How do you get over writer's block?

[Inkwolf]

Sorry if this is the wrong place. I'm just curious about how you guys get over writer's block. It could be any type of block. I'm trying to work on multiple ideas and got curious.

 

[Deleted member 167438]

I write something else. It is a vicious cycle.

 

[AliceMoonvale]

My method probably doesn't relate to anyone at all, but I'll tell y'all anyway because I'm just an insane lady on the internet.

I daydream a lot.
And I read a lot of manhwas/web comics which makes me daydream even more.
My brain is a mess of chronic depression, anxiety and ADHD, so it's even easier for me to do.

It's just as easy and not actually doing anything! so, I try to use that to my advantage?

I let myself get so lost in my head from all the entertainment, whether it's reading materials or games, that my brain reminds itself:
"Hey, we should go back to writing our totally not cringe and tropey romance/fantasy slop story. I feel inspired by all this silly stuff we've been reading and dreaming about because we have no social life to speak of"

So by that point, I can get myself to utilize my love of certain stories 'n genres, to temporarily motivate myself to work on my story.
The cycle repeats eventually, because I don't care who you are, soon as you get to the editing phase, you'll feel your soul leave your body.

Then, it's back to daydream land where the editing demon can't hurt me. For now.

tl;dr: Go occupy your brain for awhile. Read some fun stuff you like, maybe stories in a similar genre. It might inspire you or give ideas.

 

[TASTYLEADPAINT]

Take a break and reset. I went through a slump and my cure to that was taking a break and not writing for 2 months.

 

[Eldoria]

The most difficult creative block, at least that's what I felt. I'd written over 100K words in a few months... and when my chapters reached the darkest chapters about human history, I felt traumatized, nauseous, and even depressed.

The solution? Get enough rest, do outdoor activities, and don't open fiction until you're mentally ready. Thankfully, I managed to write those dark chapters and get through them.

 

[Xcalibur_Xc]

I'm going through one. So, I started writing a new book and took a little break. It helps. I'm slowly getting back to writing the old one again.

 

[L1aei]

Sorry if this is the wrong place. I'm just curious about how you guys get over writer's block. It could be any type of block. I'm trying to work on multiple ideas and got curious.

If it's just writer's block, I figure out why I’m experiencing it—and then undo it.

Yeah, I know to "undo it" sounds easier said than done, but it really can be that simple. Most people over-research, get distracted, or pressure themselves to write perfectly—whatever the hell perfectly even means—before they'll allow themselves to publish. And when they can't hit that imaginary standard, they freeze, panic, and implode instead of just... writing.

The solution? Drop the pressure for the first draft. Just get the words on the page. Solve your issues (perfectionism, distraction, and the like), and your mental block that keeps beating yourself up will... well, it won't lift, but the damn thing will loosen up.

Mental preparedness, like others have pointed out, is a must. Treat the mental block you've tackled as an actual injury like you removed an object from your fucked up head. Get some R&R.

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

Sorry if this is the wrong place. I'm just curious about how you guys get over writer's block. It could be any type of block. I'm trying to work on multiple ideas and got curious.

Do not try to force it~.

But it depends a lot on the circumstances on what you are writing and on what you are trying to achieve.

 

[Hush25]

Sorry if this is the wrong place. I'm just curious about how you guys get over writer's block. It could be any type of block. I'm trying to work on multiple ideas and got curious.

Consider what the cause of the WB is first of all. (I hate calling is 'writer's block' as I feel this makes it worse).

Is your 'creative well' dry? (when you check your brain for ideas and it's like: "I got nothin', mate" *shrug*.)
Solution: Do other creative things (I work on my bonsai for example) or, go for a walk (somewhere that you find pleasing), watch movies, listen to music, read, game, whatever inspires you and gets the blood pumping and 'refills' the well. You'll know when you're ready to write again.

Are you procrastinating?
Solution: Stop it! Lol. JK. Restart. Set yourself a word count / day and stick to that. Reward yourself when you finish your set goal for the day. Start at say 250 words and then increase from there, go easy on yourself and don't set unreasonable goals.

Other...
If your story really isn't 'doing it' for you, then maybe there's an issue which you haven't picked up, but that your subconscious writer brain is desperately flagging. Or, you've just reached a hiatus in ideas (planning your work at the start can help with avoiding this).
Solution: Set the story aside (for as long as possible) and then re-read, you might discover the issue (if there is one of course). Or as others have suggested, write something else until you rediscover your passion for that story.

Overall, be gentle on yourself. In my experience, nothing makes WB worse than trying to force yourself to write. Accept that your creative brain doesn't always work on a 9-5 schedule.

 

[LightHikari]

I take a walk outside and come back to my computer to write.

 

[StrawMan25]

I second the idea of daydreaming in the world and its characters. I also recommend reverse plotting so you know where the story is going right from the start.

 

[Sylver]

You remove the block, silly x)

 

[MajorKerina]

I take showers. My mind wanders during them and I always find myself entertaining myself with random scenes inside my head that play out with the white noise of the shower.

 

[Bimbanana]

Re-read your bills

Building World Peace with My Bloodthirsty Demon Army

 

[DismaiNaim]

I remind myself that I'm going to trash the whole thing later and rewrite it anyway.

That way it doesn't have to be good. Or make sense.

 

[DireBadger]

Lots of sleep and then one of those gigantic 'Bubba' mugs with coffee until your teeth jitter.

Good luck NOT writing :)

 

[Civilian]

A think I learned is that you never have writers block if you just write. Whatever nonsensical new plot/antagonist/battle/joke/character goal, etc. that landed on the document is what happens next and nobody can tell me otherwise so it's in. A negative is that now you have to deal with it when progressing the story.

 

[Valmond]