Getting Unstuck: 10 Real Tactics for Beating Writer’s Block

We’ve all been there: sitting in front of a blank page, waiting for inspiration to strike, but instead, nothing comes. The cursor blinks. Time drags. The frustration mounts.

Writer’s block can feel like the ultimate creativity killer, and it hits every writer at some point, no matter how seasoned. The good news is that it’s only temporary. What feels like an impenetrable wall is often just a bump in the road—and there are ways to break through it.

As a contract writer, I hit creative walls all the time—but I can’t afford to stay stuck for long. Early in my career, I’d let writer’s block derail my projects, waiting for the "perfect" idea or sentence to come. That typically ended up in a mad rush at the eleventh hour to crank something out to meet the deadline. It was super stressful, and I wasn’t always happy with the end result.

Now, I’ve learned that waiting and hoping isn’t the answer. When I feel stuck, I fight back and take action.

Recommended reading - Embracing Criticism of Your Writing: Turning Feedback into Fuel

Staring at the screen and ruminating on how "stuck" you are only feeds the block, deepening the sense of frustration. Instead of wrestling with the blank page, take a step back.

Acknowledge that this happens to everyone. It doesn’t mean you're a bad writer, or that you’ll never finish what you’ve started. It’s just part of the process. The key is learning how to shift your mindset and move through the block so you can get back to what you love—writing.

So, how can you get unstuck when writer’s block rears its head? Here are a few simple but effective strategies I’ve tried out and often come back to when motivation is lacking:

1. Change your scenery: Sometimes, just stepping outside or moving to a different room can shift your perspective.
2. Write something else: Work on a different project, or do a quick freewriting exercise to loosen up.
3. Set a timer: Give yourself 10 or 15 minutes to write anything without judgment. No rules, no structure, just words on the page.
4. Work in total silence or chaos: If you usually write with background noise or music, try complete silence. Or, go the opposite way and work in a bustling cafe or while listening to loud music to shock your brain into a different mode. (I love a chaotic cafe for writing!)
5. Talk it out: Sometimes, explaining your ideas to a friend or even speaking them aloud can untangle your thoughts.
6. Mind map your ideas: When you're stuck, creating a visual map of your thoughts can help you organize and connect ideas in a fresh way. It’s a low-pressure exercise that gets your brain moving in a different direction.
7. Write the worst sentence possible: Give yourself permission to intentionally write something terrible. It takes the pressure off perfection and often leads to a surprising breakthrough once the fear of "messing up" is gone.
8. Set a micro-goal: Instead of trying to write an entire section, aim to write just one sentence or paragraph. Often, getting started is the hardest part, and once you do, the momentum builds.
9. Use a voice recorder: Skip writing altogether and record yourself speaking. Talk through the section you're stuck on. Sometimes, voicing your ideas helps clarify them in a way that writing can't.
10. Read something inspiring: Grab a book, article, or poem—anything that gets your mind moving in a different direction. ReEmbracing Criticism of Your Writing: Turning Feedback into Fuel ading someone else's words can often spark your own.

Remember, writer’s block is just a pause—not a full stop. The words are there; you just need to coax them out in a way that feels manageable and fun again.

Keep experimenting until you find what works for you!

You might also like:

• Who Are Your Writing Mentors?
• Finding Your Own Voice: The Difference Between Imitation and Inspiration
• 10 Must-Haves for Your Freelance Writing Contracts & Agreements

Originally published at The Writers Den .