17 Cures for Writer's Block

Sometimes the words flow from our fingertips; other times, we have to strain our mental limits to coax out that creative muse. When faced with the dreaded writer’s block, it’s better to take action than to wait for inspiration.

Background Music by Vindsvept:
+ "Illuminate"
+ "Woodland Lullaby"
+ "Wildkin Glade"
+ "Keeper of the Forest"
+ "Voyage to Nowhere"

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Tip number six involved summarizing the events of a particular scene as if it were a movie, though with additional descriptions of the character’s emotions. In my hypothetical scenario, the general idea for a scene/chapter was that the protagonist accidentally eavesdrops on his best friend and discovers that he’s in cahoots with the villain. Here’s how I might flesh out that eavesdropping example into a visual summary:

“The chapter opens with a roguish knight named Taj sneaking through the halls of the castle, whistling casually as he slips down the corridor to his best friend’s chambers. Now, his best friend is also a knight and has refused to lend his awesome sword to Taj for a tournament, so Taj has taken it upon himself to ‘borrow’ said sword while his friend is out of the castle. He gets to the room with no problem and is awfully proud of himself, but then he can’t find the damn sword. Taj tries to brainstorm places his friend might hide a valuable item. Under the bed, he finds some questionable reading material, but no sword. There’s also an unspeakably disgusting smell coming from the bottom dresser drawer that he really doesn’t want to know the origins of, but he checks anyway. Still no sword. Just as Taj is about to leave, he steps over a dragonskin rug and notices a peculiar creak in the floorboard, one that he had heard when he walked in but paid no mind. He moves the rug to find a trapdoor, and thinks, ‘How cliché.’ He pops open the trapdoor and voilà, there’s the sword. Then two voices echo down the hall, one of which belongs to Taj’s friend and the other to a stranger. Taj knows he has to either hide or get caught stealing, so he jumps into the pit and closes the trapdoor above him.”

Most of the details came to me on the fly, which is what makes this kind of “discovery writing” so valuable. By forcing myself to convert a nebulous mental image into something concrete that another reader could visualize, the scene became much clearer in my own mind. If I were to translate this into a scene, I’d come up with specific details to describe the type of “questionable reading material” and the horrible smell. I’d ensure that Taj’s smugness came through in his movements and the narrative voice. This scene outline allows me to not only see the big-picture path from Point A to Point B, but also pinpoints places where interesting sensory details and humor could be added.

Introduction (0:00)
1. Read Other People's Stuff (0:40)
2. Read Your Own Stuff (1:54)
3. Imitate Your Heroes (2:32)
4. Write in Pieces (2:56)
5. Make a List (4:20)
6. Summarize (5:03)
7. Surprise Yourself (5:49)
8. Talk to Other Writers About Your Writing (7:02)
9. Get Organized (7:43)
10. Research Relevant Topics (8:13)
11. Reflect (9:07)
12. Change Your Environment (10:08)
13. Start a New Project (11:01)
14. Use Music to Set the Mood (11:29)
15. Refresh (12:04)
16. Live Life (12:41)
17. Consume Writing Advice (13:15)

[QuotidianWriter]

*This video is a reupload for quality assurance purposes. I rerecorded the audio and replaced about half of the visuals, but the script is mostly the same.

Side note: Right now, it can be hard to “go out and do things, ” but someday soon we will all be able to explore the world again. In the meantime, I hope you can find new adventures from the comfort of your home and local parks.


My seventeen cures for writer’s block:

1. READ OTHER PEOPLE’S STUFF: favorite books, terrible books, nonfiction
2. READ YOUR OWN STUFF: past short stories and novels
3. IMITATE YOUR HEROES: try my “echo exercise”
4. WRITE IN PIECES: create scenes out of order
5. MAKE A LIST: brainstorm what could or couldn’t happen next
6. SUMMARIZE: tell yourself the story without flair
7. SURPRISE YOURSELF: change the characters or setting
8. TALK TO OTHER WRITERS ABOUT YOUR WRITING: find critique partners!
9. GET ORGANIZED: sort and add to your story notes
10. RESEARCH RELEVANT TOPICS: write a scene based on targeted research
11. REFLECT: journal about the problem
12. CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT: write in a different place or font
13. START A NEW PROJECT: follow a new idea to its completion
14. USE MUSIC TO SET THE MOOD: a single song on a loop
15. REFRESH: exercise, shower, clean, meditate
16. LIVE LIFE: seek out new experiences
17. CONSUME WRITING ADVICE: videos, blogs, books, podcasts

[JohnInTheShelter]

I think the root of all blocks is fear.

[perymachado]

"Whatever you do, keep writing." Gets me feeling feelings every time....

Also, great tips and suggestions! When I get stuck on a scene or passage, I go for a walk and talk to myself (sometimes out loud) about what I should do.

[abubakarjamro]

It is a good day when the Quotidian writer uploads.

[beggo]

I related to this one a lot;
Yesterday I highlighted almost two whole chapters of my story and then pressed "delete".
It was both scary and a relief... I found out that my writers-block was due to that I was forcing my characters through a specific scene/event but when I realized it, it just didn't work for the story I was released. I deleted 2500 words but was able to write 5000 in their stead... :)

[jackhammer]

What tends to help me is to usually think "OK, I know where I want the story to go. What needs to happen to reach that ending?" I sorta think backwards. Doesn't always work, but it's fun.

[berryXjerry]

The fact you found 17 ways for curing writer's block makes me so happy! I couldn't even find one.

[drew]

This was well needed. I suffered from this for months

[enby_author]

Often when I'm stuck, and can't generate anything, it helps to revise earlier parts of the story, which gets me into a creative mode, sets the tone for the story, and means I have slightly less to polish when editing

[JohnInTheShelter]

Favorite writer's block solution, courtesy of the late, great writer Gene Wolfe: Deprive yourself not only of writing, but books, TV, music, art of any kind, social media, reading of ANY kind. Clean the house, work your garden, mow the lawn, exercise, talk to people, but NOTHING connected to storytelling. Might take a day or longer (or maybe just an hour), but soon you'll be unstuck.

Another fine video. I'd send these to any young person starting to write professionally--wish I had them way back then.

[chadsimmons]

I am definitely going to try 4 - write in pieces.
Actually, I think I’ve already begun in thought, without knowing it, so it never went pen to paper. You have put it into frame for me.

Thank you so much.

[TheReadingWerewolf]

My writing has been going like a plow through concrete the past few days. I think these tips will really help! Thanks a bunch!

[kentjennifernelson]

Something I started doing that's helping:
Each Saturday I list 7 things, one for each day Sunday through Saturday. These can be a short story I have started, thought of or just have an idea, or scenes. I do this fresh each week. If any morning I'm stuck I look at the list and make myself work on that. (Kent)

[Digitalpulse]

Your videos are some of the best content on writing out there. Always incredibly informative and well put together. Thank you for doing what you do!

[marlynhebert]

My husband does not have writer's block, he has they never taught him how to read in grammar school block. He uses his cell phone to help him spell words. English is a high wall he is always trying to climb. However, for some reason, he keeps at it, that never give up attitude. He tells me that he can see how he is getting better. I hope so.

[JB-hscs]

I just want to say, you're an excellent source of advice, up there with some of the best literary advice/essayists on YouTube and it is shocking to me that you are not more highly subscribed and watched than you are. Keep producing content and I'm sure it will come. Personally, I'll be spamming your links amongst the writing communities I am part of. Keep up the hustle! Good luck.

[jfalveo]

This is an extraordinary video. Well produced. And helps a lot. I don't see videos like this so often.

[diip-ali]

"Go for a run or a hike"

*laughs in quarantine*

[fflg]

I'm in a 2-years writer's block... Last weekend the memory of my stories came back to the back of my mind, and in the same weekend this video was posted. Maybe this is a sign for me to come back and give my story another chance (again).

[autumncosandaffect]

Glorioski! Love, love, love. Just what I needed to hear.

Really, you have been so great for my writing anxiety - Thank you so much!