Have you ever reached a stage during a story, article, or blog post where you just can’t think of anything to write? You have the topic. You may even have a complete outline. But you come up empty when trying to pull it all together?
That’s what’s been happening to me all this week. I have topics for articles and podcasts. I even have beautiful outlines. Beyond that, I have nothing!
When words fail me, I have several tricks to get unstuck.
1. DECLUTTER
I believe in Bejamin Franklin’s quote, “A place for everything, everything in its place.” To me, clutter is anything that isn’t in its place. When I’m feeling stuck, there is always clutter that needs my attention. I believe it arrives when I’m in the flow. When the words are flowing, I think of nothing else, and my environment can get messy.
So when I’m stuck, it’s the perfect time to clean and put everything back in its designated location. It also helps that decluttering doesn’t take too much brain power. I can continue to work through the article or story, taking brief breaks to jot down the important points I fear I will forget.
Okay, I admit I sometimes don’t finish cleaning. But cleaning wasn’t the point. The goal was to regain the writing flow.
2. CHANGE LOCATIONS/PET A DOG (Or Both)
Sometimes, sitting at my desk is counterproductive, and keeping my butt in the chair, pushing through the dry spell, is the worst thing I can do. Grabbing my laptop and moving to the couch in the living room can sometimes clear away the cobwebs.
It can also signal to my dog that a petting session is imminent. That’s the chance I take, but it’s often worth it. Spending time with my dog can relieve the stress that being stuck may cause. And if she gets some much-needed attention, it’s a win for both of us.
3. MOVE YOUR BODY
Here’s one I don’t normally share. When I feel like I can’t sit still any longer—that sitting and staring at the screen is torture — I will turn on some music and dance around my office. On certain occasions, I will even sing. (This applies only when no one is within hearing range. I wouldn’t want to torture anyone just because I’ve hit a dry spell.)
4. SWITCH TO ANOTHER CREATIVE OUTLET
My small home features an art studio where most would have a dining room. This is where I give myself permission to just “play” with colored pencils or paint to awaken the little kid inside and see what new ideas present themselves. I allow myself to make a mess and to have fun without actually producing anything.
When you give your inner child time to have fun, to be silly without judgment, it can ignite your creativity.
5. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE MESSY
Another way I allow myself to be messy is to let random words flow. I will either jot down a few words, or if I’m really stuck, I will get out the dictionary (yes, a physical book), and flip to any page and pick a word. I will do this four or five times, then see if I can create a cohesive sentence, or see if the words spark a unique story.
This trick sometimes leads to my next project. Or it may provide a good laugh if I come up with a funny headline. Regardless, the tension has eased, and I can resume work.
6. REARRANGE FURNITURE
This one is extreme, but if I’m really stuck, rearranging furniture can make it feel like I’ve moved into a new place. Sometimes, a new locale is exactly what’s needed. It’s more than moving to another room or heading to the local coffee shop; it feels like starting a new life.
This is another one I rarely share. Believe me, I’ve had to suffer through a lot of teasing from friends and family because my home never looks the same from one visit to the next. However, it helps give me a fresh outlook—plus my place is clean and organized!
The only issue with this trick is that you may get unstuck halfway through renovations. If so, no worries. It’s something you can restart if you get stuck again.
7. REVISIT PAST WORK
One last thing you can try is to revisit a previous attempt at a story or article. Your notes or unfinished manuscripts may contain ideas that didn’t work before but could be valuable now. What do you have to lose? If nothing else, you will see how far you’ve come in your writing journey.
Those are my tricks. Do you have tricks of their own to get through the “stuck” phase? I’m always willing to try something new. Add your tricks—or thoughts—in the comments.