Writing is an elusive art form. You get an idea for a novel, manual, history book, or anything else, and you start to write. It’s going well at first, but then you get stuck. You experience your first writer’s block, and it seems like getting even a single word on the page is completely impossible. This creates stress, which creates more blockage, and before you know it you’re stuck in a downward spiral of self-doubt and anxiety.
So, let’s talk about how you can reduce your stress, rid yourself of writer’s block, and stay positive about your writing.
Deal With the Stress
Whether you’re stressed about your writer’s block, your job, your family, your dirty house, or anything else, that stress is going to create serious problems for your writing. Entrepreneur Magazine has some pretty great tips for dealing with stress, including repeating positive affirmations to yourself and challenging your negative thoughts. Basically, if you let your stress overrun you, you’ll never get anything done. So, take a breath, do some yoga, and get your mind in a positive place.
Create a Routine
Once you’re feeling a little calmer, sit down and map out a routine schedule for your writing. Most people have to work their writing time into their daily schedules, either before or after work and in between cleaning, cooking, and daily chores. If you schedule out your week and create a writing routine, you’ll be a lot more relaxed about your writing, and you’ll be more productive and happier.
Take a Break
If your writer’s block still has you down, step away from the project you were working on and take a break. Now, that doesn’t mean you should take a break from writing. Rather, pick up a book or magazine about writing (we recommend Stephen King’s On Writing, John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, or Writer’s Digest). Spend some time leisurely reading about writing and about new tips and exercises you could use. Before you know it, you’ll be excited to get back to work on your writing project.