Tips on Fighting Off Writer's Block

Attempting to write about a topic is never easy. It is even more difficult when one has writer's block. Some people use only one method to deal with writer's block, but I think that this is a mistake. You need multiple methods, or else you'll eventually get to a problem that you can't overcome with your particular style.

This can be a disaster, when you are attempting to work with a project deadline. Even if you do not have a deadline to meet, you will still find things much more enjoyable if you can overcome the writer's block as quickly as possible.

Now, I say 'writer's block', but it could just as easily be applied to various other difficult problems: math, computer frustrations, working on your hobby, etc. Getting stuck on any of those things can be terribly frustrating and, to put it mildly, a waste of time.

One of the first things people think of when they have something difficult they need sorted out is to 'sleep on it'. I can't recall this ever working for me, at least not in the manner that most people think. When I wake up, the problem is not amazingly solved by my brain. It still seems as insoluble as ever. Only after I've woken up, eaten and gone off to do other things might the answer slowly come to me. Of course, it is still a good idea to get enough sleep, but this certainly isn't a foolproof plan; however, it is related to my second suggestion.

When I have something I can't figure out, I tend to go off and do anything that is not related at all to what I am stuck on. I certainly find that a bit of daydreaming can help improve things. By the time I return my attention to the original problem, I usually find that I have a fresh approach and am much closer to a solution.

Of course, if neither of those things work, then there is always a third solution: go back to working on a similar project. That is actually what I am doing right now, writing this article as I consider what I will be writing about next. This helps immensely, perhaps even more so than the first two suggestions.