Writing Tip - Overcoming Writer’s Block
Ahh, writer’s block. It’s the one thing all writers face at some point. It’s so frustrating that you just want to get past it and move on. Well, I’m here to tell you how to overcome writer’s block based on my own experience.
Now, this is something I’ve kind of covered in a previous writing tip, but the same principle applies here. Don’t beat yourself up trying to make everything perfect on the first try. Mistakes are going to happen. Story elements are going to change. You’re going to accidentally put a full stop in the wrong place. And that’s okay.
Just make a start on writing the scene and don’t stress about making it perfect the first time. There’s plenty of time to make edits afterwards. Write a draft, even if it looks bad at first. The editing part becomes a lot easier when you have a draft to work with, whereas trying to write a scene fresh and get it perfect on the first try puts more mental pressure on you.
Think of it like having two different mindsets. Mindset 1 is about just writing the draft. Mindset 2 is about polishing it afterwards.
Who says you have to write your story from point A to point Z?
Here’s a fun fact about me: I very rarely write in order. Let’s say I was working on a 10-chapter story. I might do Chapter 1 one minute, then work on Chapter 8 next, and then come back to Chapter 3.
Writing out of order can actually help you find a way to bridge the gaps in the scene you’re stuck on.
Let’s say you’ve finished Chapter 2, which ends with the characters going on a journey. You’re stuck on Chapter 3 because you don’t know what to do while they’re on the trip.
So, skip to Chapter 4, where they arrive at their destination.
Before you know it, you suddenly know where the story is actually going. You’ve eliminated the “boring middle” trap, and because you’ve reached the destination, you now have a clearer idea of what needs to happen in the setup.
Now the transition is far easier (and, in some cases, much shorter) to write later.
Skip to a Scene You’re Excited About
Ever just sat there thinking, “Wow, I can’t wait to get to that part!”
Well, throw the waiting out the window, because now you can go ahead and write it!
When you skip ahead to that exciting scene, your writing rhythm and enthusiasm start to kick in. Once the scene is finished, working backwards to fill in the gap becomes much easier.
Your surroundings can play a role in your writing.
Me, for example? I write in my bedroom. But if my bedroom is a mess, then so is my writing. What I’m seeing in my field of vision breaks my concentration. It’s like a silent list of open tasks.
My brain keeps thinking, “These are things that need to be done,” and that mindset can make me look at my writing as another chore, too.
But when my room is clean and organised, there are no visual distractions. All my mental energy can go straight into the story.
However, that doesn’t mean you always need to stay in the same environment.
Sometimes it’s better to go somewhere new. Switching locations can help shake your brain out of a rut and break you away from the strong associations between a particular space and your usual routine.
Going somewhere different can act like a soft reset for your mental state.
You might want to visit somewhere where other people are working, reading, or studying. Seeing everyone else being productive can create a little social pressure to stay focused and look productive yourself, rather than getting distracted.
Or, if you want somewhere without commercial distractions, go somewhere that encourages a quiet, focused atmosphere, such as a library.
Staring at your computer or paper non-stop can make you feel increasingly stressed and mentally stuck. So, why not step away from your workspace for a little while and do something physical that requires very little thinking?
Go for a walk, wash the dishes, or do a bit of exercise.
When you step away and do something relatively mindless, you give your brain a chance to shift away from intense, focused problem-solving. Sometimes, while you’re doing something else, your subconscious can continue working on the problem in the background.
That’s when you might suddenly make a surprising connection or figure out how to solve that plot point you’ve been stuck on.
Sometimes the best way to solve a writing problem is to stop staring at the writing.
Sometimes explaining something out loud to another person—or even an inanimate object—can help you understand where you’re stuck.
When we’re writing, we can get bogged down in phrasing, sentence structure, and trying to make everything sound right. But when we talk, we naturally tend to use more conversational and straightforward language.
So, explain the scene out loud.
Tell someone what’s happening. Explain why a character is doing something. Talk through the problem you’re having.
You might find that the solution becomes obvious simply because you’ve heard yourself explain it.
Read or Consume Other Media
Us writers are also readers, and what better way to find inspiration than by enjoying some of our favourite books?
And it doesn’t even need to be a book. It can be a film, an article, an art book, or pretty much any other form of creative media.
As many of you know, I love writing fight scenes. They’re one of my strongest points. I get a lot of my inspiration from different forms of media that showcase fighting in action.
Some of you may also be aware that I do Combat Writing Examples, where I show how you can take inspiration from something you’ve seen and translate it into writing.
So, pause your writing for a moment and immerse yourself in some creative work.
Ask yourself: Why does this scene work so well? What makes the action feel exciting? How does the creator structure the scene? What makes the characters’ reactions feel believable?
Then use those same kinds of structural ideas and energetic vibes (not their actual words) to spark your own work.
Outline Just the Next Step
Lastly, just relax and don’t worry about the entire chapter.
Feeling overwhelmed is one of the biggest drivers of writer’s block. Don’t think about everything you’re going to do from beginning to end. Just focus on one single thing at a time.
“What’s the single thing that’s going to happen now?”
“Oh, John enters the castle.”
Great. Write just that one piece.
Then ask yourself the same question again.
“Oh, John sees the guards.”
Next thing you know, you’re in the rhythm and making great progress.
You don’t have to know exactly how the entire chapter is going to work before you start writing it. Sometimes, you just need to figure out what happens next.
