Your Worst Nightmare (Writer’s Block)

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy...It’s crazy to think “The Shining” came out nearly 40 years ago. Without spoiling the movie, I’ll say writer’s block is a nightmare. It’s as if you’re stuck on that one sentence, and it won’t go anywhere. Although writer’s block is inevitable, you can control how you deal with it.

To combat writer’s block, the first recommendation I would make is to take a break. Sometimes, I think our ideas get jumbled together, and it can be difficult to get the words out. I say take a breather, sleep on it, and try again another day. Also, if you don’t have a deadline, then there’s no rush either.

The second recommendation I would make is seeking inspiration elsewhere. Gillie Haynes, who was the guest speaker at the quarterly conference I attended for Life Journeys Writer’s Guild last fall, discussed the benefits of taking a step back and how she discovered additional hobbies that made her a profit. For example, she’s a teacher and author, but when she had trouble writing, she started cooking. She realized that her cooking could be a side business and now she does that, too.

Writer’s block isn’t the end of the world. I go through it, but it eventually passes. You just have to fill the time.
If you want to learn more about Gillie Haynes check out her website and book here.

​Also, I've attached a handy dandy chart to shake off writer's block from Jane Friedman's Tumblr.