Writer's block is a formidable foe in the battle of crafting fiction or nonfiction. Here's one defense to combat it
No one ever said writing is easy. (If someone did say this, he deserves a reality check and a slap to the face). It takes energy, motivation, and strength, and, just like running a race or delivering a speech, it demands practice and rest.
There are days when I can sit for hours in front of a blank word document, bouncing aimlessly to Facebook and back, completely drained of ideas or, as I call it, "creative energy." Then there are other, glorious, days where I can spend hours writing until I emerge for a snack and water break and then go right back to it for another three hours. These bursts of productivity can be rare and far in-between if you do not take time to rest your brain.
Take a Break!
You can ask any writer, and every single one will admit that they suffer from writer's block from time to time. There are a thousand different ways to prevent it, but unfortunately, there is no panacea or pill you can swallow to force yourself to write. All you can do is...do nothing. One great way to combat writer's block is simply to take a break and let your mind rest. Turn off the computer or shut the notebook and do something else. Usually, I will go run a few errands or clean up the house. Do anything that calms you down and completely distracts you from whatever you are writing or whatever deadline you are working towards.
Once you take this break, you can come back with renewed vigor and can try to write. If you still feel blocked, try something else. This method is simple, but it works.
Personal Experience
I just finished working on two short stories in a two-week span, the most I've ever worked on in that short amount of time because of work and school, and both were serious subjects based on dark realities. It took so many false starts to begin the second one, because I was so drained from the first one, that I finally decided to take a break. I opened the windows, since it was such a nice day, read a few of Hemmingway's short stories, and washed my car. Afterward, I returned with a new energy, and I knocked out four more pages before getting stuck again.
The first short story was in a completely different genre that I had only explored once three years ago with a flash fiction story: horror. Being in a different perspective (a blind woman) and a different genre at the same time, and under a tight deadline, was a headache, but I got through it. I did some research and broke through my comfort zone once again. Often, I had to take breaks where I just completely distracted myself. I started a new ritual of taking out a miniature notebook before I went to bed and writing down new ideas for the story.
The second short story that I struggled the most over was in a more familiar perspective, but the subject matter was something I had never tried before; I was attempting to describe a deplorable industry through the eyes of its victims. It was difficult to not end with a "happily ever after" ending but to still provide some hope for its demise.
Ultimately, taking breaks throughout the process is what got me through it. I worked on anything I could and got out of the house once-in-a-while, but I made sure that I wrote something, anything, everyday.
Just as when a scientist is working on an experiment or a band is prepping for a concert, taking breaks can be essential to continuing your work.
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