Having writer’s block is like having a bad dream. You want to write; in fact, you might have a deadline that demands that you write. The closer the deadline looms, the harder it is to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Don’t know why this is, just know that it is, and I struggle with it a lot.The old watched pot doesn’t boil thing comes to mind, but this is different. This requires panic and running around the house doing laundry, checking the refrigerator, playing with the dog and maybe some screaming. Mostly, it’s panic as those minutes tick on and on relentlessly.
How do you get past the writer’s block?
- Stop panicking.
- Stop counting minutes.
- Stretch.
- Move about.
- Forget about the task.
- Play with the dog or cat.
- Fold your laundry.
- Do the dishes.
- Clean out the refrigerator – don’t clean it out by eating everything.
- Listen to music.
- Read a short story.
- Get some sunshine.
Once you stop letting the deadline control you, your mind will do exactly what you trust it to do. It will come up with the words and get the project finished before the deadline. You have to trust yourself to do the job you know you can do.
Writer’s block comes and goes, and every project will get done in the time you allot for it. If you really cannot finish it in time, talk to your editor, publisher or client and work out a solution. Being stuck is not the end of the world, and you will be stuck again, so don’t panic.