I came across this great advice for overcoming writers block from novelist Philippa Gregory. She writes historical fiction — but this advice is applicable for anyone stuck on a long piece or a long problem. When you are facing writer’s block, she says in this video clip, you must frighten your subconscious mind into giving in. She says that she packs sandwiches and some tea, and then tells her subconscious mind that she is going to walk until the problem she is stuck on smooths itself out. Whether it takes one day or three days, she tells her unconscious mind, she won’t stop until the problem is solved.
Here’s what she says about how well this works: