Tools for Overcoming Writer’s Block

___

BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

___

Writer’s block happens to so many people. Feeling stuck can come on at any point in a project and slow you down. But you don’t just have to submit to it and throw in the towel. It’s important to have tools and strategies in place so you can address it and keep going. 

As a writer and productivity expert, I put together a list of tools and tricks that you can whip out when you find yourself stuck:

1) Give yourself structure for small wins.

Sometimes writer’s block comes on when you have a big project in front of you. That’s where having a clear structure can help, whether that means creating deadlines or chunking up goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Think of yourself as the producer of your project. 

That structure will help you have more opportunities to check off a goal. Those small wins can help change your mindset and give you the confidence to keep moving forward. 

This is a trick I learned when I worked in a newsroom on deadlines. I credit it with helping me avoid writer’s block!

2) Change your environment.

If you’ve been staring at your computer for hours and you’re not getting anywhere, get out of the house. Taking a walk can give you the reset you need. Let your mind wander! It’s scientifically proven to boost creativity.

It can also be useful to have a few different writing spaces, whether that’s the library or a local cafe. Even working in a different room in your home can do the trick. Studies have found that changing your location also changes your perspective, so that you bring a little something new to the work. 

3) Read a book.

Sometimes getting inspired by another author is all you need to get back into your project. I like using Goodreads to keep track of what I’m reading and what I want to read next.

You can also see what your friends are reading! I’ve gotten so inspired by books and it can really help you break through a block.

4) Do something else. 

Sometimes you really need a break. Yep — close the laptop and walk away. It might feel counterintuitive but it’s not. When you give yourself a complete break from writing or even thinking about writing, you’re recharging your energy. Bake a cake, take a jog, meet up with friends — these are all great ways to give yourself space from your work.

You might be surprised how refreshed you feel when you have some separation and perspective. 

__

__

5) Use writing prompts.

I’m a huge fan of writing prompts, and there are so many ways to use them to get inspired. I love using tarot for this (you can read all about that here). But there are lots of other ways, too — even flipping open a magazine and checking out what page you land on or scrolling YouTube to see what pops up can give you ideas. Pulling three ideas from these sources and using them to guide a beginning, middle, and end of a story is a great exercise.  

Another source of writing prompts is AI. While of course having ChatGPT write for you won’t solve the problem, you can ask it for help with personalized writing prompts. 

For example, try telling ChatGPT about what you’re working on and explain that you’re feeling stuck. Ask it directly to give you some writing prompts and see what it comes up with! 

How do you combat writer’s block?

___

BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

___