It’s out there, lurking… waiting to strike. The arch nemesis of every writer, that awful limbo of running out of things to say, where every sentence you write seems forced and off kilter, where the cursor winks at you expectantly – the dreaded blank page.

Writer’s block is no fun, but you can overcome it. Everyone has their own technique that works for them, but there are some basic exercises that are helpful to almost everyone to get their creative juices flowing again.

The key to overcoming writer’s block is to let yourself become inspired. First of all, relax, empty your mind of your stress, forget timetables and shut off the computer.

Read one of your favorite books again, watch a movie that makes you cry, put on some music that stirs your emotions, then take a long walk through your neighborhood and soak in everything – imagine writing about your surroundings.

A good stop off would be your local art museum. Often, observing the creativity of others helps to spark your own. Look at the paintings and sculptures; try to see their hidden meaning, imagine writing about what those artworks say to you.

If none of these things work, sit down with a pen and paper and begin writing down words and synonyms to those words, branch off and start writing what those words make you think of. Jump, Hop, Skip, Child, Baby, Mother, Pregnant, Love, Touch, Feel, Cry…

This exercise stimulates your brain into a creative pattern. If you get stuck, start over with a new word. Wall, Barrier, Shield, Sword, Soldier, Knight, King…

Taking a nap and a long shower or bath can also be productive. Writer’s block is often just your mind’s way of telling you that it needs a rest.

As already stated, the key to overcoming writer’s block is to allow yourself to become inspired so do whatever inspires you.