This week we’ve been discussing the idea of “Writer’s Block” and how believing in this myth can hold us back from achieving our writing goals. So now that you understand that Writer’s Block is simply a negative state of mind, how can you banish this boogeyman once and for all?

Here are 5 strategies to overcome that pesky Writer’s Block:

1. Writing prompts / generators

Simply pick an idea and keep it moving. Why waste time questioning whether an idea is “good enough” or not? If it inspires you, go for it. Don’t like the genre? Switch it. Think the occupation is dry? Generate another. The options of writing generators and online prompts and books are endless. So grab an idea and make it your own.  And don’t forget, you can always rewrite later.

2. Skip ahead

This is a personal favorite of mine. When an idea or line has you stuck, just skip it. Add a basic placeholder (like brackets or highlighting) or note-to-self and come back to it. You’ll be more inspired to describe that handsome bartender or New York City skyline later. The point is to keep going. The more pages and chapters you complete, the more confident you’ll be in your abilities.

3. Write the parts you’re most excited about first

Who says you have to write your scenes in a certain order? If you’re not particularly moved to write a specific scene today, it doesn’t mean you won’t be inspired tomorrow. Skip it and focus on that epic plot twist you’ve been planning, or perhaps that gun standoff you can’t wait to jot down.

4. Bounce ideas off others

Reaching out to other writers and voracious readers is a great way to get motivated to keep going. Your critique partners know your strengths. Your beta readers can encourage you to pursue a new idea and point out what could make them even better. Chatting with others is bound to inspire you—not to mention get you out of your own head.

5. Just keep writing

I personally am an advocate for writing every day (at least when you can). Whether it’s a few pages or a few sentences (even if it’s bad!), the more you write, the more confident you will be in your abilities to write. Ignore the negative thoughts and doubts and just keep pushing. And one day, you’ll look back and see that you were better at this than you thought.

Conclusion

Bonus Tip: Believe in yourself! At the end of the day, Writer’s Block is simply believing in your ability to overcome your shortcomings or not. Your idea might seem lackluster, but you can make it great. Your skills might not be as strong as that New York Times Bestselling author, but you can always improve. Choose to have a positive outlook on your ideas and abilities and your writing journey could achieve unfathomable heights. Just believe.

Want a great way to push through mental hurdles and keep writing? How about fast drafting a 50k words manuscript in 30 days? That’s right, NaNoWriMo is coming up, and whether you choose to officially participate or not, it’s still a great way to challenge yourself and get inspired. Join us as we tackle a few fun tips to prepare for NaNoWriMo with the Preptober Series.