Everyone talks about it. Everyone claims to experience it at some point. So how do you get rid of it when it plagues you?
Writer’s block can be caused by a number of things to different people, so here’s my take on my own causes and remedies.
If the block happens right when I sit down, it probably means I haven't gotten myself in the mindset to write. I combat this with music. Though some can find noise distracting, if I curate a list of songs that portray the feel of the scene I’m currently working on, it acts as a spark to my brain. Once the song is playing, my mind shifts to work mode.
When progress slows during the middle of a scene, I usually find it results from a sparse outline. I either try to trudge through, which rarely works, or I go back to the storyboard and flesh things out (conversations, combat, ect.) until I feel ready to tackle the scene.
If I come to a standstill after an hour or so of writing and my outline doesn't’ need beefing up, that’s when I need a break. I watch Youtube, Twitch, play a videogame, or chill out on the couch and hang with my dogs.
Consistency is key. When I switch from writing a draft to editing and attempt to jump back into drafting again, it takes a while to build up my stamina. It helps me to take things one day at a time. Have a realistic goal. My daily word count when writing is one thousand words. My daily editing goal is twenty-five pages a day. Most days I hit these. Some days I’m under. There are other times when I double or triple my goal. Everyone is different. Just know writer's block isn’t a permanent block.