Dealing with Writer's Block!

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Writer's block. We have all suffered from this terrible condition at least once in our lives. This is especially true for college students.


                                 

  QuillandBooks.com

 

First let's talk about what writer's block is.


According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, writer's block is, “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.”It can be extremely frustrating and down right maddening to struggle with writer's block. This is especially annoying when you have a deadline to meet! Writer's block can last for days, weeks or even months!



                 


So why does writer's block happen?


According to a study done by psychologists Jerome Singer and Michael Barrios, writers block happens for four reasons:

  • Excessively harsh self criticism
  • fear of comparison to other writers
  • Lack of external motivation, like attention and praise
  • Lack of internal motivation, like the desire to tell one's story

There are many life events and scenarios that can cause writer's block. However, it all comes down to fear and lack of motivation.


Here are some tips that can be helpful in overcoming writer’s block:


Doing an Activity

Perhaps stepping away from your writing and doing something you enjoy can help clear your mind. For example going on a hike, going out to eat with a friend or painting. 


Writing in Smaller Pieces

Writing in small chunks rather than forcing out pages of writing can be helpful. Oftentimes 

I find that writing for smaller periods of 15 minutes and coming back to it later is more beneficial to me than trying to write for an entire hour. 


Taking a Break

If you’ve been stuck staring at your writing for a long time it can be a grueling process to force yourself to write. You may even find yourself hating what you’re writing about. Taking a break can be extremely helpful. Focusing on a different task for a few days or even a week will allow you to return to your work mentally rested and with fresh eyes. 


Freewriting

Freewriting can be a useful tool to push through writer's block. Sitting down to write without considering the structure or if it even makes sense can be very freeing. What you end up writing will probably not be used in your actual piece, but it is a great tool to get your creative juices flowing.


Lastly, don't be too hard on yourself! Writer's block happens to many people. Be patient with yourself. You will get there.


           

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For more tips on how to overcome writers block check out this link:

How to Overcome Writer's Block (20 Tips That Really Work).


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