How to Beat Writer’s Block and Press ‘Publish’

Seven tips and tricks to overcome writer’s block and put your story out there

For a recording of our Creator Workshop, “7 Great Ideas for Your Next Story: How to Beat Writer’s Block and Press Publish,” head here.

What is writer’s block?

Have you ever felt creatively constipated, like words were sitting on the edge of your brain but wouldn’t come out? Do you start to panic when you put pen to paper or when you open a new Word document, feeling overly anxious about saying the right thing in the right way? Or worse, do you feel like you have nothing to say at all? Like your brain is completely empty, thoughtless, bored, and uninspired?

Then congratulations! You know what writer’s block feels like.

The term “writer’s block” was coined in the 1940s by a psychiatrist named Edmund Bergler who was studying writers who suffered from “neurotic inhibitions of their productivity.” He realized that they weren’t lazy or even lacking ideas; they were anxious. They were literally psyching themselves out of the act of writing.

If you’ve felt the same way, fret not! You can overcome your anxiety if you remember the following seven simple things:

1. Be yourself

One of the biggest ways writers psych themselves out is by comparing their writing to someone else’s. It’s cool to admire other people’s work and even want to emulate their success. However, if you’re trying too hard to be like someone else, you forget what your voice sounds like, and you get stuck. Authenticity is key.

2. Eliminate distractions

Another source of writing anxiety is our own inner critic. We tell ourselves that what we’ve written sounds stupid or that we shouldn’t even bother writing because it will sound stupid. Silence that inner critic by finding a quiet place to write. Or play some music without lyrics to drown out your inner critic while still leaving space for your own words.

3. Switch it up

Maybe you’ve put words on paper but none of them seem to make any sense to you. Editing is your best friend! Try rearranging your paragraphs or stanzas or lines to see if they flow better. Or even delete some parts. Don’t get too attached to a sentence, a paragraph, or even an idea—which brings me to my next piece of advice…

4. Don’t force it

If it isn’t flowing, don’t force it. Sometimes you may be having a hard time writing because you’re not really passionate or clear about the point you’re trying to make. It’s okay to change your mind and change your topic to something that flows a little better.

5. Remember your North Star

As an editor, I often tell writers that if they get lost in their writing to remember their North Star. Always keep in mind the point you’re trying to make, who you’re writing for, what they already know, and what they need to know. Beyond that, remember your reason for writing at all, whether it’s to express yourself, to teach people something, or just for fun.

6. Don’t write

Sometimes the best way to get over writer’s block is to take a break. Our brains need rest days sometimes. Step away from the computer before you throw it through a wall and do something else. Inspiration can strike at the most random of times. Maybe if you do some mundane tasks and allow your brain to get empty for a while, there will be more room in there for new ideas.

7. Relax

If you write something that isn’t so great, it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes your piece will knock it out of the park and go viral and get all the engagement you want. Sometimes it won’t. But it’s all good because you wrote something, and you should be proud of that! Also, just because you don’t think something is good doesn’t mean it’s bad. Keep writing; practice makes perfect.

Ways to get going

If you’re ready to start flexing your writing muscle, I’ve come up with some exercises you can do to get loose, get the words flowing, and get some drafts started.

Exercise 1: One word

Think of a word and start a brain dump of things that word makes you think about. It doesn’t have to have a rhyme or reason, it’s just to get the gears in your mind grinding and your imagination activated. Take a look at the following words: pain… freedom… beauty… peace… health. What do they make you think of? There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Don’t think too hard, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Just let it flow!

Exercise 2: Picture perfect

Similar to the previous exercise, take a look at the world around you. What do you see, and what does that evoke in your mind? Remember, inspiration can strike anywhere at any time. Take a look at the image below and see where your most random thoughts take you.

Exercise 3: Write about yourself

Sometimes a prompt can help you get started. We at Medium publish creative writing prompts every Monday through Write Here, a new writer community on Creators Hub.

A good place to start when prompting yourself to write is to write about, well, yourself. Finish this sentence: “I’m here because _____.” Then write another sentence after that. Tell your readers about your journey, whether that be a journey in your car or a journey through life.

Exercise 4: Conflicting thoughts

The best source of writing sometimes is someone else’s work. Someone may share an opinion we don’t necessarily agree with, or we may find ourselves feeling seen by another’s person’s writing and feeling called to respond with our own perspective.

Write a response to the following sentence: “Hard work and discipline are the only ways to be successful.” Do you agree or disagree? How has that sentiment shown up in your own life? Let it out.

Exercise 5: Who’s the expert?

When you’re first starting to break out of a writing slump, it’s helpful to write about things you care about. Think about your passions, the things you know like the back of your hand. It can be a TV show, a book, a recipe, quantum physics, whatever! Take a moment to share your expertise with the world.

Exercise 6: Write a letter

Letter-writing is a fun and easy way to practice writing in your own voice and to practice writing to a specific audience. Write a letter to yourself, a friend, or a celebrity who recently pissed you off. What do they need to hear and how do you want to say it?

Exercise 7: Finish a draft

Maybe by now you’re ready to go back to a story you’ve already started. Remember: Editing is your friend. Try switching your first paragraph to your conclusion. Maybe insert a personal anecdote (like the one you practiced earlier) in your introduction. Remember your reason for writing and see if you can take your draft to another level.

If you’re looking for more prompts to light that creative spark, be sure to check out Write Here, a new Medium community for weekly writing prompts. Happy writing!

Jolie A. Doggett is a senior editor of multicultural content at Medium and a senior editor for ZORA, a Medium publication for, by, and about women of color. She is also the creator and editor of Write Here, a Medium community for writers.