3 Science-Backed Ways to Conquer Writer's Block

You sit behind your desk, ready to take on another writing task. You open a Google document, hands on the laptop keys and wait for a few minutes for ideas to come flowing from your brain.

Several minutes have passed and still that first paragraph remains elusive. Words seem to be too difficult to weave into one relevant and comprehensible paragraph.

Does all of these sound familiar to you? Well, for writers that are novice and seasons alike, this is what we commonly refer to as “writer's block”.

What is writers’ block? For the sake of budding writers, let us discuss what is meant by this two-word phrase.

Writer’s Block: Starting at the Blank Screen

Many experts define the condition “writer’s block” in different ways. Some refer to it simply as a state when you find yourself staring at the blank screen for a period that is longer than usual, not knowing what to write.

Writer’s Block: Disguised as Fear

Others define writers’ block as nothing but fear. It may seem as if the writer going through this stage is lacking the ideas that are good enough for them to be able to come up with a well written output.

Some experts perceive these lack of ideas as fear. Sometimes, this fear is disguised in a form of procrastination or excuses such as “I have been slammed with too much work that my brain refuses to cooperate when I try to write”.

However, the type of fear that induces the so-called writers’ block may vary from one writer to another. There are writers who fear the thought of being rejected, or being judged by their readers.

Writer’s Block: Faulty Perception

Some writers argue that labeling such a phenomenon as “writers’ block” is such a faulty perception. They say that a temporary absence of thoughts worthy to be transcribed into significant paragraphs is but a natural part of the writing process.

Moreover, labeling it as “writers’ block” will only result in the interference of every writer’s natural ebb and flow of thoughts that come to mind during the process of writing. Besides, labeling it as such would only mean we are taking a contradictory stand against our own selves.

But, what is really meant by writers’ block? The truth is, it all depends on how you see it. Do you see it merely as those moments when you find it hard to induce your brain to come up with the right words for you to write? Or, do you see it as fear trying to take over your eagerness to write? Well, it’s really up to you.

The most important thing is to never let these moments of zero productivity linger a bit longer than it needs to. Once you notice it starting to rear its ugly head, find ways to dissipate it.

Do you also experience writer’s block? I bet you do. Because all writers indeed experience it. Fortunately, this post has got you covered!

Here are some tips to help you overcome writers’ block and keep your productivity levels high.

1. Listen to your favorite music.

This is the very first tip that I ‘d like to share because it never fails to help me conquer writer’s block whenever it strikes me.

Does music help while writing?

Music has been found to stimulate a person’s right brain activity. This is the part of the brain responsible for imaginative thinking, which can be helpful for writers. However, you have to be careful in choosing the type of music to listen to. There are songs that can only make you sad or may trigger some bad memories which are counterproductive to your purpose of listening.

A Jentschke study showed that language and music trigger the activation of similar patterns in a person’s brain. The findings in this study was further supported by neuroimaging evidence which showed that language and music share the same areas in the brain for processing.

Can’t find the right words to say? Listen to your favorite music. For me, bossanova and blue eyed soul music genres never fail to relax my senses. The more I listen to it, the more I get the inspiration to start typing on my laptop all over again.

Or, maybe some slow music won’t trigger your creative brain to function again. Why not listen to alternative rock? How about some romantic ballads that will remind you of those good old days? The type of music that you listen to should help set you in the right mood for writing.

2. Look for a new environment.

Sometimes all we need is a change of atmosphere to get our creative juices flowing abundantly.

This is when you need to go out and find a place where there is an abundance of natural views. Studies have shown that exposure to a green and natural environment significantly improves a person’s mental health.

Not to mention the fact that being outdoors where nature surrounds you can immensely contribute to positive emotions which are so helpful if you want to be in the mood for writing.

Furthermore, one study also proved that nature has the power to evoke a person’s creative thinking by arousing his curiosity, recharging his senses and making him more capable of developing and analyzing ideas needed for the writing task at hand.

If you’re nowhere near a place where natural scenery is present, don’t lose hope. Keep in mind that what matters most is for you to have a change of environment.

Fully charge your laptop and look for a nice and quiet coffee shop. When you’re in the coffee shop, see to it that you choose the seat that offers a bit of isolation on your part. You can be seated in the corner seat or the end of the row, facing the wall.

I personally don’t want to be seated in front of the mirrored wall where I get to see the pedestrians and other people passing by. When I am seated in the corner where I am almost invisible to other cafe customers, I can keep writing without distractions at all.

Not a coffee lover? How about writing in a cozy public library? It is quiet and if you’re lucky, you’d be able to find a book which may serve as an additional reference for the topic you’re writing about.

3. Grab some healthy comfort food.

Can food affect your thinking?

Yes, food can definitely affect your thinking. What you eat can influence your thoughts, feelings and your body’s ability to heal. Bodies of research have proven that food nutrients play a crucial part in a person’s brain health.

Therefore, instead of grabbing some chips, soda, cake and donuts, choose healthy foods. Have some blueberries handy because these are loaded with antioxidants that spare your brain from the evil effects of free radicals.

Prepare a vegetable salad which consists of dark leafy greens, nuts and beans. These plant based foods not only nourish your brain and body. Unlike comfort foods that are loaded with sugar and sodium, these whole foods won’t let you suffer the so-called energy “rush and crash”.

Therefore, when your creative brain does not seem to cooperate when you want your writing tasks to get done, take a break. Eat some blueberries or snack on nuts and seeds. You can even eat these foods while writing.

Reaching for some healthy foods as your comfort food will make your writing tasks less stressful, thus making it easier for creative thoughts to emerge.

How about you? What do you do when you get stuck and plagued by writers’ block? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.