3 Tips to Overcome Writer's Block

Writer’s block is something most writers struggle with at some point, whether for a day or two or extended periods of time. It’s that agonizing feeling of being unable to get words down on the page, despite feeling as though you’re trying everything.

Writers used to talk about writer’s block as though it was some plague that hit them and was out of their control. But more recently, there’s been a shift in the way we view writer’s block. It’s become clear that writer’s block is actually a symptom of something else, and that something else is typically within the writer’s control (even if it doesn’t feel that way).

As a book coach specializing in mindset and overcoming mental blocks, writer’s block is something I often work with my clients on. It’s often the initial reason they start working with a book coach, but it sneaks up during the course of our work together as well.

There’s a lot of advice about overcoming writer’s block that tells writers to sit down at the desk anyways and the words will come, or to change up your writing space and routine, or to try working on something else. And while that’s not bad advice per se and likely helps some people, it doesn’t really address the root cause of writer’s block, which means it’s likely to resurface again at some point in the future. So, here I want to share a few tips for overcoming writer’s block that might offer you a little more long-term success.

What Causes Writer’s Block?

While this post is focused on how to overcome writer’s block, we can’t really work to overcome something if we don’t understand what’s causing it in the first place.

The truth is any number of things can cause writer’s block. Typically, writer’s block is a symptom of a mental obstacle that we’re experiencing. This might include feeling like you’re not a good enough writer, fear over the path of your writing career, feeling like you don’t have time to make writing a priority, or simply dealing with something else in your life that’s drawing your mental energy away from writing (such as a significant loss, financial hardship, job loss, newborn baby, etc.).

While writer’s block manifests as an inability to get words written, it’s easy to assume the issue has to do with our writing. But the reality is, it’s usually something else that might be related to our writing or entirely separate. And this is why my first tip for overcoming writer’s block is…

1. Perform a Self-Evaluation

By self-evaluation, I don’t mean this needs to be super clinical feeling, but the first step is to look at your present life situation and note what else is going on. If journaling is your thing, you can explore this in a journal entry, or you might just jot down some thoughts and ideas.

Have there been big changes in your life recently, either good or bad? For example, a job change, having a new child, getting married, getting divorced, etc. Or are there situations that are tapping your mental energy more than they usually do? For example, maybe your child is going through a phase of not sleeping well through the night, meaning neither are you. Or maybe your partner is going through something, and you’ve needed to be there to support them. Take stock of what’s going on in your life right now and write it down—you might be surprised to see how much you’re juggling when you see it on paper.

Along with this, pay attention to the thoughts that go through your mind when you’re actively trying to write, but no words are coming. This might take some practice, but catching those automatic thoughts that run through your mind can offer a large clue as to the root of your writer’s block.

For example, if you sit down to write and instantly begin thinking “why am I even bothering? I’m never going to be good enough to be a published author,” that offers a different insight into your writer’s block than if you sit down and start thinking “I know my husband told me to go in my office and write, but I should be out there helping him with the baby.”

There are no right or wrong answers here. At this stage, you’re just gathering information and taking stock of where you’re at. But spending some dedicated time to explore the root of your writer’s block is really the only way to ultimately address it. Otherwise, you’re just putting a Band-Aid on the issue—and while that may work initially, it’s likely the issues will resurface.

2. Reconnect With Your Why

Have you spent time previously considering your “why” for writing? If not, this would be a good opportunity to put that why into words. If you have, now is the time to revisit it.

I believe all writers have a why—a sense of purpose for their writing and the underlying motive that attracts them to writing in the first place—but oftentimes, that why isn’t fully clear to us. For many writers, we’ve been writing as long as we can remember. There was never a time we weren’t writing stories. And for those of us, writing is just a part of our lives whether we’ve ever given thought to why we do it or not.

But whether writing is something you’ve been doing for forever or something you’re relatively new to, clearly defining your reasons for writing—why you love it and why you do it—can help remind you of what’s at stake. For example, if your why for writing is that you have a message you want to share with the world, then that message won’t be shared if you stop writing.

When writer’s block has a hold on you, reconnecting with your why (or defining it in the first place) can help you refocus on what’s important. It can be easy to get caught up in the chaos of daily life and begin to feel like our time focused on writing could be better spent elsewhere. But coming back to that why can help us remember why writing is so important to us and why it deserves to be treated like a priority even if we have a lot going on outside of writing.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Quit

Yes, you read that right. One of my favorite tips for overcoming writer’s block is to give yourself permission to stop writing.

Personally, I’ve struggled with writer’s block here and there throughout my life. I’ve had days or weeks where I’ve felt like my writing was garbage and all the time I was spending trying to make a manuscript that worked was a waste. And in those moments, I’ve reminded myself that no one is forcing me to do this. I could stop if I really wanted to.

For the record, I’ve never decided to quit. But knowing that I could if I wanted to took the pressure off, and the next time I sit down at my writing desk, my mind feels clearer. I remember that I’m there because I’ve chosen to be, not because I’m being forced to be there. And that even though it’s hard, it’s rewarding to me and that’s why I do it.

Giving yourself permission to quit can help put things into perspective. For example, if you’re struggling with writing because you’re afraid that you’ll never be good enough to be published, reminding yourself that you could walk away if you wanted to can take the pressure off. And when the pressure is off, you open yourself up to the possibility of learning and growing as a writer, which makes it more likely that you’ll ultimately reach your goal of becoming a published writer.

Bonus Tip: Work With a Book Coach

Lastly, working with a book coach can help you to identify and overcome whatever is blocking you from writing and get back to making progress towards your writing goals. As I always tell my clients, no matter how talented a writer you are, no matter how good your story could be, none of that matters if you can’t get the words written in the first place. Tackling your mindset and whatever is standing in your way is the first thing I work with my clients on so we can get to the fun stuff—writing your story!

Working with a coach can especially be beneficial if 1) you’re having a hard time identifying the root of your writer’s block or 2) the root of your writer’s block is heavy or big and you don’t know that you can work through it on your own.

If you’re interested in learning more about book coaching, I’d love to hear from you and see how I can help you overcome writer’s block and get back to (or get started) writing!