Here's an unusual tip to clear writer's block

As well as proofreading and editing, I also enjoy writing fiction. So, I’ve definitely experienced writer’s block.

Sometimes creativity takes a nosedive, and I just can’t envision where to go next. And some days, it’s difficult to get into writing at all, even if I know where I want the story to go. In these situations, my first go-to is to either:

• Switch writing projects – I always have a few on the go at once, so I don’t get bored or burned out.

• Start writing anything at random, with no pressure: a poem, a single scene, or just nonsense.

But still – what can we do when we’re out of both motivation and ideas?

Here’s my (slightly unusual) tip:

💡 When inspiration has left the building, head to Distributed Proofreaders for a spot of volunteer proofreading.

What is Distributed Proofreaders?

Distributed Proofreaders was founded in 2000. The folks there preserve public-domain written works by converting scans of the originals into e-book format. The e-books are then published by Project Gutenberg.

Distributed Proofreaders uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to convert the scans to e-books. But OCR is far from perfect, so volunteers are required to help with proofreading and formatting. This is made really easy as it’s all done one page at a time, within the browser. Each e-book is checked by several pairs of eyes, via multiple proofing and formatting rounds.

Ok great! But where does the inspiration boost come in?

Apart from being a genuinely useful and satisfying activity, volunteering with Distributed Proofreaders can result in unexpected side effects like an inspiration boost or sudden, new ideas.

Every day, the folks at Distributed Proofreaders change the assortment of works available for proofreading. This is because there are so many volunteers working on each project at once, so progress – at least in the initial stages – can be fast.

This means you can end up working on a different text each time. And although you can check the genre of each title before heading in, for me at least, the content often turns out to be nothing like what I had expected! Usually I’m pleasantly surprised, but if you do encounter one that you’re not so keen on, you can simply switch to another text.

With Distributed Proofreaders, not only do I often end up reading something entertaining, but it can result in unexpected inspiration. I often only need to read a few pages before this happens; simply diving into a random world or subject often does the trick. Maybe it resets some switch in my brain.

I’ve encountered authors with wicked perspectives, unusual ideas, and sometimes surprising points of view considering the various eras in which works were written. I’ve also entered fantastical worlds and experienced everyday slices of life from the past.

If a text does pull you in, you can sign up to be alerted when it’s ready for Smooth Reading (a final proofread of the e-book before it’s posted to Project Gutenberg) or when it’s posted to Project Gutenberg itself. Then you can read the entire book!

How long does it take to get started with Distributed Proofreaders?

You can start immediately and gain enough experience to venture out of the Beginner projects – and into an abundance of choice! – in just a few days.

You’ll be assigned a mentor to help you at the beginning, and each book gets a dedicated thread in the forum. This way, you can ask questions or discuss the book you’re working on with the project lead, and the rest of the team.

The forum is also a great community in general, with plenty of fun and interesting discussions for you to join.

Am I affiliated with Distributed Proofreaders?

Nope. I just think it’s really cool!

Although I’d been downloading and reading books from Project Gutenberg for years, I’ve only been volunteering with Distributed Proofreaders since June 2023. I wish I’d come across it sooner.

Of course it’s not for everyone, but if you’re tempted and have the necessary skills, I’d recommend giving it a try. It’s satisfying work and you can give it as much, or as little, time as you want. It helps to preserve literary works for future generations, and if you’ve ever used Project Gutenberg, you might enjoy being part of the process.

Finally, volunteering with Distributed Proofreaders might just clear that writer’s block, and finally provide you with the inspiration boost you’ve been looking for!

First image by me, second image by Egor Lyfar on Unsplash.