I don’t often offer advice on writing. Authors work in very different ways – and I don’t claim to have found the perfect approach. However, many writers report that they sometimes suffer from the dreaded “writer’s block”, and here I have a technique that has often helped me.

The twenty-minute rule
Whenever you sit down to write, keep it up for at least twenty minutes (set an alarm if you like). Even if the writer’s block has taken hold, and you can’t write a single word. Even if you’re just staring at a blank page – keep staring for twenty minutes.

Because here’s the trick: You may well find that the bad spell lifts after a while – and suddenly, you’re writing. Before the twenty minutes are up, you may be into a writing session that you’re quite satisfied with. But even if you only manage a few words, it’s still better than not writing at all. And if nothing happens, feel free to quit – you can always try again tomorrow. And the day after. I promise: One day, you’ll be writing again.

(And remember: The twenty minutes are a minimum. If you do break the spell, keep going for as long as you like!)

The second twenty-minute rule
The second rule just dawned on me the other day. Because we can only write for so long – sometimes, we need a break. But here’s the thing: Breaks of around twenty minutes are just perfect.

It’s long enough to clear your head and return to your writing with a fresh set of eyes. But more importantly: It’s not too long. If – as it often happens – new ideas for your story pop into your head, you will still be able to remember them until you get back.

So whenever you need a break, make it brief: Have a cup of tea, go outside for a breath of fresh air. But don’t go on a lengthy shopping spree or a TV binge. Make it back to your writing within twenty minutes – and you may have a head full of fresh ideas.

Those are my two twenty-minutw rules. I hope they work for you – and let me know what you think.