My Top 5 Tips For Beating Writer's Block Blues

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We've all been there, stuck in front of a blank Word document with a blank expression on our faces and nothing but blankness in our heads. Blank.

Generally, I manage to write about 2,000 words a day, whether they be on my WIP, a book review, manuscript evaluation, or on this blog. And, while writing is my profession, that's not to say it comes easy. I have two young children, a husband with a demanding job, and a garden that is under constant attack from the voracious denizens inhabiting New Mexico—carving out time to write can be a challenge. But, sometimes, when I finally manage to plonk down in front of my computer, creative intentions in my heart and blessed silence in my house, I reach into my reservoir of ideas and come up with...diddly.

This doesn't apply to my ghostwriting projects, thankfully. My clients and I craft a carefully vetted

outline before the first word of the first chapter is even considered. The outline encompasses plot points, character arcs, and narrative style—all I have to do is follow the prompts. It's only my own projects that suffer from the dreaded WB, unfortunately.

Have you ever clicked on a Googled recipe and been forced to scroll through miles of text just to get to the measurements and ingredient list? Well, I have. This is not that kind of post. Here are my top five cures for Writer's Block, and while they work for me, they may not work for you; think of them more as guidelines—like the pirate's code from the Pirates of the Caribbean.

#1 Running

Wide-open vistas and physical exertion always seems to put me in an introspective place, and since mid-project my thoughts revolve around my fictional world with the single-minded intensity of a psychopathic serial killer, running always helps me work things out. I can fill plot holes, figure out ways to make my characters more relatable, and work on my opening hook—all while giving my cardiovascular system a boost.

I'm lucky to live at the base of the Guadalupe Mountain range, where the highest peak in Texas resides, so the trail opportunities available to me are spectacular. Living on a 57,000-acre ranch doesn't hurt, either, as there are tons of trails for me to pick from; if my block is a big one (how can I kill my main character without making my readers hate me?), I have longer or hilly trails to choose from. If my block is smaller (should I use "said" or "responded" or "commented" or "remarked"?), I have short routes that afford me just enough time to figure out my speech tags—and work off that gluten-free cupcake.

Really, it's a win-win.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#2 Audiobooks

This may seem counterproductive to some, but zoning out to audiobooks is one of my favorite ways to beat writer's block. I think it's the mental process of focusing on the story I'm listening to that helps me turn my thoughts to my own stories more easily. At night, I often fall asleep to audiobooks; I especially like ones that I've listened to before. If the narrator is a good one, (I recommend anything narrated by Stephen Fry) it helps the zone-out process immensely.

It usually goes like this. I turn on Mythos, set my sleep timer for 45 minutes, and start out by listening to the Greek mythology stories. Soon, my sleepy mind starts to wander, drifting away from ancient Greece toward Mason Smith, my fictional antihero. I think about his motivations, smart-ass things that he would say to Zeus, and so on. Admittedly, some of the things I think about are forgotten come morning. But, the really good ideas linger long enough for me to write them down.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#3 Driving

I'll open this top tip with a disclaimer: I do not advocate adding to Earth's greenhouse emissions simply for the sake of fictional manuscripts; to do so would be beyond selfish, would be ignorant and completely against the "green" philosophies I try to adhere to.

Now that that's out of the way, I love driving my car (that's right, I drive an Audi. Uh, yeah, it's a nine-year-old station wagon, what's your point?) and thinking about my WIPs. Again, my location is a bonus as Town is over forty-five minutes away from the ranch I live on, and the scenery can be monotonous at best, so cruisin' and perusin' my mind is always a good option in breaking my writer's block.

What I don't do is turn on music while I'm driving. While I find audiobooks conducive to brainstorming, music distracts me—especially anything sung by Garth Brooks. I'm a fan.

Now, if I really want to crank up the mental aerobics, I play an audiobook AND drive. Even the most stubborn of blocks can't withstand the double whammy.

#4 Magazines

My current work-in-progress takes place in Mesoamerica, which is why I'm always on the lookout for the delivery of my favorite magazine, Archaeology. The informational snippets and glossy pictures always rev my imaginational engines, which is sometimes all I need to break through the barriers of writer's block. Seeing pictures of colorful murals helps me in describing the clothing and physical characteristics of the Maya; this would work with any magazine and any fictional world. Writing a fast-paced thriller? Pick up Firearms News. How about a period piece set in England? The English Garden might be just what you need to flesh out your setting.

Plus, I always feel smarter reading educational magazines—it doesn't matter that feeling smart and being smart are two different things. Just ask—oops! I was about to make a political joke. Refrain! Besides, it was too easy, anyway.

Image courtesy of Bored Panda

#5 Storytime

Swap "your kids" with "your mom", and that's the way my children feel when I decide to work out my fictional issues during our nightly story time. Seriously, telling your story out loud—not reading it aloud, but actually treating it as though you're making it up as you go, is freeing and helps you stretch out any kinks in your plot. This can be easy or hard, depending upon the age and maturity of your listeners. For example, when Mason saved the life of a Mayan princess by killing first a jaguar then a pointy-toothed assassin, my (young) girls totally bought it. Of course, the events in question were moderated to prohibit nightmares, but they completely understood that by altering the history of a possible world he was investigating, Mason doomed his own. Done deal. Moving on.

Older audiences might have more questions/complaints than mine did, but that will only serve to help you break through the writer's block barrier even faster.

So, there you have it: my top 5 tips for beating writer's block. I hope this helps you beat the monster into submission. Or, at the very least, lull it to sleep long enough for you to sneak some inspiration past it and onto the page. Banish the Blank and get writing!

What are your favorite methods of beating writer's block? Share in the comments! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and become a subscriber on my website jmrliteraryservices.com to stay up-to-date on my new posts and find out when any deals and steals are happening.