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How do you deal with writer's block?



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How do you deal with writer's block?

Writing could be the most exciting thing when your characters are well rounded, your story well structured, and the right words come effortlessly rushing at you. Those are the glory days. However, there are days when you are just sitting there, staring at a blank page for hours, maybe days and in some cases even months unend. And no matter what you try, you just keep hitting a wall.

Maybe you are stock on what word will best describe a situation, or what colour a character should wear, or maybe even on your next story idea. That's the dreaded writer's block. The worst nightmare of any writer worth their salt. Especially when your deadline isn't so far off.

I'd like to know if anyone here managed to find ways that help them overcome writer's block whenever they're stock? Your approach to writer's just might be the solution someone else needs to make their next pay check.

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Kakashi2020
When I'm suffering from writer's block, I would stop writing and eat good food and sleep or rest to reboot my mind. I would also work out in the gym, go visit places or have a short vacation. Change of scenery sometimes can be very helpful as well as watching new movies.



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burgosmichael24
I agree with you. Relaxing your self, get some rest, eat good food, take a walk or have some vacation are all essential to reboot your mind and set the mood. You can also listen to music, watch a movie or go out with your friends to get some inspirations.



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Steve5
I think so too. It's healthy for us to change our routines regularly. It keeps things fresh and interesting. No one likes the feeling of being stuck. It can feel that way sometimes when you've been writing for hours.



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theresajane
Oh! I sometimes do that. It is really best if you eat your comfort food at such a time when you don't feel like your brain is working properly. It's good to be energized by eating good food.



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knnon
Sweet foods can give you the boost you need for energy! But also too much sugar is bad for the body so maybe limit the sugar to a more natural source life fresh fruits or dark chocolates! I have the unhealthy habit of snacking on cheese puffs when I'm stressed as it is my go to comfort food.



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Martinsx1
Taking a long walk especially in the evenings is what does it for me. When I'm on the long walk, it helps me to clear my mind as regards to the work that is giving my mind a tough time.

Taking a long walk also works as an exercise for me as well. So, it's like killing two birds with one stone.



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iambeth
I agree the exercise helps to keep both an active body and mind. Taking in some fresh cool air feels good while walking.



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Kakashi2020
I do that too, whenever I have writers block I would sometimes go the mall and just walk around and window shop for hours. I guess seeing all the sights and hearing all the sounds has a good effect on the mind.



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jayjaydimson
I haven't experienced this kind of situation yet, but I will try to do your suggestions to get rid of it.



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Franzel2oo
Happy for you Jayjay. It's not a good place to be. I'm glad you are keeping an eye out for these great tips to overcome writer's block. Always good to be ready before the fight.



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Kakashi2020
When a person, specifically a writer is physically fit and engages in regular exercise, he or she becomes more healthy and has more energy to write for long periods of time, also a healthy body makes a healthy mind, that means healthy people can think better, has more focus making them good writers.



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burgosmichael24
You are right. When you are healthy, your brain and your body functions well and you can do the job excellently. Being in shape is a great factor along with inspirations to create a masterpiece.



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superlicca
Those are the good things to do that will also work for me. It is helpful to eat good or my favorite food and take a rest to recharge and refresh your mind. I feel like new ideas will come out naturally after the relaxation.



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Steve5
I find that eating can also help with writer's block. It's like we're able to cleanse ourselves of what's stopping us from writing. Even a quick ice cream cone is a nice way to feel refreshed.



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Kakashi2020
Sometimes when I can't seem to think of new ideas to write or if I'm having trouble finishing up an article, I would go to the nearest 7/11 which is a block from my place and eat some ice cream.



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Steve5
That's nice. Ice cream is like this mystical food we eat to instantly feel better. It has such a prominent place in our lives. A simple joy to be cherished by everyone.

It's also a great way to beat writer's block.



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luv2xacosta
Yes I used to do that as well. It actually helps and aside from that when you go back to work, it just motivate you to create stories. It really freshen our mind and help us to relax.

When doing some exercise, it releases all my stress and it clear my mind so when getting back to work everything runs smoothly.



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Kakashi2020
Sometimes watching a really good movie cures my Writers Block and gives me a lot of fresh ideas. That's why I like watching feel good movies like romantic comedies and hero type of movies.



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Enyi
The sure way out is to go out and see nature and try to relate with nature to relax. Writer's block will definitely come one way or the other but overcoming it will just be the way forward for writers.



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nrnlss
It is really hard to have a writer's block, especially if you are near the article's deadline. In my case, I drove around town with soft music and roll the window a bit. It helps me relax, meditate and think. The idea and the will to write won't come instantly but it helps me pick up bits by bits idea.



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amelia88
Oooh, going for a drive is a good idea! I often go for walks but sometimes when the weather is bad I should drive to try and free myself of writers block too.



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nrnlss
It is really effective to me, it's like when the wind hit your face the ideas rush through your brain bit by bit.



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Enyi
It isn't about writer's block only in everything we do we are bound to go through some level of boredom so to levelled up one just need to know what kicks in excitement and motivation to be able to work excitedly again.



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knnon
Usually when I suffer from writer's block I try and relax for a few minutes and go out for some fresh air. Clearing your mind and relaxing yourself will do wonders as you'll now have room for a new inspiration. I try to tap into that new inspiration by listening to music or looking at art pieces. Of course not everyone is the same, some may find music a bit distracting so just look for something that works well for you.



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DenisP
My approach to dealing with writer’s block is an incredibly hard and arduous method, but I guarantee it will pay off if you can stick with it.

What is my secret to dealing with writer’s block? Leave the work alone. Save whatever text you wrote, close the word processor, and leave your computer. Forcing creativity never works. The reader is going to be able to tell when something was forced or came naturally.

Whenever I get stuck, I leave it alone, and go do something else for a little while. I’ll play some video games, go on a walk, wash the dishes—anything. 99% of the time I get some sort of idea while I’m doing the other activity, and if nothing else, my ideas flow better once I actually return to the work.



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amelia88
Had to do this the other day. I literally had the most unproductive day because I couldn’t seem to focus on any one task at all - so I just said screw it and did other stuff that day — not work related at all.

The next day I cranked out everything I needed to do and more. Worked well! Sometimes just saying screw it is necessary and actually helps your productivity in the long run.



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DenisP
It’s just a simple fact that sometimes there is something that prevents our brains from entering the kind of productive work mode that we want them to be in. Whether it’s our hormones, metabolism, or the weather—I don’t know what it is but some days I simply feel like someone scooped out my brain while I was sleeping and now I have nothing to work with.

Those days are the ones where I have to say screw it all and just do whatever feels right at the time. More often than not, a break is all it takes to get things in working order once again.



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ajahcuizon
Whenever I'll experience writer's block, what I usually do is that I'll let go of anything that is on my hand, stand up and stretch my body out. I believe that writer's block usually come because our mind has a lot of things to think causing us to get confused and that may be the cause of our writer's block. But I am still in the stage of developing so I won't say that I am that perfect when it comes to writing because I am not.



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theresajane
What I always do is to stop thinking and stop writing. I let myself stare blankly at the window and let my thoughts be drifted anywhere. I just let my mind and body relax through those techniques.



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Barida
That's the best thing to do as you may get it wrong if you continue to push to write. I mean it is not always easy but as long as my productivity level is right, I always push to do well on that.



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jpk0007
Well writing is an art which requires a lot of skill. Sometimes one may experience a total blackout or complete shutting down of our mind when it comes to coming up with new ideas for your writing work. Whenever i experience a Writers block i try to take a break from my work for some time and try to concentrate my mind on doing something else. At times i like to go for a small walk outside. Sometimes I prefer to listen to my favorite music or watch a film and then eventually return back to my work feeling refreshed and recharged,



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Barida
I listen to music most times to prevent this kind of issues with writers block. The reason is that I always want something that will keep me on a high when I make contents everyday.



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Barida
Taking a rest is the best thing that I always try to do when I am faced with this kind of situation. The fact being that it is not always easy for me to keep writing when I know that my mind is pretty weak to do so. So, in most cases, I always take a break and recharge my batteries for the future duties.



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overcast
Indeed taking break and then planning the writing exercise. That approach or method can be a good option. I have seen the writers block affecting the people in many ways. They seem to have lost the touch with writing in that case. It takes regular practice I am guessing.



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Bravosi
Hey there!

I can relate to your problem, honestly. I've had this many times.
Personally, there's nothing you can do about it. Many authors would stop writing their books due to that block, in order not to ruin them with haste. It's something that time will tell, ya' know? With time you'll know how to proceed, because maybe you'll have extra ideas.



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Jeane
Many authors would stop writing their books due to that block, in order not to ruin them with haste.

Forcing yourself to keep going when your passion is gone certainly never is a good idea because you'd afterwards have to do a lot of rewriting. I've heard of writers who took as much as six years to finish writing their novels because writers block was the one obstacle that stopped them from completing them sooner.



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astraherondale
I first try to keep my mind away from the writing task. I take a break and distract myself. I watch a light show, listen to music, spend some time in the garden, play with my pets, browse the internet. Once feeling lighter, I try to reorganize my thoughts, read some inspirational works, and give my ideas a try.



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Steve5
That's a great way to do things. Not only will you be able to get more work done, your writing also has more quality. A well rested mind is empowered to create good content. It's no wonder that free time actually enhances our overall performance.



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cmoneyspinner
Fortunately I don't get writer's block very often. And since I don't. When it happens … I just let it happen. I figure sometimes my brain just needs to take a break. It doesn't last very long. Not my writer's block anyway. Whew! Lucky lucky lucky lucky!



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iambeth
I usually take a power nap when I'm having writer's block. Taking a short nap clears my head and refreshes my thoughts. It also makes me more alert after so I can continue with my work.



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coolavender
I think the more you think of writer's block, the more likely it is to happen to you. In some cases, writers use it as an excuse for laziness or procrastination. Thankfully, the real writer's block rarely happens to me. I'm more of a content writer and I usually create an outline for most of my writing assignments. It provides direction for my research and it has helped me focus on my work. When it does hit me, I just take a nap or do some relaxing activities like giving the dog a bath or helping my child with his DIY projects.



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agbuyarashel
Yeah I am no writer but I still try hard to write hahahha. There really are times that there's no ideas and my imagination does not seem to work.
In my case, it's because I feel pressured of the due date or quota that I have to meet unlike before that I'll just write whatever I feel writing.



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jaymish
Most use writing as a means to make money. However many don't understand that writing is an art just like drawing, music, acting or painting. Unless you take writing as a craft then you don't have any writers block. Commercial writing involves copying someone else's work and coming up with your own version. True writing involves process, pain and inspiration. When I get writers block I take a breathe, rest and try to get re-inspired by taking a walk in the park, going to art exhibitions or by simply staying at home and watching a movie.



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ajahcuizon
I agree. Talking a walk or going to museums can help us to get over with writers block. It is because it is way for us to relax our minds and let go of negative things that cause us this writers block.



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Youngshark
If you are an exercise person then I guess that the best way you can spend such time is by going to the gym.



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ajahcuizon
Well, that is a great idea. I just hope that there's a gym near to our vicinity. That may help me to think while doing workout which can also help with my diet.



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Youngshark
A gym is also better as you said by assisting to keep you fit. You will essentially be killing two birds with the same stone.



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ajahcuizon
That's a good idea. Thanks. The mext time that I'll have writer's block, I'll try to go to the gym instead.



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Franzel2oo
I sometimes marvel at those who speak of writing as the most pleasurable experience on earth. For me, the process is hard and grueling. You have to think to the last strand of hair on your head, and then think some more. Going out and doing something fun sounds like a great way to let your mind relax and let the tension go. A great way to deal with writer's block.



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Youngshark
Hahaha my friend I understand your feelings. There are especially those periods when you feel like your head will blow up after working on a long write up.



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Kakashi2020
Sometimes when I get writers block I would call my friends out for a night of fun and drinking. We would go to our favorite bar and eat, drink and just chill out until it's way past midnight. Sometimes relaxation and some alcohol can unblock a writer's mind.



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Martinsx1
Swimming in a hot afternoon is something that I have grown very fond of and I use it as a get away when I have writer's block while trying to get some work done in the afternoon.

Once I get the little nudge of writer's block in the afternoon, I will sneak off to the pool and chill out in the water.



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Franzel2oo
The picture of that alone seems to have cleared my mind already. Swimming is a great way to let loose and exercise with a touch of relaxation. I'll definitely try that in the future, just right after I learn how to swim.



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amelia88
I’d love to be living somewhere where I could go out for a swim to clear my mind! I live in a mountainous area right now that gets very snowy in the winter months, so going for a swim right now is just a dream!



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emiaj55
Well from where I live there are a lot of swimming pools. Unfortunately, none of which is mine. So going for a swim whenever I hit writer's block is a dram for me as well. Haha. Oh, the life a writer dreams!



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theresajane
I agree with you. Since you're mind is tired, relaxation is the best way to cure it like a medicine.



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Martinsx1
Taking a little break from working is the best way to deal with having or experiencing writer's block.

The little break helps my brain to calm down and relax from the work stress and get back better all good to go.



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amelia88
Sometimes taking a break is the biggest and best thing you can do. If I just sit at my computer when I'm having a writer's block moment, I find myself getting more frustrated - and less able to work!

Fresh air, a nice walk, or even breaking things up by watching a TV show or something is super helpful for me.



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theresajane
That is the very basic yet very effective way of dealing with writers' block. Though we have different ways of doing it, the common thing will always be "relaxation".



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amelia88
That’s it! Whatever helps you to de-stress and relax away from your writing is helpful. It may constitute different things for different people but at the heart of it all is just having the ability to be able to chill out for a while.



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emiaj55
Well, the first thing to do when you hit a block is to grab a chocolate snack bar...or anything sweet. Have a bite. Sugar could boost your mental faculties. If it didn't work for the next 30 minutes, the next thing to do is stop. Not quit but stop. It is never wise to continue when creative juices have just stopped working. Unconsciously, it is the body's way of telling to have a break. So go, save whatever you have written and put it away. Then go out a little, and think other things. It will come to you eventually. But if you think about it too hard, then chances are, it won't. So worrying about it would only prolong the process.

Think of it not as a block. Treat it instead like an elevator wait. It might take you long, but it'll come.



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amelia88
Oh, a chocolate boost (or some kind of sweet treat) definitely acts as a good motivator for me. I guess it’s the sugar that manages to perk me up quite a lot when I’m going through the writers block slump!



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Franzel2oo
I had no idea sugar could boost one's mental faculties. It's a good trick for writers to know and have handy. It's best to have more than one trick up your sleeve. I also like how you say to "Treat it instead like an elevator wait."



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emiaj55
Well whether sugar could really boost up your mental faculties as a whole is still arguable. Some experts would say that they do not really. But still others would say that they do some boosting. But I personally experience a boost of creativity and focus when I have a snack bar. Maybe it different for others also.



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overcast
Only cure to writers block is writing. There is no other way. And you just can't skip past it. Like exercise, you get fatigue after some days. So you have to write consistently. And make sure to have proper writing daily routine. That is how the writers block can be set in that case. I hope you can see how that may work for you if you try to do the same.



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amelia88
Interesting approach! Sounds like you see writing almost like a muscle that needs continuous exercise and training to be able to perform at its best.



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Franzel2oo
The thing is how do you write when the words just won't come to you? If you are able to tunnel your way through writer's block by continuing to write, I must commend you for being able to achieve such a fit. I actually tried this method once and I simply ended up wth two things only: a lot of gibberish and a bad headache.



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esteban123
It is really hard to be in that kind of situation since we cannot do things properly due to that writer's block. I think it is really important to have a proper balance diet for the food that we will eat so that our brain would function correctly since it will be feed with great nutrition that we really need to achieve a good article writing. We need to stay healthy at ll times and avoid those bad habits that might damage our brain and can distract our concentration in our writings.



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Barida
Eating right is pretty okay when we are trying to write. This is one of the ways that we can say that we are doing the things that are okay when it comes to making contents as well.



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gutzman
I think everyone of us at some point did experience writer's block. Its either we do not have the motivation to write or sometimes we are very eager yet there's no idea coming out of our creative minds. What I do is listen to relaxing music. I also try to relax or have a nap. Refreshing your mind is the key to get out of writer's block.



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Steve5
Listening to good music can help improve our mood. We're often not at our best. Especially, during stressful days. Choosing calm music brings us to a sense of peace.



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emiaj55
I agree, calm music is what does the magic. I accidentally tuned in to a live podcast one time it did not help me at all. It just made me more annoyed.



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Steve5
I guess it's not for you. Podcasts aren't suitable for stressful times. Soft melodies can ease your frustrations and mental stress from time to time. Relaxing music can easily be found online like YouTube.



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emiaj55
I guess not.

I do not use Youtube much when I work. I always get distracted of ads popping between my music every other minute. And it happens two to three times if I stream an hour long calm music. I often have to download my music first to prevent distractions.



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luv2xacosta
I try to go on a vacation especially going to beach because it calms me. Beach gives me a positive vibes that i will forget all my problems and stress. I will clear my mind just feeling the breeze of the cool air, watching the sunset and sunrise gives a relaxation from writing. These kind of scenery helps me also to gives new ideas for my next story.

I also meditate and do some yoga because it can also help me to focus and release all the negative vibes that's in my body which causes writers' block. It can also clear your mind and find peace within yourself.



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amelia88
Coming back from a vacation always leaves me feeling invigorated and ready to tackle my work again. I just wish that I had the money to be able to go on vacations more regularly! If I could, I'd go somewhere every month or two!



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esteban123
Yes I agree that we need to eat right since food is a motivator for our brain to function well, we cannot come up with a great idea if our brain lacks the necessary nutrients that it needs to stay motivated to work for the day. Giving enough rest for our brain is also a must to relieve from so much stress because thinking too much is not also good for our brain.



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Franzel2oo
I agree esteban123. Rest is the brain's greatest medicine. Strangely, it happens to be one thing that writers tend not to get enough of. I think this is because their minds often wonder about trying to find the next big idea, or constantly trying to figure out one they are currently working on. Having enough rest is a sure good way to refresh the brain and beat writer's block.



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esteban123
Rest is really very important to our mind and body, we should prioritize such activity so that we will not encounter such writer's block whenever we are writing on our articles. Sometimes I do play some few mobile games for me to feel relax and have unwind for my self even i n just a few minutes only.



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jaybee19
Personally, I just stop. I stop to relax my brain. Often times, I find myself listening to music to feel the rhythm and maybe the feel of the music because it might give me an inspiration. Also, I eat a lot of food especially chocolates to gain more energy. However, the most important I believe is to sleep even just for a quick nap because it might help your brain to relax better.



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Judas2018
Normally I just put off the writing project until my writer juices start to flow right. No sense in forcing it, and creating a bad or subpar final product.



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Bravosi
Hey there Judas, once again.
But what do you do if the writer's block just won't go away? Personally I've had that issue few times, I would just leave what I was previously doing hanging for a few weeks and months, until it got forgotten and forsaken by me. And all because of that block. Ideally I think you should write when everything is "hot".



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romyter013
This is true. What I do, I make sure to have a break because its like my body and mind reminding me to have a break. I prepare coffee, prepare my favourite snack to help me get back in track again. And I play my best instrumental music list on my spotify. David Benoit, Steve Oliver and EWF mellow hits just right to help me work again. And another cup of coffee again.



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esteban123
Listening to some music is a good idea whenever we are experiencing some writer's block because it helps our brain to feel relax for a while.Sometimes I am playing some of my favorite love songs so that I can have a mood for the day. Whenever I feel that I am already fine and ready to work again then In just stop listening to music and start to work again on my articles.



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JBeleren
When I am suffering from writer's block I go on a road trip, driving around our city during the wee hours with no traffic relaxes me and eases my mind. While driving I would play a playlist of my favorite songs and sing along to them and just let loose. I would then stop at a 24 hour restaurant or kiosk and eat whatever is available before going back home and give my work a try again or sleep and work again in the morning.



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esteban123
Sometimes I would take a nap whenever I am experiencing some writer's block at some time because it really helps me a lot to have a creative idea in my article writing. I can think well after having a nap which is really good because it gives me a lot of benefits and I can easily focused on what I am doing.



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angie828
If I have writer's block, I take a break. Walk away from the computer and do something fun. Or play with my cats. Then I return back to the computer and get ready to write. If by chance, I am still not into it, I may ask my husband for some input. Sometimes, you just have to accept the help from someone else as they may see or think of something that you have not.



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mhingnhormz
How do you deal with writer's block: It is normally experienced ij everyone. Our mund need to risk to not only our body don't push your physical or emotional well being more than its limitation. When I experiencing it i usually eat an icecream to calm my mind while playing a music. This is the way that my mind go relax at all.



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helena1
I work as a writer and writers block is one of the worst things ever. I personally like to give myself a break and find other things to do for a while so if possible I take days off and completely switch off from writing. That usually helps. I've also figured that most of the reasons why my writers block seems to appear is because the environment I work in, my co-workers seem to be noisy and sometimes home office doesn't still get you in the mood of writing, so I feel like I need to find my own private writing space. I found this room in room solution, I've tried it once before and it's like my own writing space where I can truly focus and get in the mood of writing. But it's different for everyone. If you're stuck on finding words to use you can always google and for ideas you can read what other people have written about similiar topics.



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kevintaylor78
I'm a literature criticist so I know everything about writing. Writer's block is not a problem at all if you have enough info to do it. I would recommend looking up for essay writing tips on https://studyfy.com/writing-guides...and-effect-essay. I've been creating articles for this website for quite a while so some of those hints are coming from yours faithful. You can also write me directly if you're planning on writing a book, I will help.



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milaniagreen
I think everyone has had a spelling problem at least once. The approach to teaching is changing, now students increasingly want to pay attention to what is really interesting, and delegate the writing of scientific papers to specialized services like https://writemyessays.me/



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