What to do when your writer’s muse hides under a bushel of fog

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It happens to all of us. The dreaded writer’s block. Boring subject? Can’t find the right angle? Maybe you’re just distracted. Or tired. Or your usual “creative thinking on fire” brain decided to take a vacation. We all face writer’s block. But how do you shake it off, rising once again to the height of sharp thinking and creativity? Writer take solace in some long-term habits and short-term actions to keep your insights as sharp as a tack.

Build long-term habits

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You can’t write if you don’t read. Reading keeps the brain active and exposes you to different types of media. Instead of watching the news, read articles from reputable sources. All the different styles, quirks, and methods from other authors strengthen your own arsenal. Take the hour before bed that you are on your tablet or phone and read a chapter of a book, and you might be surprised at how much easier it is to focus and communicate. Exercising your brain with reading every day increases your attention span and builds your writing skills.

Writing will come easier when reading regularly, but it’s essential to write out a strict schedule. Plan your work with challenging deadlines. If it’s an extended project, like a novel, set an exact due date and a time frame every day to write a minimum number of words. A smaller project, like an article or short story with a tighter deadline, needs different scheduling. Timers on your phone and apps like Todoist help me stick to these deadlines.

Cut writer’s block in the moment

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Take a break and collect your thoughts. Even with a tight deadline, taking a walk or listening to meditation for 5-10 minutes is OK. Staring at a blank word document won’t magically spawn an article. Instead, try different methods to relax and take in the world around you. Try to describe how the rain sounds or meditation music relaxes you. Describing everyday sounds in writing is an exercise I use to get motivated for a boring subject. Turn off the distractions after the 10-minute mark and get down to business. Turn your phone on do not disturb mode, turn the internet on your computer off, whatever you need to do.

If your mind is still wandering, write what’s on your mind. Make a “word dump” file and write down the other subjects that keep crossing your mind. Whether they’re errands you need to run, more exciting projects you’re working on, or random thoughts, write them down in a blank document and return to it later. It removes these topics from your headspace and focuses you on the task at hand.

There is no way to stop writer’s block from showing up. Even the most prolific writers like Truman Capote, Maya Angelou, and Neil Gaiman struggled and still struggled with it. However, there are ways to cure how strong and how often writer’s block shows up. Try many long-term and short-term methods and you’ll conquer writer’s block, letting your writing show its true potential.