Dear Aggie: How to get unstuck    

Dear Aggie, I have writer’s block. Help! Gig ‘em, Scribe by the Sea.

Howdy, Scribe by the Sea. “I’m stuck.” A place nearly every writer finds themself all too often, whether it’s once every other week, once every other year, once in a lifetime. Writer’s block is an obstacle every kind of writer can experience. The novel writer, the journalist, the poet, the student, even seasoned academics may find themselves, quite simply and completely, stuck.

They can all struggle at any point with where to go next on a project, where to start a piece, committing ample time to their work, even what words to put down on paper to express what they’re thinking or feeling, or finding the inspiration and motivation to write at all. All these problems can be encountered in creative writing, essayistic or academic writing, journalistic writing, and so on. And often, this state of mind is deeply frustrating and can be highly stressful, especially when writing on a deadline.

Writer’s block is part of what makes writing an exhausting craft for the mind and the body, and distinguishes it from other careers. It’s one more reminder of how writing well and competently is anything but simple. Writing to the best of your ability is hard work. It demands inspiration from a writer and often the organization. It can leave your confidence shaken and cause you to feel exhausted only by smashing keys or scratching words onto paper. Writing forces you to organize your thoughts and face your emotions. It rends your soul, challenges your self-confidence. “Getting stuck” is the very last thing a writer needs, or wants.

Writer’s block can leave you feeling helpless, empty, unproductive, imprisoned in your own head, tied down to your workspace. But how can you overcome and get rid of your writer’s block altogether? Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to get yourself “unstuck,” to hit your stagnated thoughts right where it hurts, and break free from the bonds of that frustrating writer’s block. Below, you will find tips and advice this columnist offers their readers for putting an end to their struggle against writer’s block.

Change your environment. This can be as simple as cleaning your room, which will improve your frame of mind. Or, you can switch workspaces entirely to suit your needs. Do you write better with background noise? Consider taking your work to your favorite cafe. Do you write best while listening to music? By all means blast your most inspiring tunes. Do you feel inspired in the outdoors or near street-life? You might want to take your writing outside to get in your zone. Do you feel at peace in silence? Your ideal workspace might be alone in your room, or in a room away from any distractions. The possibilities here are flexible and can certainly improve your mentality so you can better focus on what you want to write.

Exercise or go for a walk. This leads to another great tip for demolishing that annoying writer’s block. Get moving. Movement, as opposed to sedentariness, is never bad for your mental health. Exercise is one of the best and most reliable ways to release frustration and stress. This doesn’t always have to be strenuous exercise, however. It can be as simple as going for a walk. This can help you refresh and reorganize your thoughts, and alleviate anxiety that commonly accompanies writer’s block. You can do yourself a big favor by working up a sweat or by just stepping out from between four walls and moving about for a few minutes.

Engage in another creative hobby. If you are particularly artistically inclined or have another creative interest, there are a number of other activities you can engage in to mitigate the imposing opponent of writer’s block. Reading, listening to music, painting, journaling, playing an instrument, even cooking, all these activities and more can get your creativity flowing, take your mind off your profound frustration, boost your confidence, open up a goldmine of inspiration, jog your ideas, and help you break the shackles writer’s block has tried to keep you.