I hadn’t written in months.
Months.
To be completely honest, I had thought I was actually illiterate at this point. Nonetheless, I tried to write on multiple occasions. But every time, I would scrape together a couple crappy sentences and vividly picture the scene in my head. Then I would stare blankly at the document, and promptly close the tab while pondering my existence.
But then I found the tips that saved me. The things that helped me strangle and brutally kill my crippling writer’s block in cold-blood.
Write Fanfiction
Wha-
I’m not that type of per-
That’s so stu-
Why would I-
No but seriously, it is so helpful. This is more so for those who have trouble coming up with ideas that inspire them to write. As well as those who spend a grand majority of their time consumed by various fandoms.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a similar problem: You want to write, but don’t know what.
*Raises hand*
And so I have the solution for you- write fanfiction. Let it be cringy. Let it be bad. Write an already existing scene from a different character’s perspective (you don’t have to write any of your own dialogue!). Write an alternate ending. Just write something.
For me at least, fanfiction is a lot easier to write than my own stories. I already know the characters, I know the world, I know the ships. It’s a lot less effort than writing your own story. You don’t have to worry about the world-building, or learning for yourself who the characters are, because you already know!
And here’s the magic of it: if it ends up really good, you can alter a few key components and write your original story off that scene.
So really, give yourself permission to write fanfiction and leave the mindset of ‘fanfiction isn’t real literature’. Because it is actually, real literature. Some of the best stories I’ve ever read have been fanfiction.
Not that I-
All we’re trying to do is get you to begin to write again. And if your ego takes a hit because of it, you know what, I’m not sorry.
Write in Comic Sans
I know, I know, I’m sorry.
Even just writing that title feels mildly profane. Give me a chance, okay? Let me explain myself a bit here.
There’s just something so disarming about using the ridiculous font. Especially for the perfectionist in me, it helps me feel freer to make mistakes. I’ve found myself not editing every individual line while writing, which caused a huge improvement in my writing flow.
Give it a try, and see how much more you write when you don’t feel the need to make it look so visually appealing. Let it be choppy. Let it be messy. Just remember to change the font before showing anyone 🙂
So that’s it, that is how I overcame my nearly year long writer’s block.
Hopefully this helps some poor distraught soul in need of a friend. You got this!