What To Do When You Have Writer’s Block? (10 Ways To Get Rid Of It!)

You are in THIS situation, right?

You want to write, but you just can’t put yourself to do it physically?

Well, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, and we still are from time to time. It’s difficult to overcome it, but not impossible. Here I gathered a few tips on what to do when you have writer’s block.

Everyone is different, so I can’t tell you that everything will help you, so try them out and see what works the best on you.

Causes of Writer’s Block

Before I tell you what you can do about it, let’s see the main causes and how you can prevent yourself from getting writer’s block in the first place.

1. Timing

Maybe it’s because you don’t usually write in this time of day, maybe because you have something else to do and you think about it. Timing affects the way we do things and in what kind of mood we do it.

So yes, timing affects writing, too.

If you feel like you can’t write at this time of the day, try to change it up. Work different hours to see what works better for you. And don’t try to limit yourself by ridiculous society standards. Like everyone should work more productively from 9 to 5.

Some function better in the day, some at night. Try to work different hours in the day to see what works better for you.

2. Fear of Failure

Failing is bad, I get it! BUT, when it stops us from doing what we want to do, then we have already failed. So what’s the point of not even trying?

3. Perfectionism

Trying to write something perfect put some serious pressure on you. Because, no matter how good your writing is, there’s always room for improvement. And how can you compete with something perfect?

You can’t. You just try your best, and hopefully, that’s enough.

4. Something Happened in your Life

Maybe, you’re disappointed with something in your life, maybe you’re just burned out.

There are always things that go wrong, and there will always be. And even though this is annoying – I know it is – it’s also great. Just imagine, if everything went perfect, how boring would that be. Nothing to work for, nothing to try for.

Life is interesting because it has its up and downs. So don’t get stressed because most of the things you worry about, they won’t matter in a few months, let alone years.

5. You Don’t Like the Topic

Sometimes, the problem isn’t you, but the topic you have to write about. Now, if you decide the topic, the answer is easy. Just change it.

If you don’t, then find a way to connect with the topic. To find out why it’s important and what you can learn from it. No matter how boring a topic may seem, there may be more than meets the eye.

Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

And let’s see now the tips you came here for:

1. Don’t Overestimate it

Writer’s block isn’t that bad. Yes, it prevents you from writing, but it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes, all you need is some motivation to start writing.

Here are some memes <https://blog.reedsy.com/10-writers-block-memes-to-keep-your-book-afloat/> about it to laugh a little bit at yourself. 😀

2. Just Write

Leave aside the work you have to do, grab a notebook or your journal and write without censoring. Just write whatever comes to mind. Feelings, decisions, plans, dreams anything.

After getting everything out of mind, start writing what you should. Let’s assume it’s an article. Don’t try to make the outline or to make it perfect. Just start and see how your writing will lead you. YOu’ll have time to edit it later – don’t worry. What’s important is starting.

3. Focus

Try to increase your focus on the task you have. Distractions are your worst enemy here, so try to avoid distractions as much as you can.

Let’s see how we can make you more focused:

The Pomodoro Technique

It’s a great technique used to increase your productivity. Using it will allow you to work less while being extremely focused on the task at hand.

Brain.fm

On Brain.fm, you can find AI-generated music that will help you focus more and eliminate nearby distractions.

Go Outside

Go out with a notebook and a pen and leave your phone at home. I know, terrifying, but you can focus more and more easily on your writing.

This has a downside, though. You’ll have to write everything on your laptop again later if that’s necessary. But, you’ll still have finished the creative part, which is the hardest.

Set Deadlines

The more time you have for a task, the more it’ll take you to finish it. So set deadlines for your work to complete them earlier. To feel the pressure a little and get more focused.

Write Distraction-Free

Use editors that help you stay focused on your writing. I use Calmly Writer to keep me writing until I finish my articles.

4. Just Start

Beginning something is the hardest part of it. So, to make your life easier, just start working on your task.

Start in the Middle

You can just start in the middle of your article. Don’t worry about the intro and the outro. Just start from wherever feels more natural to you. You’ll write the rest at the end.

Start with the Easy Stuff

Do “only” the research, maybe the outline?

Well… and just fill in the ideas that come to your mind while outlining so that you don’t forget them.

Voila! First draft ready!

Mindmap

Use a mind mapping tool – I use Bubbl.us to make the outline of a blog in a fun way.

5. Practise

Do some writing exercises to get better at writing. You can find a lot online, but here are some of my favourite ones:

• Choose Your Adventure – Plot Development
• The Word Salad – Writer’s Block
• Establishing The Background – Setting Writing
• But Why? – Character Development

6. Write to a Specific Person

Write about the topic to:

• a mentor
• an idol
• another author
• someone who inspires you
• someone you want to meet someday

You don’t have to send the letter to that someone, but you can write as if you would have. If the topic is something you like, you’ll have a lot to say about that.

7. Change your Workplace

Sometimes, it’s difficult to write where we usually write. A small change once in a while doesn’t hurt anyone.

So get out and write in a different place. A library, a cafe, even on the beach or in a park if you have access to one and you’d like to try it. You’ll feel surprised by the results.

Hopefully, in a good way… 😀

8. Workout

Maybe the reason you can’t write now is that you don’t feel like sitting in one place. You have accumulated a lot of tension because you don’t exercise regularly and you need to move, so your body doesn’t let you sit any longer. Here are some things you can do to feel better:

• Run
• Go for a walk
• Listen to music while jumping around the house like a maniac and sing way off-key
• Go to a gym and workout
• Workout at home

You let off steam doing any of these; some of them more, others less. It’s your choice.

9. Read

If you get some serious writer’s block, go back. Back to why you wanted to write. WHY is a powerful word. Behind it, there’s all the motivation of the world.

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So go back and think why you started writing. Read old journals and read some favourite books. You can try reading some new books, too to get a few ideas.

10. Take a Break

Sometimes, the writer’s block isn’t just a writer’s block. It’s burnout. If you’ve worked too much the last few months, maybe this is your body’s way to tell you that you need a break. You better listen to it and take some vacation days. If you can go away for a while, so much the better.

Of course, to reach that point, you need to work a lot. Don’t start to believe that every time you don’t feel lie writing, it’s burn out. This is just laziness.

Final Thoughts

If nothing else doesn’t seem to work, maybe the problem isn’t a writer’s block, but you can’t find something to write about. Sometimes, you need some inspiration. If that’s the issue, then here are some ideas to blog about.

Let me know what you think about my tips and, if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer! Any suggestions are always welcome, so tell me about topics you’d like me to write.

See you next time!