6 Tips to Help You Overcome Writer’s Block and Get Started Today!

Finding yourself in the midst of a particularly nagging writer’s block? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of them. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can try to get that ball (pen) rolling. Some writers can just plop down in an office chair, surrounded by various paperwork and knick-knacks, and get straight to work. The rest of us may need a little kick in the tushy to kick it into high gear and produce some written gold. If this sounds like you too, keep reading for some actionable tips to help you get started – right now!

1. Tidy up your writing space

This may seem like an easy one, but many of us fail to neglect our writing environment. Start by taking a look at your own space. If it is dark, cluttered, or on the other end, a little too cozy, it can end up being counterproductive. Take a quick 5 minutes to set up your space. If you can’t get it done in a short time, don’t put off your writing session – instead, relocate to a more suitable spot for the time being. Bonus points if you are able to move the session outdoors until you are ready to tackle the original space.

2. Try the pomodoro technique!

This technique is used to help you break up your work hours into bite-sized periods of focus during which you work for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. Use your break to help yourself to a snack, check your phone, and get in a quick stretch. Proponents of this technique swear by it and say it helps increase their productivity. Fans of routine and consistency will definitely benefit from the scheduled work sessions and breaks.

3. Prepare for the munchies

Sometimes you find yourself getting into a groove only to catch yourself craving some caffeine or a cold drink. You get up, get your drink, and come back to find that you’ve lost some momentum. Prepare ahead of time by having a few select brain-boosting snacks (such as trail mix) and a cup of joe, bottle of water, and anything else you think you may need in the moment. Pro-tip: take that bathroom break before you start.

4. Hold yourself responsible

One of the quickest ways to motivate yourself is to remind yourself of your responsibility to your client to present quality and effective copy. Your client trusted you, out of many others, to handle this job. Prove to them that they made the right decision – you’ve got this! And just in case you’re working on a spec piece, like myself, remember that YOU are the client, and you owe this to yourself!

5. Brainstorming session

Now that you’ve sat down with the intention of started, start with a bulleted list of ideas that you can expand upon. Once you’ve got a solid ten points down, list them in order of relevance and start expanding on them. By the end, you should have a reasonable chunk of material to turn into content. If your writing requires a lot of research, you can use the bulleted list to jot down the most important ideas, and be sure to include links so you can refer back to your source.

6. Just write!

We often tend to underestimate the power of letting your fingers fly free to write (or type) as you go, word vomit style. Sure, 95% of it may end up being erased or deleted as you revise, but it helps to get the creative juices flowing and motivate you to keep going. It doesn’t matter if the ideas are good or bad at this point; you just need something to start with.

Remember that this is just the beginning stage of your writing and does not require perfection. By now, you should be left with a solid list of ideas that you can continue to edit, revise, and perfect upon. If you are still feeling stuck at this point, enlist the help of a friend or family member to look over the raw material and ask what stands out to them. A new perspective may be all you need! If all else fails, give yourself a break – come back to it when you’re ready. You’ve got this!