When I’m at book events, writers ask me for advice about many things.  One of the most common questions is: how to overcome writer’s block?

I’m not sure what that means to each writer because it’s different for different people.  Are they unable to write anything?  Is it hard for them to write regularly?  Or do they have to wait for inspiration before they can write anything?

Any of these could be called writer’s block.  How to overcome writer’s block is possible.  Here are some ideas:

1.  Read an excellent book by a long-time professional writer, Steven Pressfield.  It’s called, “The War of Art” at http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459703906&sr=1-1&keywords=the+war+of+art+steven+pressfield  He says that the creation of art is a war—against our human nature to be lazy, scared, and to put things off.  He recommends (and so so I) to sit down at your laptop and write.  Think about your present day job.  Many days you hate going to it, but you have to or you don’t get paid.  (Funny how that works . . .)  You just do it and, surprisingly, you actually create work—some of it very good, by the way.
2. How to force yourself will also answer how to overcome writer’s block.  Try to establish a habit of writing sometime, some place, every day.  (or week)  Psychologists researched this and found if we make something a habit, soon it becomes our normal behavior and it becomes easier the more we practice that behavior.
3. How do you get started on the first line?  Stephen King in his great book, “On Writing” also talks about how to overcome writer’s block.  He has an easy solution: give yourself permission to write a really crappy first sentence, first paragraph, and first chapter.  Getting started is the toughest part.  Editing the crap into something worthwhile is much easier.  So—just put fear aside and remember you don’t (and won’t) create something lasting on that first sentence.  But you will create something worthwhile as you edit it later.

And I promise you that you don’t have to show any of this to anyone else!!  That’s how to overcome writer’s block for me.