Every writer has felt like this at one time or another. You’re chugging along with your content and things are going smoothly. The ideas are flowing. You’re feeling great.

Then, it happens. You hit the wall. The creative juices have dried up and you sit there wondering where to go from here.

It happens to the best of us. Even to the very best of us, like Ernest Hemingway. What did he do when he was feeling blocked?

He said, “There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.”

You can draw your own conclusions about what exactly he meant, but here are things you can do when you are creatively blocked.

Option 1: Get up and walk around. Scientific studies have shown the connection between creativity and exercise. The simple act of changing your scenery and getting your blood flowing has amazing benefits for your creative brain.

Option 2: Take a break. We writers can be workaholics, never stopping for hours on end. So, give your mind a break and then come back to your work later. Let your subconscious mind work and solve the problem on your behalf.

Option 3: Work on something else. The cross-pollination of ideas between projects can help you break down those creative barriers.

So, the next time you feel blocked, don’t just sit there and stare at the screen. Be proactive and start drilling and blasting. If it worked for Hemingway, it will probably work for you, too.

Today’s Challenge: The next time you feel blocked or frustrated, choose one of the three options I just mentioned.