Breaking Through Writer’s Block While in Quarantine
It’s really stressful to watch as COVID-19 races through the country, infecting our friends, family members, and neighbors. It is also stressful to feel pressure to be more productive, especially with our writing, during this time.
While we cannot solve the pandemic here at Write or Die Tribe, we can help you break through the creative pressure and writer’s block you are likely feeling right now.
Try out these tricks:
Do some yoga
Getting your body moving is always a great way to either calm or stimulate your mind, depending on what you need.
If you’re feeling like you want to get some writing done in the morning, maybe try yoga beforehand. Or if you don’t start your day yoga, maybe a break for it will be exactly what you need in the middle of a writing session.
One of the best things about yoga is that it forces you to focus on your breath, which helps to calm some of the storm a lot of us are feeling right now. Hopefully, this will clear your mind so you can get back to your craft. I’ve found that Yoga with Adreine on YouTube is a great place to start.
Go for a walk
I promise not all of these suggestions will be about moving your body, but since writing is such a still activity, getting up and changing what your body is doing can help to break through some of the thought patterns that lead you to feel stuck while writing.
It doesn’t have to be a long walk—maybe just one trip around the block will be enough to get those creative juices flowing again. Just make sure to stay 6 feet away from anyone you pass by!
Write a little something in a different genre
If you’re writing prose, try writing a short poem for a change of pace. This will keep you writing while flexing your creative muscles in a different way.
Use a prompt as a warm-up
Similar to the previous suggestion, this will allow you to still write something, which might help you get back into the groove of whatever project you’re working on. But, you don’t have to come up with the inciting idea yourself; the prompt you work from has done that work for you! Check out our writing prompt page here.
Play a game
If you’re under 30, it’s likely you’re playing Animal Crossing right now. If you’re feeling creative frustration, this is a great time to take a break from your writing and be creative in-game. Make your island cuter! Build some new DIY projects for your house!
Don’t have a Switch? Well—there are plenty of affordable games you can play online that you can download right off of Steam. I’ve been playing Ticket to Ride with some of my friends from college. But there’s plenty of other games you can use to pass some time and give your mind a break.
Read!
A great way to get re-inspired is to enjoy another person’s art. Sure, movies could also help, but reading helps to take you away from the computer or TV. A lot of us are spending way more time in front of screens while in self-isolation, so why not give your eyes a break while still entertaining your mind? If you are looking for some new titles coming out this April, check out our list here.
More Ways We Can Help You Break Writer’s Block
Join a writing class: Click here to view our list of currently enrolling online classes. Also, check out Write or Die Tribe’s own 30 Days to Create a Sustainable Writing Practice course, with self-guided and creative coaching options.
Submit your finished work for publication: Why not use this time to see if you can find a home for your finished pieces? Check out this list of publications looking for your work.
Mentorship: Sometimes we just need to speak with someone who understands our art. Our mentorship program has a number of options that can keep you motivated and excited about your current projects.
About
Jessi Quinn Alperin
Jessi Quinn Alperin (they/them) is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. While there, they served as an editor for Forbes & Fifth for two years. Their poetry has been published by 70 Faces and Haunted Zine and they have also had a personal essay published in Twentyhood Magazine and two articles published for Environmental Health News. Jessi previously self-published a collection of poetry they had written between 2013-2017. They are currently a Social Justice Springboard Fellow for Oberlin College’s Hillel.