Two weeks ago, I thought writer's block a myth. I'd just published a personal essay in which I revealed something that only my close friends had known. As I tackled that story (and my somewhat embarrassing confession), I imagined I was talking to my best friend, and my words flowed effortlessly. The structure revealed itself during the first draft, and I unearthed my signature quirky voice—the writing voice I’ve been fighting to reclaim since realizing just how much I had lost myself in parenting life.
Through creative writing, I’ve allowed myself to experiment and explore as I shared my struggles, acknowledged my flaws, and confronted my vulnerabilities. Even though I judged each blog post as lacking and amateurish, I kept writing. I kept pushing myself to do it scared and imperfect rather than not at all. I publicized my progress so that other parents and writers would know they’re not alone, that fear doesn’t have to hold us back, that tons of people will celebrate our journey, rather than wanting to see only the perfection at the end.
Even though I judged each blog post as lacking and amateurish, I kept writing. I kept pushing myself to do it scared and imperfect rather than not at all.
And then I wrote “How I Survived Being an (Almost) 30-Year-Old Virgin,” which has become one of my all-time favorite personal pieces of writing. Of course, seeing my readers laugh, cheer me on, and share their favorite takeaways has contributed to my jubilation. And reading it aloud was exhilarating. But these aren’t the reasons why I cherish that essay. Through that writing process, I not only reconciled my past choices but also rediscovered my distinct writing voice.
I had achieved my goal.
I felt like a writer again.
I finally knew and recognized me again.
That is, until I tried to write another article.
I crashed into writer’s block, and I shattered.
For the last two weeks, I have been wrestling with fear, frustration, and doubt. I tried to write about me and my son fighting over virtual school, but I couldn’t express well enough the complexity of that interaction. I distracted myself by focusing on behind-the-scenes LBP stuff. I even took a lot of naps.
Like so many other authors after a success, I too questioned what if I don’t have another story of that caliber in me again? What if that article was a fluke? And oh boy, once those thought monsters start popping up, they can assemble an army. And that’s the crux of writer’s block: It’s fear and doubt suppressing our creativity.
Everyday I stared at my laptop, hated everything I wrote, deleted hours worth of work, and went to bed angry. Then I asked myself what advice would I give my students and friends? As I explored this answer for others, I helped myself too.
Thus, here are 11 practical ways that I have overcome writer's block:
1. Maintain your writing habit.
Even when fear urges us to hide all pens and justify longer to-do lists, we have to keep writing to maintain the habit. Otherwise, getting back into the habit can be harder than defeating writer’s block, especially as those never-ending to-dos keep piling up. (Need help making time to write?)
However, don’t torture yourself either. If you’re in the midst of severe writer’s block, show up for just 10–20 minutes a day so that you give your muse the chance to reappear. It might surprise you.
Getting back into the habit can be harder than defeating writer’s block, especially as those never-ending to-dos keep piling up.
2. Brain dump again!
When inspiration dries up, brain dump again. List every pivotal moment in your life, the good, the bad, the unexpected, the surprising, etc. Include recurring thoughts or favorite quotes from friends and loved ones. Keep adding to this list, and you’ll always have personal moments or ideas to explore.
If none of those urge you to write now, it’s okay. Making the list still counts as you showing up to maintain that writing habit!
3. Work on craft.
If you keep writing, deleting, and rewriting the same paragraph day after day, step away from that project and work on one small piece of your craft. For example, practice establishing a setting: Imagine a room (or google images), and write about what you see, smell, taste, touch, and hear in that room. Interview a new character, and explore their dialogue. Or describe the person ordering Starbucks before your turn, the child learning to ride their bike, or the moment your pee stick revealed pregnant.
In essence, focus on finishing just “one short assignment:”
“Say to yourself in the kindest possible way, Look honey, all we’re going to do for now is to write a description of the river at sunrise, or the young child swimming in the pool at the club, or the first time the man sees the woman he will marry. That is all we are going to do for now. […] But we are going to finish this one short assignment.”
— Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
4. Know you’ll find another story that will inspire you again.
Writer’s block may feel like a creative death sentence, but it’s not.
Remember the little engine that could? Choose to be that train now. Keep reminding yourself that you can do this, and eventually you’ll get over the mountain again. Affirmations win the race.
5. Write about your fears, stress, anxiety, etc.
After writing, deleting, and repeating that cycle for seven days, I turned to my journal. I spewed on the page all my fears and frustration regarding my sudden inability to write a single paragraph to my liking. That journal entry turned into the first draft of this article.
After you offload all the negative thoughts holding you back, take a deep breath. Let go of those emotions, and shift into your logic brain (see next tip).
6. Shift into logic brain.
After you let your emotional brain voice its concerns (see previous tip), write down the advice you’d give a friend, the steps you’d tell them to take, and then pick one to do next—something so simple that failing is impossible.
I have my logic brain to thank for this article. Once I expunged the negative emotions trapped inside me, I asked myself, “Erin, what advice would you give your students or friends?” That question enabled me to show up here and keep moving forward. I know you can too.
You can access your logic brain by also listing facts that prove your writer’s block is temporary. For example, if you wrote one piece, that means you can do it again. If you’ve yet to finish a piece of writing, what projects or tasks have you completed? How did you complete those—perhaps by focusing on one piece at a time (or one short assignment at a time), asking others for help, or identifying resources? If you fear a major publisher or magazine won’t publish you, then what other options are there?
In short, focus on how, not if, and find examples from your past where you succeeded. Apply those lessons to your next writing project.
In short, focus on how, not if, and find examples from your past where you succeeded. Apply those lessons to your next writing project.
7. Read other’s work for motivation.
Read, read, read. If I just can’t write, like the chaos and emotional upheaval that was last week, then I read. You want to write novels, read them. You want to try flash fiction, read them. As Virginia Woolf said, “Read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river.”
Moreover, read a variety of genres, because we can find motivation in the most unlikely places. I read Shakespeare, YA, literary fiction, romance, non-fiction, manga, etc. I enjoy creative ideas, regardless of the shelves upon which they’re stacked.
Heck, an episode of Sailor Moon motivated me to write a short story about an American woman who realizes she’s falling in love with a Japanese woman and thus questions if she can love someone regardless of their gender. I really should revisit that short story…
8. Return to your big why.
If you know why you feel the pull to write and what becomes possible not only for you but also others, you’ll never lose your way.
I started LBP as a means to help parents, including myself, find our voices again. So while I hope and plan to write more personal essays, this article brings me back to my big why. And once I remembered that, I knew what I had to write about next.
9. Find a writing or journaling prompt.
Take the pressure off yourself to choose a story. You may surprise yourself.
During my last free 5-day journaling challenge, I prompted my readers to write about a favorite Christmas moment, and it triggered a whole story in me that I didn’t even know I needed to tell. That prompt spoke to me when I initially chose it.
However, when I sat down to write, the prompt no longer appealed to me. Still, I wanted to complete the journaling challenge, and so I trudged along. After I wrote two paragraphs that felt rather hollow, my thoughts flooded my pen, and I could barely keep up with the onslaught of ideas.
I prompted my readers to write about a favorite Christmas moment, and it triggered a whole story in me that I didn’t even know I needed to tell.
10. Change it up.
When I say change it up, I mean more than from a desk to a couch or from your living room to a café (although that helps too). Change up the type of writing.
I feared writing another creative, quirky personal essay, so instead I focused on a how-to article. Not only have I gotten past my will-I-ever-write-again hump, but I’ve also created something that (I hope) will help other writers too. Double win.
Similarly, if writing another essay or short story or novel or poem feels too hard, then try something completely different. As my mentor Dayna Abraham says, “Give yourself permission to experiment and have fun.”
11. Sign up for a writing challenge, workshop, or class.
Don’t overlook or underestimate the support and enthusiasm of others, especially mentors. Find people who kindle your passion for creativity, who will hold you accountable, and hold on to them.
Not all writing offers cost hundreds of dollars. In fact, several times a year, I host free writing challenges. Why? Because I want to help you start writing so that you always have a safe space in which you can just be you.
The best writing challenges, workshops, and classes I’ve taken have taught me to further discover and believe in my passions, my abilities, my purpose, and myself. Seek out and take advantage of opportunities such as these.
The best writing challenges, workshops, and classes I’ve taken have taught me to further discover and believe in my passions, my abilities, my purpose, and myself.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, friends: 11 ways to smash writer’s block. Ultimately, just believe in yourself, your ideas, your experience, your unique contribution to the world.
We all have stories to share, and yours are equally important. Someone out there is waiting to hear from you, to connect with you, so get started.
I believe in you.
Ready to start writing?
Download and print these five writing posters that summarize how to get started writing as well as mindful journaling tips. Print them and keep them near your laptop or tucked into your journal so you always have visual reminders of how to get started writing with ease.
Want even more support? Join my next 2-hour Let’s Get Started Writing Workshop. It’s all about helping you to start writing with confidence, foster a writing habit that lights you up, and regularly connect with your truest self.
Featured photo by Reuben Juarez on Unsplash
