Banish Writer's Block Now

Have you been abandoned by your Muse? There are times in any writer's life when they feel as if they might never be able to write another word. The voice of the inner critic becomes loud and bullying to the point where you want to pull the bed sheets over your head and hide from the world. For those who make their living by the pen, these periods of writer's block can be downright hazardous to their livelihood.

But, take heart in the fact that you are not alone. Every writer gets blocked from time to time. There are many things that can contribute to writer's block such as excess stress, anxiety, procrastination, personal tragedy--I could go on and on. But regardless of the cause, writer's block is something that we want to get rid of quickly.

Here are some things to try when you are feeling blocked creatively.

• Change your writing routines: If you usually write alone at home at a desk, move to a different location in your house. Take your laptop downstairs and sit on the couch, sit at the kitchen table. Mix it up.
• Get out of the house. Try writing in the park or even at a café. Being out among people might inspire you. Discreetly listening to overheard conversations might give you some ideas for dialog.
• Go for a long walk. Exercising is good for you anyway, and freeing up your mind, and taking good, deep breaths can boost your brain to come up with some new ideas.
• Attend a poetry reading. Being in the company of other writers who are getting up there and sharing their work is the best kind of inspiration. This always works wonders for me. Whenever I leave a poetry reading it makes me want to rush home and get out a pen and paper and write.
• Try a new creative outlet. If you are a writer try drawing or painting, or some other art form.
• Explore a completely different genre. If you are a romance writer, try reading something in science fiction, or fantasy.
• Talk about it. If you have a trusted friend or colleague who is also a serious writer, try sharing what you are going through and see if they have any advice for you. Sometimes, just talking about it will help you to get a different perspective on your problem and help you to work out a solution.
• Find a writer's group in your area and attend a meeting.

The main goal here is to get out of a creative rut and get back to being productive. I will note that persistent writer's block that goes on for years can have its roots in other psychological problems in the writer's life. Sometimes, it might be necessary to seek the help of a health professional who can counsel you and give you guidance about how to move past writer's block and the other issues in your life that may be holding you back creatively.

Writer's block can be frustrating, but it's a hurdle that you can overcome. Don't give up on your writing. You are a unique individual with something important within you to contribute to the world.