Smashing Writer's Block: 9 tips on getting inspired

Writer's Block has plagued writers (and artists of all sorts) for millennia. As you spend time writing, you'll develop your own system to help those words come when you feel stuck - but for now, allow me to offer some tips for you to try.

1. Sprint

Or, in other words, write anyway. Being stuck is a pain, but sometimes (oftentimes) the best way to beat it is by simply putting your head down and plodding away even if you feel like nothing good is showing up.

That being said, sprinting is a specific method I've found to be quite valuable. Gather some writing friends or someone else who needs to get something done, set a goal (30 minutes, a specific word count, or accomplishing a task like a chapter or blog post), and both of you start at once. Once you've reached that goal, stop sprinting and check in with your partner to see how they're doing. This is an excellent way to get motivation purely from having an accountability partner. And, personally, I've found measurable goals like a time limit or word count make it easier to see the finish line, and therefore easier to push through.

(Don't have anyone to sprint with? Check out Writer's Vision and the sprinting community on there!)

2. Take a Break

Now, I realize that sometimes just forcing yourself to write isn’t going to cut it. Sometimes you need to step back and take a breather. This could be taking a break from a specific project to write something else you feel inspired to write, or it could mean taking a break from all writing. It could be just stopping for the day, or only for fifteen minutes; or it could be taking six months to reevaluate your work.

Be careful with this, though – don’t use it as an excuse to never finish a project because you hit Writer’s Block somewhere in the middle. If you’re going to drop a project you were intending to finish, think long and hard about that choice. Not finishing projects is one of the big reasons young writers don't make it in the industry - they write on a whim, and as soon as a project gets tough, drop it. Some projects aren't worth your time, sure. But many are, and the character-building to plow through will serve you throughout your life.

3. Switch Things Up

Write something new. Sit somewhere new. Try a different time of day. Wear a different hat (literally). Write blindfolded.

For writing something new, try a flash fiction. Or hop over to this website and raise the stakes. (WARNING: This is the "most dangerous" for a reason. Use at your own risk.) Try your hand at poetry or a new genre. Write an article instead of a story – or a story instead of an article. Compose an anthem for your world’s country, or a motto for your MC’s club. The options are endless.

And yes, sitting somewhere new can be really helpful. Sit at your kitchen table instead of your bedroom, or even outside instead of inside. The change in scenery can provide inspiration and an atmosphere in which your brain works better. Same thing with a different time of day. I've found that my creative writing energy and focus are highest in the morning and early evening. Otherwise, I get distracted - and distraction may be what you're fighting, not Writer's Block. ;P

I'm not kidding about the hat thing, by the way. If you wear a certain something when you do a certain activity, you train your brain to get in gear for that activity when you put on that article of clothing. Jo's writing hat, for example.

And the blindfold wasn't a joke either. Sometimes when things are rough, all you need to do is tie a scarf around your tricksy eyeballs, or put a newspaper over your computer screen, or turn your font color the same color as your page. Why? For those of us who struggle with writing when you can see and want to edit the lines before, this can be a lifesaver. It forces you to focus on the next words instead of the typos and poor grammatical structure. You can’t edit a blank page.

4. Start a Routine

Sometimes the issue is not that you're stuck in a routine - sometimes you're stuck in chaos and your brain has a hard time getting on track because there is no track. So if you don't already have one, try a routine! Sit in the same place, at the same time, with the same props, the same music (or silence), and the same snack or drink every day for a few weeks. See if your brain starts to recognize that place and time and stuff as the "Writing Factory". You may just be surprised. ;)

5. Pray

Now I get that several of you reading this probably aren’t Christians – or, if you are, aren’t exactly the greatest with praying. But simply reaching out to the One who wrote the greatest story, the best Author of the entire universe, the Person who can answer literally any question, can be the lifesaver your story needs.

Be aware that just because you ask for something doesn’t mean you’ll get it. While there are multiple places in the Bible that encourage us to ask God, and he will give, there are conditions. Ask according to his will - and James tells us that if you ask but don't receive, it's because you asked wrongly, to spend it on yourself. Keep in step with God.

But even if the words don’t start pouring from your fingertips as soon as you finish, giving yourself a moment to clear your head, breathe deep, and focus on something – someone – other than your story can be the push you need.

6. Figure Out Your Reasons

Why are you struggling with the Block in the first place? Is it boredom with your story? Distraction? Discouragement? Comparison? Drained energy? Find the root and destroy it.

- If you’re bored, go make a character board or playlist, or talk about your book with a friend/pet/rock/yourself-in-the-mirror/whatever.

- If you’re distracted, turn off the internet and edit offline – or make a separate account on your device solely for writing, with no games or other apps unrelated to writing. Or try writing on paper.

- If you’re discouraged, contact me through the homepage or my email and I’ll try and set fire to that passion again. Or go back and read some old writing to see how far you’ve come. Because unless this is Day 1, you have grown. <3

- If you’re comparing yourself to others, stop looking around and get to work. Unsubscribe from blogs or opt out of newsletters if you need to. Remind yourself that you have to start somewhere to get to where they are in their journey. Look back at old writing of yours and compare it to the writing you’re doing now. Watch your own journey, and comparison will fade into the background.

- If you’re drained, well, the next point will help with that.

7. Recharge your Mental Energy

Mental energy is critical for your creative health, not to mention other tasks you do throughout the day. Learning about mental energy changed my strategy for everyday life and helped me avoid so much burnout. (Special thanks to Josiah DeGraaf at The Young Writer’s Workshop for teaching me and so many others about this important factor.)

Mental energy is the energy (the motivation, the driving force) behind your actions that is drained and replenished through your activities. If you’re feeling absolutely stuck with your writing and just overall tired when you try to type those words out, a lack of mental energy might be your problem.

So how do you fix that?

This could take a while, but every day for a week, keep track of when you feel energized and when you don’t. Write down the activities you did just before your energy strike or lack thereof. Then review your list at the end of the week to find those activities that replenish your energy, and the ones that drain it. For me, writing is an activity that drains me. After I finish writing, I can’t really think straight – definitely not well enough to solve a complicated math problem. So, I tend to go for a walk, or do something musical, or hang out with friends, or do chores, because all of those activities replenish my mental energy, which fills me up for the next draining activity.

This isn't just helpful for writing, either. It revolutionized my life when I found out that I could have a consistent way to get my own energy without just waiting around for it to hit me. I've become more productive, happy, and responsible purely because of this tactic.

9. Seize a Vision

My "vision" for my writing is to showcase the glory of a story - of how every little piece in the character's life, which reflects yours, is being put to use to grow you towards a goal. I want to show that no pain is wasted, that God catches your tears in a bottle, that you would not be the person you need to be if the darkness hadn't happened, that God truly does work everything for the good of those who love Him.

So, sometimes, when I’m really stuck, I envision one reader. One girl or boy who picked up my book and maybe was the only one who was impacted by my words. Maybe they read one line over and over, surprised at how it impacts them or bares a lie they didn’t realize they believed.

One person who is changed by my words.

And I push on. For them.

What is your vision? Who do you write for? Are they worth pressing on?

8. Use Comic Sans

I have yet to try this, but many writers swear by it. If you type out your stories and you get stuck, and you just can't figure it out, try switching your font to Comic Sans. Apparently Comic Sans looks so funky, so much like normal handwriting, that it stimulates some brain cells and helps you write faster. XD While I don't use this one often, I do find that switching my font can be helpful - unless I get distracted by exploring new pretty fonts. XP

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What are your takeaways? How do you deal with Writer’s Block? Do you even get Writer’s Block? What was the most helpful tip on this list? How are you going to apply it?

Until next time,

Take heart, be courageous, and smile while you still have teeth!

-Joelle

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Post inspired by this one by Annabelle Batie. Updated on December 4, 2024.