Beating Writers Block

Block Busting

Ideas for getting those juices flowing and getting over that ominous blank page...

Take a walk - much more effective than you might think. It's not simply about a time out. Fresh air invigorates your brain and the muscle movement releases chemicals into the bloodstream. Also, new visual stimulus will get your synapses crackling.
Freewriting - for ten minutes write non-stop, anything at all. Even if it's just the same word over and over and over again. Misspellings, sense, we care not for these things!
Work on some notes instead - less pressure, fun, and a good chance it will kick start some prose writing.
Listen to some music - engage another part of your brain to get the blood flowing.
Make a pointless rule and write to it - such as: you can't use the letter e more than once per sentence or each sentence must have an even number of words. Limits create focus and change your perspective.
Read the papers - great for ideas that nobody will ever believe are true.

Write a rant - who really got up your nose this week? What would you say to them if you could? Get those juices flowing, let the emotion pour out onto the paper.
Explain your dilemma to a teddy bear - if you can't think how to proceed, explain your problem to a soft toy. The process of formulating the problem out loud is often enough to let you see the solution.
Create a strict schedule - with short periods dedicated to writing. Stick to it. That means when it says to stop as well, even if you're in a flow.
Don't obsess when you're drafting - are you in a draft stage and worrying about word and sentence level? What on earth for? Haven't you heard of editing? Just get it down any old how and the polishing will come later.
The 20/5 technique - get yourself an egg timer, set it for twenty minutes, put it on the table and get as much done as you can in that time. When it goes off, your fingers must leave the keyword (or paper and quill or whatever). Set it for five minutes and do something else for that time.Relieve yourself, stare out the window, play with the puppy, learn a few words of Spanish, whatever. Then repeat.
Set a small, achievable goal - finishing the novel is not going to cut it. Finishing the paragraph, the page, or at most the first draft of the chapter, is a fine catalyst.
Use a photo - describe all the details of the photo.

Read more detailed ideas for getting inspired to write that novel here.