How to cure writer's Block

[MC-Stories]

Writer's Block, a skilled writer's worst enemy, when i'm in a jam, I down some Cherry Coke, and my brain gets going again, what do you do when Writer's Block hits you?

 

[Terrate]

Literally don’t write.

 

[xizl]

I disappear into the ether until the mood strikes me

 

[FRWriter]

Try. Just try. Even if it's only a couple of sentences. Force yourself. It might take a while to get going, but usually you'll get into it.

It also helps to ERASE any distractions. Put your phone away, close any tabs that might distract you, mute Discord, just focus on the magical Google Docs, and sooner or later, the words will appear.

 

[FionaRobinsong]

I abandon whatever scene/chapter I am writing on to write unhinged fanfics of my own writing (eg: what if the characters suddenly had to defend their choices to their mother (who is dead) or the big bad has a tea party with a random child character or random smut scene that won’t make the light of day because it doesn’t involve my pov characters)

Just writing (trash usually) gets my brain back on task.

 

[Tsuru]

^All the answers are basically correct.
The thing is, brain have this curse of : The more you try to think (desperately), the less you can.
Its like "Shower thoughts". Or before sleep. You literally try to NOT THINK but your brain will do the contrary and think the worst/best things possible.

So yeah, terrate: do not write = WORKS
xizl : doing something else in the ether = WORKS
FRWriter : close all disctractions, forget everything = WORKS
FionaRobinsong : giving up and write something else = WORKS

Because all return back to : Your brain dont want to do this so its better to do something else (until moody brain is interested again)


TLDR: Human brain is a rebellious kusogaki, so do something else.

 

[rileykifer]

I go back ten sentences and try again. If that doesn't work, I take a break from it and come back later.

 

[writerwolf359]

I go back ten sentences and try again. If that doesn't work, I take a break from it and come back later.

This. 9 times out of 10, if I can’t figure out how to proceed, it’s because I’ve been going the wrong direction.

 

[Sylver]

Same with burnout. Pause, take up a hobby. Go outside, spend some time with friends or family, maybe play some games and read some stories similar to yours

It'll come to you. From my experience, forcing it doesn't help me. So I take a step back, destress and forget about it until the ideas come back. Just don't overdo it and wait for more than 2 weeks because well cx you have an audience waiting for your return hahaha

 

[expentio]

It helps me to have different stories and write what I situationally feel more inclined to. Also, you can manipulate your taste a bit if you are doing something you associate with your story. Or in my case, one of my stories, which opens up the range of what you might feel like doing.
For example, hearing wild music can get you in the mood of writing a battle scene. Playing a strategy game, or even something more role-play-profound like Crusader Kings 3, can get you into the mood to write politics. Same goes for reading or watching anime. If they manage to remind you of your story (Please, without you trying hard to associate them), then they can help you get ideas into your head that you may want to bring down.
Of course, having a wider array of stuff you're writing about makes it easier to have a hit.

 

[Callarel_04]

I read mostly, then when I see a cool scene I insert my character in and say 'heck, my character could/should do this (instead)'. Then I write that scene, which would never see the light of day, but at least it gets me writing.

 

[Envylope]

I just write anyway.

 

[Rachel_Leia_Cole]

I focus on something else. Listening to music, drawing. But my mind is usually brainstorming ideas subconsciously. I’m always waking up at like 3 am with an idea and I have to type it out while it’s still fresh on my mind. But if I’m consciously trying to write when I have writers block, it usually turns out bad. Distraction is the key for me.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

I write something else

 

[RainyLiquid]

Destroy the block with writer's hammer

 

[TinaMigarlo]

write on a different story. Or, there's always editing. Until I can read through, from chapter one to "the end" without one single typo, its not "done" done. So I go read-edit a different story. If I ever plan on having KU as an option, I need perfection like the paperbacks I read growing up. Just like I don;t get an editor, there's always cover art to play with. I can play with existing cover art see if there's any improvement to be made.

 

[Ral_062]

Simple, i go hiatus for 2 days to clear my head. Or i'll rewatch/read/listen to my inspiration of my story, that usually works for me. Whether it is a series, music or a book

 

[Eldoria]

I just ?

 

[Leti]

That's the best part. You don't. Don't do anything to cure writer's block. It's not a disease to cure.

 

[L1aei]

I first try to figure why I would have writers block. Like, dude, am I bored with this scene or chapter? This story? Did it lose its luster? If so, yeah, quit that shit. Move on to something else. But if that ain't it, figure out first what is the blockage. If you don't know what is causing you to stall, how are you going to start fixing it? I keep hearing, "Wait it out, read a book, listen to some music, watch a video until you do a Rip Van Winkle and it'll blow over," and I HATE doing that.

Figure out what it is that plugged you up and then, only then, start working on a solution for it.