Writer's Block? 10 Techniques That Work For Me to Conquer the Blank Page
How I beat writer's block into submission, get words on the page, and avoid drowning in ice cream.
Writer’s block sucks. It’s an anxiety inducing affliction. It’s like vertical insomnia where the tossing and turning is happening in your head instead of your bed.
Blank page. Staring you in the face. Judging you.
Tik tock. Fear the clock. Soon, an hour will be gone and then two.
Still a blank page. Still judging you.
I hate that and I know I’m not alone.
It happens to us all—from beginner to pro. Your words won’t work and you’ve got no flow.
It’s enough to make you want to give up, drown yourself in a bowl of ice cream, and binge watch Friends or Farscape.
I read a discussion on Reddit on writer’s block, and I got motivated to write about it (how meta).
Before we jump right off a cliff into it, you can also take a look at how I never run out of content ideas.
And now this…
Common Causes of Writer’s Block
It’s far easier to fix a problem if you know the root cause. In some cases, you can even prevent the problem in first place.
Fear of Failure or Judgment
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Sharing your writing is hard. What if someone doesn’t like it? What if your writing isn’t good enough? Self-doubt and paralysis by analysis set in.
Perfectionism
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
If you feel the need to get everything perfect, this can shut you down. As a recovering perfectionist, I can relate.
Lack of Inspiration or Motivation
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
When ideas don’t flow or enthusiasm is scarce, your brain checks out.
Overwhelm Due to Scope or Complexity
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Large projects or complex topics can seem daunting, impossible even.
Plot or Directional Uncertainty
Applies to: Fiction
Not sure where your story is going? Feeling stuck in the plot?
Information Overload
Applies to: Non-Fiction
Research is good, but too much information can make it hard to put the pieces together.
Burnout or Mental Fatigue
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Intense focus without a break every now and then can drain your brain.
Distractions or Lack of Focus
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Interruptions, noise, or a cluttered environment can kill your writing mojo.
Unclear Purpose or Audience
Applies to: Non-Fiction
If you lack a clear understanding of your target audience or the purpose of the piece, writing becomes a challenge.
Creative Fatigue
Applies to: Fiction
Working on the same story or type of writing for too long can lead to blocks.
Emotional Blocks
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Personal issues, stress, or emotional turmoil can curb creativity and focus.
Fear of Success
Applies to: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Strangely, the prospect of success (and the pressure and responsibility that comes with it) can be just as intimidating as the fear of failure.
Does any of that sound familiar? Understanding the cause of your block may help you choose the right strategies to overcome it.
What Works for Me
I have a limited attention span and I can get frustrated with a block pretty fast. I don’t want you to drown in a bowl of ice cream, so…
Let me lay a few ideas on you that have worked for me when a stubborn story refuses to reveal itself.
1. Use Outlines
I often turn to outlines to create a smoother writing process when:
I’m fleshing out new or expanded ideas.
I’m struggling to come up with ideas.
I can’t seem to organize my thoughts.
I get stuck while writing by the dreaded block.
Fiction: Use plot outlines, a synopsis, and beat sheets (this may be hard if you’re a pantser).
Non-fiction: A simple 3 level outline can act as a writing prompt. Start high level with the main points and expand as you go.
Pro tip: Create outlines or plots for future content and store them in a swipe file (or build out your second brain).
2. Mind Map It
If you’re highly visual, use mind maps:
Turn your outline into a mind map. Start with the big idea or central point and create branches from there.
Flip it around and start with a mind map and turn that into an outline.
3. Do a Task
But-in-chair (BIC) is the writer’s creed. You don’t get completed works without doing the work.
But, if I’m blocked, I find that getting up and doing a task, any task, helps to let the creative juices flow.
Mundane tasks can refresh the brain cells. Do laundry, vacuum or sweep the floor, clean out a drawer, or take a trip to the grocery store.
4. Make Lists
Make lists or lists of lists to break out of that funky head space you're in and unlock your creative powers. It’s like a mini-brainstorming session.
Even if it doesn’t unblock you, it’s a productivity hack. You’re using otherwise wasted time to your advantage.
When the block hits you:
Stop writing your work in progress.
Get up and go get a beverage (seriously).
Break out your favorite note taking app.
For fiction writing, make lists like these:
5 ideas for my next book.
5 things [character] wants.
5 ideas for a new character.
5 ways to improve the setting.
5 things I hate about the villain.
5 things [character] does not want.
5 possible love interests for [character].
5 new plot twist ideas to surprise the reader.
5 things that happened to [character] in childhood.
For non-fiction writing, try this:
5 myths readers believe.
5 things my audience needs to know.
5 problems my readers need help with.
5 problems I have that my readers have as well.
5 ways readers can overcome [problem] using [solution].
You get the idea. Making lists like these can get your creativity flowing.
Start fleshing out each list of “5 things/ways/ideas.”
As soon as you feel the urge to go back to your work in progress, quickly switch back and keep writing.
Go back and forth as much as you need to until the block is gone or your writing session is done.
Since your main task is stuck in neutral, task switching here is beneficial.
Speaking of task switching…
5. Write Drunk, Edit Sober
This is common advice, and it usually refers to writing freely and then being ruthless while editing. But the practical application of this for me means this…
Stop editing inline. Why?
Because when you try to edit as you go, your writer brain and editor brain are in conflict. You can’t write freely if you’re constantly correcting yourself as you go.
The creator vs. the critic can’t exist in the same space at the same time.
This is huge for me since I am a compulsive edit-as-I-go person. I have a hard time letting go but when I do, things go much faster and smoother.
Just write. Edit later. It’s faster and prevents blocks before they happen.
This is one reason I’m trying to learn to use dictation. It forces you to get the words out and then clean it up later.
6. Use Questions
This is more for non-fiction but you can adapt it for fiction writing.
Answering questions gets your writer muscles going. It’s much easier to answer someone’s question than it is to start from a blank page.
Where do you get the questions to answer? They’re everywhere in online conversations:
X
Quora
Reddit
Google
LinkedIn
Blog comments
Discord servers
Substack Notes
Blog comments
Facebook Groups
Skool communities
Forums (still a thing!)
For an interesting take on the question angle, try using the Oblique Strategies card deck.
And speaking of questions…
7. Use Your Imagination
It may feel like you’re trapped in whirlpool for the duration. A slight shift in mindset, though, can open the floodgates and get you moving again.
To unblock, use questions in an imaginary conversation.
Weird, I know.
The famous author interview method works for fiction or non-fiction. The character interview trick works for fiction writing, obviously.
The famous author interview: Pick a famous author, living or dead, and pretend you’re interviewing them. Ask them questions about their writing process and how they’d overcome writer’s block. See if anything comes to the surface.
Plot twist: Pick a famous motivational guru or productivity or time management nerd, and do the same.
The character interview: For fiction, pretend you’re interviewing one of your characters. It can be any character.
It could even be a character from someone else’s story who has wandered into your fictional world.
You may feel silly doing this, but humor me here.
We’re writers. We live in our heads a lot and what better place to fix your writer’s block than in your own head?
Ask your characters questions about their:
fears
background
wants and needs
likes and dislikes
Talk to them about what their motivations are in the scene you’re writing.
Ask:
“What do you plan to do next?”
“If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be?”
Then ask: “If you were me what would you do right now to remove writer’s block?”
Having trouble world building? Can't picture the scene quite right? Have the character look around and describe what they see or what there is to do.
Try it and you might be surprised at what your characters tell you.
Plot twist: Choose a real person who is stuck in your fictional world and interview them in your head instead.
8. Use Quotes and Sayings
Keep a list of inspiring, thought provoking, or agitating quotes and sayings. Break them out when you need to smash the block to smithereens. Bonus points if you can work the word “smithereens” into your writing.
9. Tap into AI
AI has become an important part of my content creation process. I use it as my:
editor
travel planner
coding teacher
writing assistant
pair programmer
research assistant
And I don’t trust it one bit.
But, I use it where I can to give me an advantage. In the case of writer’s block, it gets me moving in the right direction.
Let’s say I’m writing a romance novel (as if). Since this is my first time writing romance, I’m stuck.
I had an idea for a story and ran with it, but a couple of pages in and my characters aren’t cutting it and my story is weak. I’m not even sure if anything I’m doing fits readers’ expectations.
My ship is lost at sea. What to do?
I would ask ChatGPT to help me right this ship with help on any of the following:
Plotting
Outlining
Characters
Tropes that fit the genre
A synopsis of a story
A few things about AI:
Unlike what some people believe, AI is not going to ruin your writing or steal your voice. You’re in control.
It doesn’t always work right or as expected. It can be a quirky beast, and sometimes it comes back with absolute junk.
With the right prompts, though, you can organize your ideas and improve your content. With AI you can confirm your suspicions, or watch new ideas come to life before your eyes.
At any given time, different AI models are better or worse at various applications of the technology. They can go off the rails quite easily, and it often takes some trial and error.
10. Writing Prompts
I have thousands of notes on a wide variety of topics that are perfect for prompting me with my fiction or non-fiction writing. They are currently (mostly) stored in Notion. My notes contain things like:
Anecdotes
Book ideas
Inspiring images
Cultural references
Fictional scene ideas
Fictional character ideas
Responses to blog posts, newsletters, and social media posts
I can break these out any time and get my creativity back in gear by searching for them by topic in Notion.
You can also use any of the websites that offer writing prompts. Some of them offer a subscription via email.
Other Substackers Weigh In
I asked for some feedback from other writers on Substack.
Amy Bee of The Wilderness Years (A Memoir)
Sometimes even forcing yourself to write a single, sh*tty sentence (5 times, ahem) can be enough to signal to your brain that you are willing.
Kathryn Vercillo of Create Me Free
I live with recurring depression and the symptoms of that are typically what might cause something like writer’s block for me. The number one thing is a combination of insomnia and fatigue that just makes it feel impossible to think, let alone write. Also symptoms including feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness … I stop seeing the point in any of it, so the motivation isn’t there to do it. So, treating the depression is really how I treat the writer’s block. For me that means medication, therapy, lots of downtime and rest, freedom of schedule, time with my dogs, time with my partner and friends and family, reading, crochet, and a lot of being gentle with myself. The healthier I am as a human, the easier it is to write consistently. That said, mostly I just write every day whether I feel like it or not because the routine keeps the pages coming.
Key Takeaways
Writer's Block Sucks: It happens to us all, from beginners to seasoned pros. Fear, perfectionism, lack of inspiration, and burnout are common culprits.
Identify the Cause: Knowing why you’re stuck can help you choose the right strategy to get unstuck.
Practical Strategies Work: Use outlines, mind maps, make lists, or switch up tasks to get the creative juices flowing.
Stop Editing as You Go: Your writer brain and editor brain don’t get along. Write first, edit later.
Use AI Wisely: Leverage AI as an assistant, but don’t rely on it blindly. It can help brainstorm, plot, outline, and summarize.
Talk to Your Characters: Have imaginary interviews with your characters or even famous authors for a whole new take.
Mix It Up: Disruptive task switching (normally bad), using quotes, or even diving into mundane activities can help break the block.
Prompts and Lists: Keep a stockpile of writing prompts, content ideas, and inspiring notes to spark your creativity.
Final Thoughts
Writer's block is every writer's worst enemy—a mental roadblock that makes you want to throw in the towel and binge-watch your favorite TV shows.
It stems from fear of failure (or success), burnout, or even too much info. Knowing the cause is crucial to beating it.
Use outlines, make lists, switch tasks, or even chat with your characters (or AI) to push through.
The key? Keep writing, even if it means putting junk on the page for now. When that doesn’t work, do the opposite and take a break. Do something to disrupt your brain by changing things up.
Next Steps / Action Items
Diagnose the Block: Determine if it's fear, perfectionism, burnout, or something else causing your writer's block.
Create an Outline or Mind Map: Start with a high-level overview and build out details, or vice versa. Store these for future use.
Make a List: Break the mental block by listing ideas, plot points, or character attributes. Use lists to brainstorm and break the inertia.
Switch Tasks: If you're stuck, get up and do a quick, unrelated task to reset your brain.
Write Without Editing: Set a timer and start writing. Don't allow your inner critic to join the party until later.
Leverage AI: Use tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming, plotting, or getting a second opinion. Remember: AI is your co-pilot, not the captain.
Conduct Imaginary Interviews: Ask your characters or a famous author how they'd tackle a scene or overcome writer's block.
Tap into Writing Prompts: Keep a stash of writing prompts handy. Pull one out whenever you hit a wall.
Keep Quotes Handy: A quote can be the spark you need. Start a collection of favorites and use them as creative fuel.
And remember, if all else fails, just write something — anything. The act of writing can be the best cure for writer's block.
I acknowledge that what works for me may not work for you. In a follow up, we'll cover more tips to break through writer's block.
Write Drunk, Edit Sober - I loved this one.
Write freely and then edit critically.
A very thorough and thoughtful list! Thanks for sharing.