence. This sentence will help you come up with some thoughts about the topic you are writing about.
Example:
Loop 1: Writing tips
My writing tips are fantastic. I love these tips because they have given me the confidence I need to push through writer’s block.
If it wasn’t for these ideas, my career wouldn’t have taken off. I would still be daydreaming of one day becoming a full-time writer.
I am very thankful to have learned these concepts.
Grounding Sentence: In this loop, I notice that I am writing about why these writing tips are important to me.
Loop 2: Why do you want to share these tips?
I am convinced that improving communication skills can positively impact people’s lives. I also want to help struggling writers achieve their dreams of landing an amazing job, supplementing their income, or one day publishing a novel.
It took me a long time to achieve my current level of skill and experience. I am grateful for the knowledge I have gained, and I am eager to share it with others.
Grounding Sentence: In this loop, I notice I am writing about the reason I am sharing my tips, which is to help others.
Final thoughts
I hope you’ve now gained valuable insights from this post to crush your writer’s block. Writing exercises such as looping, Q&A, and a letter to a friend will help stimulate your imagination. They will help you get unstuck when faced with writer’s block, but your journey doesn’t end here. Consider contacting me for further guidance.
Here is my contact information:
Email: Johnadeen@gmail.com
Phone: 1343-364-5185