Wasting time on the internet even though you should be writing? Well obviously you are, but that’s okay because now you can watch my video that teaches you how to beat writer’s block! It’s only a few minutes long and you deserve a break from all of your not writing. Besides, it’s informative and thus you can watch it guilt free!

My Honest Thoughts on Writer’s Block

I’ll get around to finishing this section when I can actually think of something to say.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
Oh hey! I got it!
There really isn’t a lot to add. Usually it is as simple as just forcing yourself to write. I find this especially true for the first draft. Stopping during a first draft kills momentum. Just write it and move on. You will have to fix it later regardless. The story needs a skeleton first and that is what a first draft is. That said, if you find yourself stuck during the revision process, I have personally found any of the following tips useful.

Get out of your chair and go on a short brisk walk. It doesn’t have to be a long hike or anything, just a quick 30 minute walk outside. The fresh air will clear your head and the physical exertion will get blood pumping to your brain. This is much better than watching TV or playing video games. These do not clear your mind, they distract it and a walk removes all of these distractions.

Skip the part you are stuck on and work on a section of the story you know how to fix. By the time you are done fixing that section then you might have thought of a solution for the part you were stuck on. This is handy because it keeps momentum. Remember, objects in motion tend to stay in motion.

If none of the above work then maybe you are too close to see the problem. When I just cant get a scene or character to work then I usually stop and take a moment to critically think about why that scene or character is there in the first place. What do they add to the story as a whole? And most importantly, do I even need this? I have weeded out a number of ‘author darlings’ this way and it also saves you time trying fix things that should be discarded instead.

Other things that work
Broken scene: Try moving the scene’s setting to a new location. This can make you look at a scene from a different perspective.
Weak character: Can they be replaced or combined with a better already established character?
Boring plot: Try moving the order of scenes around.
If all else fails then have cyborg-dinosaurs attack. That never gets old.