9 ways to overcome writer’s block

If you write for a living, you know that dreadful feeling.

You’ve been staring at the blank page far too long and feel incapable of putting words down. Sometimes, just crafting a coherent sentence—much less a cohesive story—seems daunting.

There are innumerable ways for writers to get stuck in the muck, but six productivity stranglers stick out:

Regardless of which obstacle tends to bog you down, there are plenty of ways to get rolling again. Try these nine tips:

1. Take a break. Don’t confuse this with procrastination. If you feel your brain turning to mush, give yourself a break.

Take a walk to get the blood flowing, and deeply breathe in some fresh air. If you’re working late into the night, consider snapping your laptop closed and starting fresh in the morning. If you’ve been doing loads of research, give your eyes a rest.

Fresh eyes and a rested mind will do wonders for filling your page.

2. Remove distractions. When you’re feeling stuck, any activity (other than writing) sounds appealing. Writer’s block can make washing the car, mending the fence or cleaning the house seem urgent.