How to overcome (or push through) ‘writer’s block’

How to translate your thoughts to words on a page

It doesn’t matter how often you write, there will always be times when getting started feels harder than usual.

So what should you do when you just can’t seem to translate the thoughts in your head into words on a page?

Don’t overthink it

A surefire way to hinder the writing process is to put too much pressure on yourself. You want brilliance. You want perfection. You want every word and sentence to be just right.

But it’s unrealistic to expect that from a first draft so just relax.

The first draft is only the starting point. Nobody will see it apart from you, so it doesn’t matter if it’s awful. But gives you something to work with.

Think of the first draft as a lump of clay. It might be ugly and useless to begin with, but it can be transformed into something beautiful and useful. It just needs a little work.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself you don’t need to write anything brilliant. Just get something on the page.

What’s the worst that can happen? You write something so dreadful it can never be used so you just don’t use it. All you’ve lost is a bit of time.

But chances are, even if you write a lot of stuff you don’t want to use, there will be the odd gem in there. You can take the good sentences and paragraphs and use them somewhere else.

So just write something. Anything. It doesn’t have to be good. Just push through and write. Eventually, you’ll start getting into the flow, the pressure will lessen and the words will come more easily.

Set deadlines and schedule time to write

Sometimes the problem isn’t putting too much pressure on yourself. Sometimes it’s the opposite – there isn’t enough pressure. There’s no deadline. No accountability. Nobody is relying on you to write.

That’s why so many people talk about writing rather than doing it. They say they want to start a blog or they need to update their website copy or they have a great idea for a book. They just never do anything about it.

There’s no urgency. It’s not a priority. And it’s too easy to put it off and push it to the bottom of the to-do list.

There’s an easy solution to this. Make writing a priority. Set yourself deadlines, schedule time to write, and create some accountability.

When I was a full-time copywriter, I would always give clients a date for when they could expect their copy.

Even if they said there was no rush, I would specify a date. I knew that if I didn’t set a deadline, it would be too easy to procrastinate. I needed the pressure – the accountability.

I do it now with my content. If I tell my readers they’ll get new content every week or month, I make sure they get new content every week or month.

And sometimes the pressure isn’t real. My readers probably wouldn't notice if I didn’t send an email one week. They might not remember me telling them I wanted to write an ebook about a specific subject.

But the idea that somebody might be waiting for my content or might remember my idea gives me the accountability I need.

So if you keep putting off that thing you want to write, set a deadline and create some accountability.

Tell a friend, family member or colleague your plan and ask them to hold you accountable. Announce your intention on social media or in your email newsletter and let your followers or readers hold you accountable. Or join my membership programme and let me and the other members hold you accountable.

Clear your mind of other tasks

Maybe you find writing a challenge because you have other things on your mind.

If you’ve got a big meeting coming up and you’re feeling anxious, you’ll struggle to concentrate. And if you’re thinking about all the other jobs you need to do this week, you won’t be able to focus.

So empty your mind of other tasks before you start. Write down all the tasks you need to do later. Jot down your thoughts about anything that is bothering you. Do a brain dump of anything that’s on your mind. Then put it to one side.

If you write all these things down on paper, your brain will relax because it hasn’t got to remember them. It can switch off from those things for now and come back to them later.

Remove distractions

If your phone rings just as you sit down to write, you’re going to get distracted. If you see notifications popping up as you’re writing, you’re going to get distracted. If you do your writing in a space where people constantly need your attention, you’re going to get distracted.

So before you write, turn your phone to silent and put it in another room or out of reach. Close down your email and any social media tabs you have open on your desktop. Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. Tell people not to bother you for the next hour. In other words, get rid of all distractions so you can focus completely on writing.

Make a list of ideas ready for when you need them

It’s harder to write if you’re staring at a blank page with no idea what to write. And it’s harder to come up with ideas when you’re under pressure.

A good way to avoid this is to note down ideas and thoughts when they come to you so you have them when it’s time to write.

Put a memo in your phone, send yourself an email or voice note. Carry a notebook with you or make notes in the back of your diary. Use a spreadsheet or app. Whatever works for you. But whenever you have an idea or you’re feeling creative, jot it down. That way you’ll have ideas, sentences, and even paragraphs of text to work with when you come to write.

Take a break

If you’re really struggling to get going (and you have the time), go and do something else.

Do something that de-stresses you or relaxes you (and that doesn’t involve your phone or laptop). It could be meditating, going for a walk, exercising, drawing, playing guitar, knitting, having a bath, doing a sudoku puzzle, or even doing a bit of cleaning or ironing.

Quite often when we switch our mind to another task, our brain works on a problem in the background.

I often find going for a run helps me process things and figure out how to approach a piece of writing. So when I feel like the ideas have dried up I get my trainers on. Find something that works for you.

Write about something else

This one might sound odd, but if you’re finding it hard to write the thing you want or need to write, write about something else for fifteen minutes.

If you’re trying to write business content, do some creative writing. Think of a place you love and write a story about it. Or think about a stranger you saw recently in a coffee shop and write a story about them. Or pick a word at random and write a poem about it.

And if you’re struggling to write fiction, write about something real that’s happening in your life – write about what you had for lunch or what you’re doing at the weekend or about something that really pissed you off recently.

It doesn’t matter what you write about, just loosen up your creativity – think of it like warming up before a gym workout.

Just write

If nothing else works, just start writing. It doesn’t matter how awful it is, nobody will see it so just write.

You could start by writing a list of bullet points, questions, or ideas for things you want to cover.

You could use a dictation app to record your thoughts and then use the transcription as a starting point.

Or you could even start by writing something silly like: “Once upon a time I sat down to write a blog post about writer’s block. I started by telling the reader…” Eventually, you’ll get into the flow, and you can go back and delete or rewrite the first few paragraphs.

It doesn’t matter what process you use to write. It’s about finding a process that works for you.

Enjoy it

Writing shouldn’t feel like a chore. If it does, let me help you make it enjoyable again.

I lost my passion for writing for a while, but I found a way to get it back. Now I’m writing more than ever.

Join my writing community or drop me an email letting me know what you’re working on. Writing with others is better than struggling alone.

On April 1st 2025, I’m launching a paid membership. Pledge to become a subscriber today and get your membership half price. Learn more about my membership here.