Category: Writing

Have you ever stepped away from your desk, finished a writing project, and felt like you’ve just put the cart before the horse? Like you need to start all over again, not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because your mind needs to be retrained and rewired to think differently about how it creates? Are your ideas stale and flat, having lost the zip that made them exciting to begin with? Spring cleaning might be exactly what you need.

With the mental health of writers, we must tend to our brains as carefully as we would tend to our bodies or our children’s welfare. Self-Care is Important for Writers. When you don’t take care of your brain, when you don’t clean up your mental workspace or organize your thoughts and ideas, bad things can happen—even if you have the best intentions. Even if you do everything right. Spring cleaning isn’t just for the house. It should be for your mind, too! These tips will help you give your brain the cleaning it needs!

Even Brains Need Clearing Out

We’ve been shut-ins for a while now, time to dust off those cobwebs, fling open the eye windows and let blossom a new world view. Writers’ minds, like their workspaces, need organizing and the occasional cleanup. We fill our brains with everything we find lying about as we traverse the world. A lot of it comes in handy down the line. The rest lingers and gets in the way when we’re reaching for something we need. So, what can you do? Just as your house is likely to be more pleasant if you give it some TLC every once in a while, so too will your brain. But what’s that look like?

The brain is an untended attic of ideas and anxiety. We need to manage that space efficiently. For me, writing my thoughts and inspirations regularly has been incredibly helpful in keeping track of what I’m working on, what I’ve accomplished, and where I might be stuck. It keeps me accountable for my own work ethic and serves as a reminder that there are other things going on in my life besides just my writing project.

If you haven’t already started doing it, take five minutes today to write your three biggest accomplishments from last week and your three most important tasks for next week. You can also use these lists for your daily word count or just jotting down notes about story ideas you have when they come up. 

A Good Cry 

Write all your thoughts on any subject for five minutes without stopping. This can be about anything but try not to think too hard about what you’re writing. If a word doesn’t come naturally, then don’t force it. Just move on to another thought. Sometimes a stream session is like a good cry. You can feel the emotion tumbling like stone-rounding currents towards the roaring falls of your fingers.

You need to get it all out. Go fully into the ‘now’ of the words. If we aren’t willing to go there, how are we ever going to write characters who do? Cry or write, they both release tension and stress. Crying cleanses us emotionally while writing cleanses us mentally. So, take a deep breath and let those emotions flow through you onto paper!

Fling the Fluff 

You don’t need everything you write. There are a lot of words in our heads, but very few of them are important and they’re not all going to make it into your story or essay. Learn how to let go—to discard what doesn’t serve you, what others don’t need, and what isn’t relevant. It’s something an excellent editor (like a good therapist) should be able to help you with.

Look at your writing and ask yourself if there are any unnecessary details to cut without hurting your piece. If so, find those places where you can remove fluff or fat, damaging nothing else. Then look at each sentence on its own merits: Does it really add anything? Are there any extra words that aren’t necessary? And finally, do you really need every single word? Don’t hold on to things just because they sound nice or feel right. If they don’t fit into your work, get rid of them!

Take stock of all the characters and ideas you have floating around in that beautiful brain of yours. Toss out what doesn’t work. Be ruthless here but try not to toss out anything that might be useful later on if you can help it. Rearrange what remains. Rearranging is key here. Move things around until they feel right, or you’re sure they shouldn’t go elsewhere.

Spring Clean

Physical space has an enormous impact on our mental health. If your workspace is untidy, disorganized, or visually chaotic, it can cause you a lot of stress and confusion. It’s not just about having your desk cleared off or shelves reorganized—even one minor detail that feels out of place can throw off your sense of well-being. The next time you find yourself overwhelmed by a project or just bored with writing entirely, set aside some time to clean up your physical space and notice how much better you feel. You might even start enjoying your writing again.

Throw away physical clutter. If you have too much stuff lying around on your desk or anywhere else that could easily distract you from writing, clear them out—now! Having less stuff will make it easier for you to focus and get things done. Like petting the dog.

Yes, Go Pet the Dog

If you’ve got pets, go spend some time with them. Animals have always brought out creativity in people and there’s no better way to get back into writing mode than spending some quality time with furry friends! Take a walk or just sit outside and watch them play for a while—you’ll marvel at how relaxed your mind becomes after just a few minutes of petting. Plus, who doesn’t love snuggling up to a purring kitty? Psychos, that’s who.

I’m not saying that going to take care of your dog is going to make you write an award-winning novel (although it might), but it can help clear your head and help kick-start new ideas. Plus, if you’re like me, sometimes just looking at my cat makes me feel better about myself… and I don’t even know why… but it does. It’s science. (Do your own research.)

Pets don’t bother with mind clutter. They keep playtime, food, and the unbreakable love they have for you. Nothing else matters. Be more like pets.

Add bright new thoughts

Like fresh flowers and seasonal fruit on the kitchen counter, bright new thoughts can help turn the tide in the mental battle between winter and spring. The only question is: where to get them? There are several places to find ideas for your next piece of writing—the most obvious being that story you’ve been working on for months or years now. But there are other sources of inspiration out there, too—you just have to know where to look.

Set aside time each day (or at least once a week) where you read something from an author who writes in a style that is the complete opposite of yours. Read poetry if you normally write non-fiction or read up on romance if all your work has been science fiction/fantasy related for years now. So much new inspiration comes from reading authors whose works are antithetical to yours!

Go back and reread one of your favorite books or stories but change some minor detail about it. This could be as simple as changing a character’s name, or it could mean altering what happens in pivotal scenes throughout the story. The point here is to see what happens when you alter even just one tiny detail and then let your imagination run wild with what might happen next!

Exercise Clears Mental Fog

If you’ve been playing along, you know the score is now mental cobwebs: 0, writers: 1.

Now that your brain has cleared out some of those mental cobwebs, it’s time for you to give your body a little TLC as well. Take a few minutes every day for some simple stretches and breathing exercises. Note how refreshed and energized you feel after just five minutes of stretching and deep breathing! Plus, these activities are significant for helping you get in touch with your body—which can be an important part of achieving mental health.

Studies show that exercise can improve your memory, creativity, and decision-making abilities. Just 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week can boost your mental sharpness. Aerobic exercise seems to be better than strength training for brain health, though both forms of physical activity will help you think more clearly.

 Start with brief bouts of light activity and work up to more intense workouts if you’re able; it could take six weeks or more before you feel significant benefits from working out. Try not to skip workouts because you don’t have time — see it as part of your self-care routine. Exercise is good for all aspects of your mental health.

Clear your mind by taking a walk through the woods or around your neighborhood. Take notice of how things look different from last year, or even last week. This is called shifting gears, and it will help you become more observant of details in everyday life that you may have previously overlooked.

Set the Pattern

The most successful writers are the ones who understand that mental health is just as important as the physical health. This means making mental well-being a continued focus throughout the year, even when you’re busy working on your next project. Establish an organized routine, keep tabs on your priorities, and remember that your inspiration—your muse—lives in you.

Work isn’t everything; a healthy writer needs more than ample time spent in contemplation and reflection, too. It might sound simple, but it’s not always easy. Try not to let guilt get in your way, either; after all, everyone deserves some me time now and then. Keep this in mind and next spring won’t seem so far away.

-R.E.

Getting writer’s block isn’t a sign of failure—it’s just another part of being human. Creativity ebbs and flows, so don’t stress about it. Instead, try not to stress about it. If you find yourself stuck on a project, take a break from it. Go for a walk. Read something else entirely—something that won’t remind you of your current problem or make you feel bad about what you can’t do now (I recommend fiction).When you come back with fresh eyes, focus on just one sentence at a time; sometimes doing even one thing well is enough motivation to keep going until it feels right again. And if these tips don’t work out? That’s okay too. It’s all part of creating, which means there will be moments when things don’t go as planned. That’s how we learn!

Write Anyway

There’s no escaping it: Writing is hard. Any day, you could stare at a blank screen and struggle to find something worthwhile to say. If you really have something worth saying, then it’s critical that you commit yourself and do whatever it takes to get it out of your head and onto paper. It’s better than being held back by writer’s block. If one tactic doesn’t work for you, try another — and keep trying until something sticks. You know what they say about how practice makes perfect? It’s not just a platitude; writing every day makes you a better writer.

Change The Way You Work

Finding a writer’s routine that works for you can help you beat writer’s block. It’s important to figure out what time of day you work best and then stick with it. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, afternoon, or evening, make sure you schedule your writing around these peak times. If possible, get outside for inspiration or sit near a window and look at plants, water fountains or people to help boost your creativity. In addition, leave yourself plenty of time to write without feeling rushed so that if one idea doesn’t work out well, you have another one waiting in line behind it, ready to go.

Consider taking notes on paper but also consider storing them digitally so you never lose an idea again! Keep a digital notepad on your phone wherever you are to capture thoughts quickly when they come to mind. Also, learn how to take notes effectively so that you easily recalled your ideas when needed. Write about projects you care about: This might sound obvious, but we often forget why we wanted to do something in the first place until we write about it!

Immerse Yourself In An Atmosphere of Creativity

You are your most creative when you’re surrounded by creativity. In order to overcome writer’s block, create an atmosphere of creativity where you work. If you have limited space at home or work, consider having a small space that is solely for creative pursuits. This doesn’t mean it has to be a large room with paints and brushes lying around—but it means that you need some area dedicated only for artistic creation so that you can immerse yourself in a creative environment more easily.

Focus On Your Environment:

When you surround yourself with disorganized, cluttered, and distracting items, it can be harder for you to focus on being creative. Clean up your desk and workspace. Get rid of anything you don’t use regularly (such as old newspapers) and organize everything else in a way that draws your attention toward your workspace.

Plan Out What You Want To Accomplish:

Before you work on something new, figure out exactly what you want to accomplish. Don’t just say I want to write or I want to paint. Figure out exactly what you want to do before diving into whatever project you’re working on next. Be specific about what you want to do. There’s no reason creating something should feel like a chore.

Get Some Sleep

If you’re having trouble getting started, it might be a lack of sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation can be just as detrimental to mental functioning as not getting enough sleep on a one-off basis. Instead of staying up late, try going to bed early or at least getting 7–8 hours of sleep every night. If it feels impossible, talk with your doctor about potential solutions. Your physician can recommend over-the-counter sleeping aids that are safe for regular use. Writing is hard work, so make sure you’re getting enough rest. Sleep when you’re tired and writing will come easier. You’ll also have more energy throughout the day to tackle other projects as well.

Everyone knows that sleep helps us focus, but most of us don’t get enough of it. You have a deadline; your alarm goes off too early and then you reach for your smartphone—it’s going to be a long day. To stave off exhaustion, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier than normal. A good night’s sleep will help you beat writer’s block by keeping you sharp on even your most draining days. We need all our cognitive abilities when we’re writing. You can’t do your best work if you’re tired.

It might sound simple, but setting aside time to go over what you’ve written (and slept on) can also be an effective way to get through writer’s block. If you find yourself blocked, read over what you’ve already written and tweak things as needed until they flow better. Don’t pressure yourself into finishing everything in one sitting; sometimes quality is more important than quantity. Forcing yourself to complete something subpar will solve nothing—in fact, it’ll just make matters worse. Letting go of expectations is easier said than done, though!

Build Writing Into Your Routine

If you struggle with writer’s block, one of your biggest tools is making writing part of your routine. Because it’s part of a daily schedule, you won’t let yourself get away with not having something to write. It also helps if you plan out what you want to do each day and stick with that schedule—so even when inspiration is lacking, productivity isn’t.

One thing I like about writers like Ernest Hemingway or Anne Lamott is they set aside specific hours for writing—and they stick with those hours even when they have something else planned (like writing letters). That way, there are no excuses for not having time because you already made time for it. Some people swear by writing first thing in the morning, so try setting aside an hour before work to make sure you can at least get started on your piece. In fact, some would argue getting started is all that matters—because once you start writing, everything else will fall into place. As Hemingway said:

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”

Sometimes all it takes to overcome writer’s block is breaking down big goals into smaller pieces. So if you feel stuck and have been staring at a blank page for days trying to figure out how to begin your story/essay/blog post/etc., start small. One sentence.

Take Breaks

The most common cause of writer’s block is getting stuck on one particular idea, or part of an idea. If you feel you’re only getting half-way through a project before you have no more ideas, stop and take a break. Get up and walk around for a while. Get some fresh air. Once your mind has had time to rest, it will feel much more refreshed when you come back to work on your project. Taking a break also allows you to step back from whatever issue is causing your block and look at it with fresh eyes, which can help give birth to new ideas!

Another great way to overcome writer’s block is by working on something else entirely. Go do something fun, exciting or unusual that takes your mind off what you were working on previously. Then come back to it feeling invigorated and ready to go! You might find that as soon as you start again, all those blocked thoughts just fall into place.

Stepping back can also give you time to get feedback on your project. You might not hear criticism very well if you’re in a rut, but often other people can point out flaws in our thinking we don’t see because we’re too close to our own projects. Ask someone who knows nothing about your subject or how it’s supposed to turn out. They may tell you things about your writing style or structure that would never occur to you otherwise.

Remember not to share any draft that isn’t completely finished.

Remember Why You Started Writing in the First Place

When you’re stuck, it’s hard to remember why you started writing. Maybe your first few posts or chapters didn’t go as well as planned, or maybe life just got busy and you found yourself unable to stick with your goals. Whatever happened, try reminding yourself of what made you pick up a pen (or a keyboard). Perhaps it was because you had an interesting story to tell. Maybe it was because of something that inspired you personally. If nothing else works, try just picking up where you left off and see how far you get before your mind wanders again. You might surprise yourself.

Set Goals That Are Easily Reachable

Setting a goal that is easily attainable can help you take action towards your goal. If your goals are too far away, or unattainable, it may cause you to feel discouraged and give up on working towards your goals. To overcome writer’s block, set small goals for yourself, such as getting out of bed earlier in order to write for half an hour before work. Reach for something you can accomplish with ease so that you can build on your success and keep going. Reaching goals will motivate and inspire you to keep going. It is important that when setting these small achievable goals, they should pertain directly to whatever you are trying to accomplish in order for them to be effective.

When writing down these smaller goals, use positive language and state what you are going to do instead of what you will not do. This will help eliminate any negativity from creeping into your mindset about achieving your goal. Once you have created a list of easy achievable goals for yourself, create deadlines for each one. Having deadlines helps hold you accountable for reaching each goal and also keeps things realistic by helping avoid procrastination by giving you specific dates/times when each task needs to be completed by.

Start Writing

It might be difficult, but you’ve got to start writing. Anything. And if you can’t think of anything, write about why you’re struggling with that. Just get something on paper (or in digital). It’s OK if it makes little sense at first or flows like a ramble. Once you have some words down, edit them into something better later. But don’t stop until you feel you’ve gotten your thoughts out. The worst thing you can do is spend too much time sitting around thinking about what to say and never actually saying anything. Get those thoughts out so they can become actionable items for your brainstorming session.

The more often you force yourself to sit down and put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), the easier it will become over time and eventually it will become second nature. You’ll look forward to getting back into your project when other tasks try distracting you from working on your next big idea. So start writing, even if it’s something as simple as:

I’m not sure what to write about.

or

I don’t know where to start.

Just get something out there. And once you do, pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

For some, writer’s block happens so often they feel like it’s an inevitable part of the writing process. For others, they’re surprised by it time and time again when they’re doing something as simple as journaling or planning out an email to a friend. If you struggle with this common writing challenge, use these tried-and-true ways to overcome writer’s block and get back to writing.

-R.E.