Perhaps you have a strict deadline coming up on a project you haven't yet finished. Perhaps you want to finish your novel because you are just so close. Or perhaps you just haven't posted anything to your blog in months and don't want people to think that you've died. (Ahem) Whatever the reason, you need to write something, but you feel that you just can't. Something is there, preventing you from getting words onto the paper or screen, and whatever words do end up there just seem like garbage to you. This is the dreaded "writer's block". I am sure you've heard the phrase before. It passes on from generation to generation in legend like some fearsome mythical beast that no one has been able to conquer for good, so we all must bear the curse at one point or another. But you can't bear it. You must write. The universe won't wait on you forever.
So, how can you write something worthwhile when you have the block? Well, you can't- at least, not in the traditional sense. It's mostly because the thought of the writing is looming over you, and you may feel like it is taunting you because of your block. That makes you feel even worse, and it just snowballs from there. You can try to channel this negativity into your writing by writing about the block in either a metaphorical sense or a literal one (like I'm doing right now!), or you can use this time of word-constipation to focus on other things that will move your project forward, such as research, world-building, or character development exercises.
Of course, if you want to just forget about your project altogether for a little while, you can read the work of other authors. I know that reading is preached a lot in the writing community, but exposing yourself to many different authors and writing styles really does improve your own writing, and it may even spark a little inspiration in you! But if reading a book is too daunting a task during this time, as seeing words on paper may just make you feel more frustrated about your own lack of producing good work, listening to music is an excellent way to take in the words of another creative mind without having to strain your eyes or consciously tell yourself that the book in your hands is not your own. The best part about music is that you don't have to concentrate very hard on it. You can listen to it while doing something completely different like sewing, taking a shower, or browsing the Internet. Music has been a major source of inspiration for me in my own writing, spurring me on to deciding on a title for something that reminds me of some lyrics, or coercing me into writing entire poems around certain theme that is explored in one of my favorite songs. (See the poems "The Depths", "Immortal", or "Tea and Mushrooms" in my book, Solitary Tree and other poems. All three were inspired by the band maudlin of the Well. Their lyrics and sound have a sort of Gothic surrealism to them that really speaks to me and the style of literature I enjoy producing.)
That said, you can't put off your project forever. As I mentioned before, you can focus your efforts on building the bones of the work, but many of us are long past that stage when we are hit with the block. So, what can we do? Well, try adding a little spice to your story by working in your real life experiences and hobbies. My college professor (gods, that was three years ago already!) told me that he brought a little notebook with him wherever he went so that he could jot down anything funny or interesting someone would say or do and tinker with it a little later until it fits into the context of his story. The world is a strange place; you never know what you are going to see, so something mundane that happens during your day could turn into a great scene in your story. Adding your hobbies into the story should be a no-brainer. Many writers already do this. A writer with a love for unsolved mysteries or serial killer documentaries, for example, will likely use this knowledge in a mystery novel or a gritty science fiction. A writer with a love for history or other cultures may write a historical fiction or else create his own world, drawing from aspects of different cultures around our own world to give a rich history to the land he has created.
The last strategy I have for overcoming the block is to always have some kind of notepad or phone that you can type something on- always. I even take my phone with me to the bathroom. Why? Well, certainly not to talk to anyone, rather I always seem to get ideas when I am in the shower. Not every time I shower, of course, but more often than not I find that letting my mind wander while I stand beneath the warm stream of water allows me to find something that I was not about to before. So, as soon as I get out and wrap myself in a towel, I grab my phone and begin typing away in my notepad whatever little tidbits I could come up with- usually it is just a conversation between characters, which I play in my head like a movie while I'm in there. I will also keep my phone by my bed in case inspiration strikes me during the night. A lot of writers have claimed to do their best work at night. This is because the mind goes through cycles of sleep and works differently during those times than when we are fully awake, so keep this in mind when you are dealing with the block!
If none of these things work for you, and the block is continuing to haunt you like those student loans that we don't like to talk about, just wait. Seriously, wait it out. Your talent for writing will never leave you completely. Sometimes, it just takes a while for you to produce something that you can be satisfied with, and that's okay. That is just a sign of you growing as a writer. If we were always 100% happy with what we have written, we would never get any better! If you think of it that way, the block could just be the creative side of your mind going through the angsty stages of puberty.
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