Writers Unblocked!
- Siri Marie
- Oct 28
- 6 min read
Write whatever. Change it up. Talk it out.
Like many writers, I struggle balancing all the responsibilities of life with finding time to flex my own creative muscles, but recently I’ve been facing a different obstacle, the bane of every writer’s existence: the dreaded Writer’s Block. I sit down to write, and the words just—won’t—come.
I have the great fortune of getting to read manuscripts by talented, imaginative writers, and I often conclude an editing session feeling inspired to work on my own projects. But sometimes, inspiration alone isn’t enough to get the pen moving. Can you imagine getting to read such wonderful, intriguing works-in-progress, and then struggle with your own?
Of course you can, that’s likely why you’re reading this.
Writer's block is one of the most frustrating obstacles for a writer. You've set aside time to finally write, you have a deadline you need to meet, or maybe you just desperately want to write, but now that you're sitting at your computer (or notebook or typewriter)...nothing.
I wish I could tell you I have a sure-fire way to combat writer’s block. Unfortunately, I don’t think one exists. Everyone is different, and they gain inspiration in a variety of ways. What works for one writer, might not work for another. Lucky for us, there are plenty of tips and tricks out there in the world that can help. It all comes down to finding what works for you.
Here are my favorite ways to overcome writer's block, hopefully they help you too!
When struggling to write what you want to write, the most important thing is to write anyway.
Write Whatever
When struggling to write what you want to write, the most important thing is to write anyway. It doesn't matter what, or how, or whether it's good. In my opinion, “writing through it” is the only real solution to writer’s block—to push through and over and around until the obstacle no longer stands in your way.
But what do I write? That’s the problem to begin with! Sometimes our expectations for what we should write gets in the way of actually writing. My recommendation is to start with something that has nothing to do with what you initially set out to write.
Write something new. Take a break from your story and write something completely unrelated. Choose a writing prompt, write in your journal, describe the squirrel stealing your bird seed–write something different, low-stakes, and low pressure. If you want some writing inspiration, check out these prompts!
Stream of consciousness. Just start writing, no matter how random or terrible the writing is. The fun part of stream-of-consciousness writing is that it doesn’t even need to make sense. Forget punctuations, forget structure; let your thoughts flow into one another. The goal is just to get words on the page and see where those words take you. Where you end up might surprise you.
Rewrite something already written. Pick something you’ve already written and rewrite it. Note that I said rewrite, not revise. Choose a different setting, a different time period, or, my favorite, a different character’s POV—one of the other characters involved, or even an inanimate object to make it more interesting! Rewriting takes off the pressure of needing to come up with something new, the material is already there, you just get to play with it. And the new perspective—for you or your characters—could lead to more manuscript-focused writing.
...when the Block halts your progress, switching things up can be very beneficial.
Change it up.
It seems like everyone in the writing world talks about the importance of setting up a writing habit—establishing a "routine" or a writing "ritual". Maybe for you, “routine” means writing at the same time every day or at the same local café each week. Or perhaps it’s more of an ambiance—you can’t write without your vanilla-scented candle burning and your favorite Spotify playlist on. But when the Block halts your progress, switching things up can be very beneficial.
The change can be as small or as extreme as you’d like: lighting a different scented candle or drinking cocoa instead of tea might be enough to push you out of the creativity-sucking monotony. But if you’re looking for something a little…more try one of these:
Write somewhere new. If writing in a different room in your house is all you can manage at the moment—do it! But if you have the time and opportunity, try writing somewhere very new. Go to a library if you want quiet, or a shopping center food court if you prefer background noise. Try that new cafe you’ve been meaning to go to, grab a drink at a hotel lounge, or maybe treat yourself to lunch and park yourself at the local diner. Don’t like eating while you write or don’t want to spend money? No problemo! Check out some local spots like bookstores and community spaces.
Write somehow new. There are other ways that you can make your writing experience “new” that don’t require moving to a different location. Think instead how you can change your perspective. Perhaps you do this literally by sitting in a different seat in the same room, turning your desk to face a different wall, or writing while laying down. Or, you might change perspective in different ways, like the overall feel of your writing experience. Swap out your vanilla candle for lavender and listen to a different playlist; if you typically write on a laptop, use a notebook; usually write in the morning, try writing at night if your schedule allows. It might feel uncomfortable, and it might not be for you in the long-run, but it doesn’t need to be. The goal is just to shake things up.
Go outside. If you work exclusively on a laptop, writing outside can be difficult. But if you use (or are open to using) a notebook, try writing outside. For one, I’m told fresh air and Vitamin D are apparently good for you; but being outside also likely accomplishes writing somewhere and somehow new in one go. And talk about a change in perspective! Pick a quiet park or walking trail if you want solitude, or head to a busy downtown area for some people watching.
...talking about your writing is important, and explaining it to someone can help you make sense of it yourself. If you don’t have someone to ask you questions—ask them yourself.
Talk it out.
As writers, we can get stuck in our own head a lot. And that's really what writer's block is, isn't it? Being stuck. Having a "conversation" about your writing can help turn your thoughts into physical words on a page.
Phone a friend. I recognize that this might be a tricky one. Not all of us are comfortable talking about our WIPs, or our writing in general, and sometimes we don’t have a friend, colleague, or family member that we think could provide the right kind of dialogue to help with our writing. If you’re so lucky as to have someone to chat with, give them a call! Or send a text. The method doesn’t really matter; the goal is to just bounce ideas off someone. Encourage them to ask you questions, give you writing prompts, or just generally chat about your story idea.
Role play. This might be my favorite trick, though I recommend trying this one not in public. Imagine your project—your novel, your short story, whatever—is already published and you’ve been invited onto a podcast or show for an interview. The interviewer is asking you about the particular scene you’re struggling with—they’re gushing over it, it’s their favorite scene. What questions are they asking you and how would you answer? It might feel silly, but talking about your writing is important, and explaining it to someone can help you make sense of it yourself. If you don’t have someone to ask you questions—ask them yourself.
Put it on record. This one can be done with or without a buddy. Similar to the other “Talk it out” tricks, with this one, the goal is just to put your thoughts into words. Record yourself describing what you want to happen in a scene. If a friend is with you, they can ask questions, share ideas, poke holes in your plotting logic. If you’re alone, ask your own questions, or just ramble. What’s great about this is that you can use the recording (once you stop cringing at the sound of your own voice) to remember the ideas you came up with and come up with new ones.
Writer’s Block is frustrating, and when it goes on for a prolonged period of time—disheartening. The best you can do is keep writing—keep chipping away at the Block until you see a way over it. And keeping a bag of tips and tricks that work for you handy can help you get through it.
Comments