Say Goodbye to Writer's Block

We’ve all been there. You have a big deadline looming in front of you, and you’re cleaning the house instead of writing. Those dishes have to get done, right? Well they do, but you really should be writing.

So, you sit down to write. But the words just don’t come. You’re staring at a blank page that seems to be scoffing back at you. Writer’s block. Every writer’s nightmare.

I’m here to tell you that writer’s block doesn’t make you a bad writer. It doesn’t mean that you can’t write professionally.

It’s important to understand the reasoning behind your writer’s block. There might be multiple reasons for your writer’s block. It’s different for everyone. You can start to create short-term and long-term solutions to reduce your chances of having writer’s block in the future.

The good news is: writer’s block isn’t a regular problem for me anymore. But, it was. I was able to identify some of the things that triggered my writer’s block and come up with ways to get around it.

Read on to learn more about how to deal with the dreaded writer’s block. If you're ready to take the leap, check out the the Writer’s Academy. Or, join us on the Nursing Now Podcast.

Short-term Solutions

If you don’t know what’s causing your writer’s block yet, that’s okay. There are short-term solutions you can use to get the words flowing again. Don’t be surprised if it takes a few tries to see a difference. Once you get into a groove of implementing your “go-to” solutions, your writer’s block will start to drift away faster.

You may notice that you need to try a few different methods at a time. Or, one method may work one day, but not another. Keep a list of ways you can beat writer’s block for quick reference.

Write Anyways

I know this seems like a weird suggestion, but try writing anyway. Even if it’s bad. Even if you don’t think the sentences are going to make sense. It’s better than staring at a blank page. You can edit a terribly written paragraph to perfection. You can’t edit a blank page.

Once you get the ball rolling, you may even find that the second part of the deliverable is easier to write. A lot of the time the battle is starting deliverables.

Create a Routine

Our mind loves routines. It’s why we should go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day. Our body expects it, and will work to get itself ready for what’s coming. You can use this to your advantage when you write.

Create a little routine so your body knows to get into “writing mode”. This will be different for everyone. I write in the same spot every time. I also write on the same laptop at roughly the same time every day. So, my body has learned to anticipate it.

Build a writing routine that works for you.

Long-term Solutions

If you get writer’s block over and over again, it’s time to figure out why. Is there something you can change to make it easier to write in the future? It may be as easy as tweaking your environment to find something that works better.

Here are some common causes of my own writer’s block:

• Perfectionism
• Exhaustion
• Boredom with a deliverable

Notice that incompetence isn’t on that list. You are worthy of a writing career even if the words don’t always come easily.

Now that I understand why I may be getting writer’s block, I can start to make adjustments.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism was the hardest thing to change to improve my writer’s block. When I first started writing, I wanted every sentence to be perfect. Aren’t pair writers masters of their craft?

What I didn’t understand is that writers don’t usually put out masterpieces on their first attempt. What I always saw was the finished, highly polished daft. I didn’t see the 5 or 6 rounds of revisions that it took to get there.

Once I let go over my crippling perfectionism and just let myself write, it got a lot easier. Always remember: you can edit time and time again to get the tone, cadence, and deliverable you want. What you can’t edit is a blank screen. Just write.

Exhaustion

When I first started freelancing, I was writing all the time, no matter what. I felt like I was playing catch-up with other people who were in the field for years and years. How was I supposed to be on the same playing field when everyone else had such robust portfolios?

So I would write for hours and hours a day. I would write when I was hungry. I would write when the words were swimming on the computer screen in front of my face.

You get the point.

This was atrocious for writer’s block. My brain was just burned out, and I didn’t recognize it. Now, I set limits.

I have a set amount of time I work in a day. If I’m hungry, I stop. I take long walks down my country roads. I make sure that my basic needs are met. We can’t write if we aren’t taking care of our body.

Boredom with a Deliverable

There were times I just didn’t want to write a certain deliverable. So I would avoid it at all costs. They weren’t too complicated to write, but they were very boring.

I would sit down to write and be met with a blank page over-and-over. Even when I was writing these deliverables, it felt like I was forcing out every sentence. I realized that this type of writing just wasn’t for me.

And that’s okay. Every writer doesn’t have to write every deliverable. So, I started saying no to certain types of writing. Not only was I happier, my writer’s block was gone.

Summary

Writer’s block is different for everyone. Pay attention to why you may have writer’s block. If you can notice a pattern, you can create long-term solutions to prevent it from happening in the future.

If you aren’t ready to prevent your writer’s block, there are ways you can beat it. You can try just writing through it. I find this the most helpful. Or, you can try switching between writing and other tasks. Whatever you decide to do, make note of what works. It’ll help you if writer’s block strikes again.

If you’re looking for more tips on writer’s block, check out my course. I have a whole section dedicated to it.