How To Overcome Writer's Block [Step-By-Step]

Writer’s block can feel like staring at a brick wall that showed up in your brain without warning.

Unfortunately I know that locked-up feeling all too well. I’ve had deadlines closing in, and all I could see was that blank page, taunting me with its blinking cursor.

If that sounds familiar, take a step back and remember that it IS possible to work through.

I'll walk you through some of the most effective methods that worked for me when I needed to pull a draft out of thin air.

It’s not about magic or waiting for a muse. It’s about moving forward until something finally clicks.

My Favorite Strategies to Overcome Writer's Block

Getting unstuck isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s about trying small, intentional moves until one clicks. Here’s the roadmap we’ll walk through together:

• Figure out why you’re blocked
• Reset your mindset and ditch perfection
• Free up your creativity with simple writing exercises
• Jump around in your piece instead of forcing one section
• Change your surroundings or how you write
• Cut distractions and focus with short sprints
• Take the right kind of break at the right time
• Talk it out or get support from someone else
• Build a routine that makes block less likely

None of these steps rely on magic. They’re practical, repeatable, and rooted in what actually works when writing feels impossible.

Why Are You Really Stuck?

Before trying to blast past writer’s block, figure out what’s blocking you in the first place.

I always like to take a big step back and ask myself: What’s actually getting in the way right now?

Typically, is it one of these things:

• You’re unclear on the topic or what you’re supposed to write
• You’re afraid of getting it wrong or sounding dumb
• You’ve got too much info and don’t know where to start
• You’re just plain tired or burned out

I’ve had days where I just needed sleep, and others where I needed permission to write the worst paragraph of my life so I could fix it later.

No matter what the issue is, the idea is to simply identify what it is and move on.

In cases like this, I like to type something - anything - even if it is just "I hate this paragraph", just to get my thoughts moving. It's messy, but it cracks open that stuck feeling.

Don’t try to bulldoze your way through a block without asking why it’s there. The answer tells you exactly how to move forward.

Ditch Perfection and Keep Your Brain in “Draft” Mode

One of the biggest reasons that I see writers (and clients) getting stuck is the endless pursuit of perfection.

I used to stare at the screen, trying to craft the perfect sentence before writing anything at all. That pressure kept me stuck every time.

This requires a perspective shift. First drafts are supposed to be messy, so try to embrace it.

The internal critic loves to show up early, but remember that your job in the beginning isn’t to impress. It’s to get something down. You can’t shape your thoughts if they’re not on the page yet.

I’ve found that once I start giving myself permission to write badly, I almost always end up writing better than expected.

Here are a few mindset shifts that have helped me and plenty of other writers get unstuck:

• Stop editing as you write. Seriously. Turn off spellcheck and close your eyes if you need to. Just focus on output, not polish.
• If a sentence feels wrong, skip it. Leave a note like [fix later] and keep moving. Don’t let one clunky phrase shut down your momentum.
• Remind yourself that no one else is watching. This is between you and the page. Judgment can come later during editing, but right now, your only job is to keep the pen moving.

You’re not trying to write a masterpiece on the first go. You’re building raw material to work with. And that only happens when you give yourself the space to be imperfect on purpose.

When that clicks, you stop treating writing like a performance and start treating it like a process. That shift changes everything.

When the Page Feels Blank, Just Write Anything

Sometimes you sit down to write, and nothing comes. Your mind isn’t tired or worried, it’s just empty.

In moments like this, I've found that it helps to lower your standards on purpose. Forget about the perfect opening line and let yourself type anything.

That simple act breaks the silence and sparks ideas. It’s not magic, it’s movement. Getting words on the page warms up your mind until something lands.

Here are a few tactics I turn to:

• ‍Freewriting: Set a timer for five or ten minutes and type nonstop. Even if it’s nonsense, don’t pause or edit. You’ll trick your brain into ignoring that inner critic.
• ‍Brainstorm Lists: Dump all your ideas in a messy list. No structure required. You’re just gathering raw material so your mind can spot useful threads later.
• ‍Playful Prompts: Sometimes I’ll write about an unrelated topic for a few minutes, like describing my morning routine in five lines. Once I’m loosened up, I return to the real project and usually find the words flow more easily.

I’ve used these methods under tight client deadlines. When you feel blank, any words are better than none. Jump in, ignore the pressure to be brilliant, and trust that momentum will follow.

Skip Around Instead of Forcing One Section

I like to write from blog outlines, so I oftentimes find myself taking a structured approach to writing. This gets in my way.

I sometimes end up forcing myself to tackle the intro first, or work through a complicated section even if I have no idea how it should sound.

A writer friend taught me a trick - think of your draft less like a house you build from the ground up and more like a puzzle you piece together. Grab the corners you’re sure about and fit in the middle bits when they’re clearer.

I like to skip straight ahead to the parts that I know I can fill in, and then leave placeholders where I am unsure. I’ve even written sections out of order or worked backward.

When I do this, my brain instantly relaxes and the words start flowing. Once you’re free to jump around, you’ll notice the entire piece gets done faster with less frustration.

There are three proven strategies that I like to use in these cases:

• ‍Start Where You’re Confident: If you already know what a certain paragraph or section should say, write it now.
• ‍Leave Blanks: When you hit a snag, mark it with “[find stats]” or “[transition]” and keep going.
• ‍Outline if Needed: Sketch a rough flow of your main points. Even a bare-bones outline can keep you moving.

The goal is to keep momentum. Order can be sorted out later. By giving yourself permission to work on the easiest parts first, you might find that the “hard” parts stop feeling so hard after all.

Cut Out Distractions

I used to think I had writer’s block when really I just had too many tabs open. I’d sit down with the intention to write, but the second I got stuck, I’d flip to email or check analytics. Ten minutes later, I hadn’t written a single word, but I knew how my latest blog post was ranking.

That’s not writer’s block. That’s a focus problem.

One of the most useful shifts I’ve made is creating short, focused writing windows. No Wi-Fi. No notifications. Just a timer, a blank screen, and a promise to myself to write until the bell rings. Fifteen minutes is enough. You don’t need a whole hour.

There’s a mental switch that flips when you know you’ve set aside this time for one thing only. It tells your brain this matters. It also removes the pressure of needing to write something amazing. You just need to stay in the chair and keep typing until the timer runs out.

Sometimes I’ll even hide my phone in another room and write in a distraction-free app so I can’t jump between tools. It’s not about willpower. It’s about building an environment where writing is the only option.

I have noticed when you give yourself real focus, even for a short burst, the words start to come. Maybe slowly at first, maybe awkwardly, but they come. And once they do, you’re in.

Writer’s block often isn’t a lack of ideas. It’s a lack of stillness. Create that stillness, and the words will meet you there.

Change the Scenery

Writer's block can sometimes be caused by your surroundings, especially if you're working from home and in a monotonous routine.

Sometimes it isn’t that your ideas have disappeared. The real snag might be your chair, the walls you’re staring at, or that same playlist looping in the background.

When that happens, you need a change of scenery more than any internal pep talk.

I’ve discovered some of my strongest first drafts in spots I rarely used: a booth in a quiet café, in an airplane lounge while traveling, or even the backseat of my car with the AC running.

There's just something about stepping into a new environment that shifts your energy and makes the words come easier.

I also suggest to experimenting with writing at various times throughout the day.

If you always write in the afternoon and it’s starting to feel stale, try an early-morning session or save your writing for later at night when everything else settles down.

Another trick is to swap out a keyboard for pen and paper. There’s something about writing by hand that slows you down and helps you think differently.

I once outlined a whole article in a notebook after feeling stuck on my laptop, and that simple switch unlocked the entire piece.

When that still doesn’t get things moving, I try talking it out and using voice dictation instead.

I have found that recording voice notes while walking around (either pacing or on the treadmill in my basement), and turning those spoken drafts into written paragraphs when I'm back at my desk is particularly effective.

The key concept to note here is that novelty is the real key. Your brain thrives on new stimuli, so you don’t need a picture-perfect writing spot as much as you need one that feels different enough to wake up your mind.

Even a minor shift, like moving from your bedroom to the dining table, can bring a dose of freshness that breaks the block.

Take Breaks With Intention

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to stop writing.

That might sound like the opposite of what you should do when you're stuck, but hear me out. There’s a difference between walking away with intention and just giving up on the session. When you step away on purpose, you're creating space. Space to reset, to shake off frustration, to let your mind regroup without pressure.

I’ve had writing days where everything felt forced. No matter what I tried, the words just didn’t work. Instead of sitting there spiraling, I’d go for a short walk. No podcast, no phone, just movement. Fifteen minutes later, I’d come back and write the section that had been blocking me for an hour.

The trick is to decide ahead of time when you’ll return. Say to yourself, “I’m going to take a break and come back in twenty minutes.” Or, “I’ll step away now and try again after lunch.” The key is not letting the break drift into avoidance.

Longer breaks work too. If a project has been dragging for days and your brain feels fried, it’s okay to put it down for a bit. Just don’t abandon it completely. Set a return point. Mark your calendar. Tell someone your plan if you need accountability.

Writing is creative work, and creativity runs dry if you push too hard for too long. Pausing is part of the process. It lets your mind breathe and often uncovers solutions you couldn’t force by staring harder at the screen.

When you come back, you’ll usually find that what felt impossible an hour ago is now just another paragraph waiting to be written.

Talk It Out

Writing feels personal, so it’s easy to assume you have to solve every block on your own. But some of the best breakthroughs I’ve had came from saying the quiet frustration out loud.

There was a time I was stuck trying to write a guide for a client in a niche I didn’t fully understand. I had notes, I had research, but I couldn’t connect the dots. I finally talked it through with a friend who had no background in that topic. Within five minutes of explaining what I was trying to do, the missing angle clicked into place.

That’s the power of talking it out. Even if the other person isn’t a writer, just putting your thoughts into words helps you clarify what’s swirling around in your head. It makes the problem feel less abstract. And sometimes the person listening will ask a question or point out something obvious that you missed.

You don’t have to go it alone. Join a writing group. Message a peer. Hop into a forum. You’ll find people who have been exactly where you are and who are willing to offer ideas or encouragement. Even short feedback like “this part makes sense” or “what if you explained this section earlier” can unlock your next step.

If the block is deeper or long-lasting, it’s okay to reach for more structured help. A writing coach, a content editor, or even a therapist can help untangle what’s really holding you back. I’ve seen clients go from totally frozen to fully productive just by having someone guide them through the fog.

Writing is hard. It doesn’t need to be lonely. Let people in, and you’ll get further faster.

Build a Small Writing Habit

The best way to beat writer’s block is to not give it space to grow in the first place.

That doesn’t mean writing every day for hours. It means creating a simple rhythm that keeps your writing muscles warm. A rhythm that turns writing into something you do, not something you wait to feel inspired to do.

For me, that looked like carving out twenty minutes most mornings to write. Sometimes it was client work. Sometimes it was journaling or loose content ideas. The point wasn’t what I wrote. It was that I showed up.

You don’t need a perfect setup or a polished plan. What you need is consistency. Write short notes about something you noticed. Jot down ideas that pop into your head while waiting in line. Save content examples that grab your attention and write a few lines on what makes them work. These small reps build confidence. And when you’re regularly in motion, you don’t feel that pressure to make every session brilliant.

It also helps to keep an idea bank. I’ve got a doc where I dump headlines, half-finished intros, observations, even random metaphors that sound cool but don’t fit anywhere yet. When I feel stuck, I open that file and scroll. Most of the time, something sparks. It’s like having a backup generator for when your creative energy dips.

The more you write, the less intimidating the blank page becomes. And over time, writer’s block shows up less often, with less power. It becomes a passing moment, not a full stop.

If you’ve made it through all nine steps, you now have a full set of tools. But more importantly, you’ve got a way to build momentum that lasts.

Final Thoughts: How You Move Past the Block Is What Matters

Writer’s block isn’t a flaw. It’s a signal to adjust your approach. Whether you need to shift your mindset, change your space, or just write one messy sentence to get moving, the key is to do something. Action breaks inertia.

Keep a few go-to strategies on hand, build a simple writing routine, and stop chasing perfection. The words won’t always come easily, but they will come if you keep showing up and stay willing to try.

Progress starts when you take the pressure off and keep moving anyway.

You’ve got this.