Hello Observers! Today I want to discuss a very universal experience…writer’s block.

There is simply nothing worse than finding yourself in this position, and for me it can often feel like a never-ending condition. Thankfully we all know that that isn’t true.

We all fall into writer’s block for many different reasons, but no matter the reason or how long it lasts, we all deserve to find ways to tap into our creative flow again.

I have learned over time how to identify the signals when I’m starting to fall into a rut and have a few tricks up my sleeve to help me through. In truth, I will be using these tricks right alongside you, as I have felt my creative flow slowing to a stop lately.

I have 6 simple tips for you today. They may work for you, they may not, but they definitely won’t work if you never try them!

If you find that you do something different from what I have here, I would love to know what you do for yourself when you feel blocked. Please leave those ideas in the comments!

Without further ado, and in no particular order…your guide for getting through a creative rut!

The Brain Dump

The power of a brain dump is a lot mightier than you might think.

Whether it’s a to do list of everything you need to get done, all the things looming in your future, or even just a large list pertaining to your recent project, get it down on paper and out of your head.

You’ll feel clearer, which might just help clear the way for you to find the words you’re looking for.

I find this exercise particularly helpful before writing, when I know I have a lot of life things on my mind. I find this equally as helpful to do when I have a lot of different ideas roaming around my head for a particular project.

It helps me to find connections and organize things in a sensible manner, which in turn makes my writing go more smoothly.

Set a Timer and GET IT DONE!

This one can pair well with the suggestion above, because sometimes I simply need to get the life things out of the way before I can get creative.

It doesn’t have to be super ambitious either, even 15-20 minutes can be enough time to make a dent in what needs to get done.

Whether the timer is set to tackle that to do list, or to see if a countdown makes the words flow faster, a timer can be a great motivator to get things done when you really need to.

Walk Away and Come Back

When all else fails, you might be better off to take a hint, accept defeat, and walk away.

Don’t worry, you’re going to be coming back to it later.

If you really want you can set a timer for the time spent away from your work too, but forcing your brain to sit there and stare at a blank page for hours on end will do nothing for your creativity, or your self-esteem for that matter.

You never know when inspiration will strike, but in the meantime don’t make your situation worse by forcing yourself into a mental corner.

Take a break, get a coffee or a snack, go for a walk…whatever you need to do to hit the refresh button.

Stay Away from the Doom Scroll

Stay away from social media and certain other entertainment platforms while you’re at it.

I know it’s not helping; you know it’s not helping, it’s simply a toxic distraction.

When it comes to social media, not only can we easily lose hours of our lives to silly videos, it can also equally open up a world of hurt and comparison.

My feeds are often filled with various author experiences or advice, which I love to see on a normal day, but when I am in a creative rut, I like to limit the amount of comparison I do to other people in my position or better.

That way I don’t have the added mental load or pressure to be in a different position than I currently am. Everyone’s timing as a creative is different, we must remember that!

Take It Wherever You Can Get It

Though I just said the doom scroll won’t help your cause, there are still a million other places where inspiration can find you.

Music lyrics offer great opportunities for imagery or scene work.

Pinterest has a never-ending supply of art, colors, and pretty faces to create worlds and characters.

Conversations with people or even dreams can offer more than you would think in terms of creativity. Maybe a topic came up that you end up googling and suddenly you have an idea, or maybe that dream was so out of the box you might as well jot it down and see what comes of it.

Games are unlikely places too! I use the card game, “We’re Not Really Strangers” as writing prompts with myself when I need it. It doesn’t offer much for fictional prompts, but maybe you can answer the questions from a character’s point of view, which will help develop them at a deeper level.

The truth is, inspiration is everywhere, we simply have to be in the right headspace to see it.

Music Makes a Difference

Let’s be honest, music can be a massive catalyst for mood. So it’s only fitting that perhaps the tunes should match the vibes for what you’re trying to write, or at the very least not be overly distracting.

Perhaps you’re writing a great fantasy novel, so maybe movie scores or other unusual songs are up your ally.

Maybe you’re writing something historical, so listening to songs from that time period might put you into the world better.

Maybe you need something completely neutral, like meditation tones.

I don’t know what floats your boat, but as long as you’re floating, I don’t care.

Find the music that makes you feel the most motivated and let it carry you!

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I hope we all find the light that leads us out of our writing ruts soon. The world needs our creative input!

I would love to know what you all do to get out of a writing rut, so let’s start a discussion in the comments! You never know who might benefit from your experience.

Thank you for reading and following along, and as always…

Keep Observing!