Hacking Writer's Block

Lots of ideas for getting past writer's block in this post from 43folders.com. And great responses in the comments that add even more food for thought.  For me, writer's block = procrastination + distraction.  When that happens, I try to tackle the work a digestible bite at a time so I can see I'm making progress and negotiate in breaks for reaching important milestones. 

The suggestion about unplugging your router is dead on for me, and I even liked Andrew's comment that a computer with just a word processor can help.  I've also found that I'm much more effective if I also turn off as much background noise as possible -- even instrumental music cuts into my concentration.

At least for my non-fiction work, being at a loss of what to write next usually just means I didn't prepare properly. I find it's a lot easier to start with a very fast and rough outline, which gives me a road map for where I'm going and starts my brain thinking about how I'm going to get there.  If I get stuck on one section, I can always shift to another for a while and then come back.