how to overcome writer's block
7 ways (and resources) on how to do it
Every writer knows writer’s block. It’s something that creeps in and makes itself at home.
After writing on Substack for over a year now (still so crazy to me!), I’ve had a couple of run-ins with writer’s block. Thankfully, I’ve gotten out of it fairly quickly, and I believe it has to do with the strategies I follow.
In this post, I’ll go over ways you can overcome writer’s block and generate new creative ideas.
the curse of writer’s block
So, what exactly is writer’s block? The Royal Literary Fund defines it as:
“Writer’s block is a temporary or lasting failure to put words on paper. It can hit every writer, if only for a few minutes or a day or two, but it becomes a real problem when the writer is not reaching targets and when they feel incapable of completing a piece of work.”
If you want to read up on writer’s block, I highly recommend this article published by EBSCO, written by Adrienne Kennedy. It dives into writer’s block—what it means, the psychology behind it, and techniques to overcome it.
Many acclaimed writers—such as Toni Morrison, Leo Tolstoy, Harper Lee, Stephen King, and Virginia Woolf—experienced writer’s block at some point in their careers. I was surprised to learn that Tolstoy didn’t touch the manuscript of Anna Karenina for 30 of the 53 months he worked on it because of a severe case of writer’s block! It can affect anyone who writes, whether they’ve already published a book or have been writing their whole life.
Writer’s block can leave writers feeling unmotivated, frustrated, angry, or even depressed. It disrupts the flow of creativity, which can feel crushing—especially for those who rely on writing to feel like themselves. However, there are ways to cope with writer’s block and even overcome it.
ways to overcome writer’s block
read magazines
This is one of my favorite ways to defeat writer’s block, as magazines give me inspiration to write. I love seeing what people are writing about as well as seeing their different styles of writing. It’s a reminder of why we, as writers, love to write—no matter what kind of writing you enjoy.
There are many magazines that cover different topics, depending on what you like or need to write about. If you’re working on something related to design, look at architectural magazines and see how writers discuss current trends or timeless designs. If you’re looking to write poetry or a book, explore literary magazines, as they can spark inspiration through their themes.
Another great thing about magazines is that they showcase authors from around the world, offering insight into different lives and stories. This can encourage you to reflect on your own experiences or connect with others, giving you new ideas to write about.
Whatever inspiration you need, magazines are always helpful—and enjoyable.
Some of my favorite magazines, available in both physical and digital formats, are:
A literary magazine featuring original writing, art, and in-depth interviews with famous writers.
A magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry.
The international design authority, featuring the work of top architects and designers.
A semi-monthly magazine with articles on literature, culture, economics, science and current affairs.
Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 110-year archive of Poetry Magazine.
The original and only daily digital poetry series featuring over 250 new, previously unpublished poems by today's talented poets each year.
A monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts.
These magazines cover a variety of subjects, which can give you ideas on what to write when you’re feeling stuck or simply don’t know where to start.
watch video essays
Another form of media to consume when dealing with writer’s block is video essays.
These essays can provide valuable insight into topics you might not know much about or haven’t considered before. They can also spark inspiration through the details they explore—often nudging your brain to come up with new ideas.
It’s also inspiring to watch someone speak with curiosity and intelligence. This can encourage your own mind to do the same, subconsciously pushing you to think more deeply and creatively.
Here are some YouTubers who create great video essays on a wide range of topics:
Essays include fashion, films, pop culture, and societal dilemmas.
Goes over current media, pop culture, internet trends, and gen z culture.
Video essays on philosophy, social science research, media and gen z trends.
Dives into film analysis, retrospectives, politics, and pop culture.
Horror, folk and fantasy cinema analysis through a woman’s eyes.
Video essays are also very stimulating for the mind because, while you’re taking a break from writing, you’re still feeding it new and different information. The visual aspect of video essays can also be helpful, as it changes the way you engage with ideas—offering a different experience from reading essays on a computer screen.
create mind maps
If you know what you want to write about but feel stuck or run out of ideas while writing, mind maps can be an excellent resource.
A mind map involves writing down the central theme or topic of your piece and connecting it to subtopics and supporting details. This method is all about brainstorming, outlining, and organizing ideas.
It gives your mind the freedom to let go of structure and perfection when jotting things down. As a result, the stress you might feel can ease, allowing your thoughts to flow more naturally.
free journal
While this is similar to mind mapping, free journaling is another great method for overcoming writer’s block. A lot of writer’s block stems from the feeling that everything you write has to be perfect.
You can either get a journal with a cover design that inspires you or use one you already have lying around and don’t know what to do with. Since this journal is for your eyes only, the pressure to be perfect goes out the window.
Write about anything and everything.
This practice can help you feel more at ease with your writing and encourage you to follow the natural flow of your thoughts. Many writers spend 10–15 minutes in the morning, right after they wake up, free writing in their journals. This helps clear your mind and can even spark ideas based on what you dreamed about.
If you work best at night, journaling before bed is also a great option. It allows you to reflect on your day and naturally drift into other topics. The time and place you choose to free journal should inspire you and help you feel your most creative. In the end, this can be a powerful tool for overcoming writer’s block.
change your environment
Writer’s block can happen at any time, but it often occurs in your regular workspace.
I find that sometimes I get so used to being in one space that it stops inspiring me to write. When that happens, I switch environments to see if a change helps—and most of the time, it does.
You could go to a café, pub, or hotel bar if you want to be surrounded by people while still having your own space. Grabbing a snack or a drink while you write can help calm your mind. That little bit of comfort makes writing flow more easily.
If you don’t want to—or can’t—spend money, take your journal or laptop to a park, public library, or even your backyard. Simply being in a new place can spark fresh thoughts, since your mind isn’t stuck in the same routine.
toni morrison’s writing ritual
Toni Morrison, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Beloved, was no stranger to writer’s block. She faced creative blocks during her career but developed a ritual to help spark her creativity.
Her advice for overcoming writer’s block was to create a writing ritual—a set of actions that signal to your brain that it’s time to write. The ritual can be anything that works for you. It could be taking a shower, making a cup of coffee or tea, putting on some music, and then settling into your workspace. It could also be free journaling for ten minutes before diving into your main writing.
The key is to base the ritual on what feels natural and motivating for you. This helps you start writing calmly, without the pressure or anxiety that often comes before putting words on the page.
take a break
While it might seem counterintuitive, I think taking a break is one of the most effective ways to overcome writer’s block.
Stepping away from writing for a while can relieve pressure on both yourself and your work. I actually learned this during an advanced art class. My art teacher was so understanding of creative blocks that she insisted we take a week off with no pressure whenever we couldn’t find it in us to create art. We still sketched, but only for our own enjoyment. Later, we experienced a breakthrough and returned to our work with renewed inspiration and creativity.
While trying to push through a block can sometimes work, if you truly feel stuck, it’s better to step back. Returning to writing refreshed—and without the pressure to produce something perfect—often leads to better results.
During your break, do things you enjoy. Explore other creative outlets like drawing, knitting, or even scrapbooking. This allows you to stay creative without exhausting all your energy on writing.
Activities like going to the movies, playing a sport or video game, or hanging out with friends can also help take your mind off writing. Simply spending time for yourself can help you recharge mentally.
Eventually, the writer’s block will pass, and you’ll return to your writing feeling proud and inspired.
I hope you enjoyed this post on tips to overcome writer’s block! It can be such a struggle to find the motivation and inspiration when writing through a writer’s block, so I hope these work for you <3
I’m excited to share that the next post I’ll be releasing will be my first-ever paid post!! I’ll be writing about what I’ve been loving lately in my personal life—media, fashion, food, and more.
If you’d like to become a paid subscriber and read it, go to the Substack website (not the app) and hit the Upgrade button on my profile. Can’t wait to share it with you soon! x
sources:
https://dudleycourtpress.com/sort/these-well-known-writers-also-suffered-from-writers-block/
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/writers-block
https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2020/0903/Tolstoy-suffered-writer-s-block-as-he-worked-on-Anna-Karenina
todays gut punch served
Flipping through a magazine at Barnes and Noble with a latte made 15-year-old me feel like the world was so vast and anything was possible