cover letter writer's block

Getting Over Cover Letter Writers Block Like A Boss

If you’re applying for jobs, that means you’re writing cover letters back to back, and you’re customizing each one to meet the needs of the employer (or at least you should be). There’re really no short-cuts around this process. If you use repetitive letters it may come off as impersonal to the employer, and might not go over well. You can make the process of writing individual cover letters much easier by applying strategy. Not a long step by step plan to memorize, just a simple mantra that’ll remind you what it is exactly that you’re even doing when you get stuck and don’t know what to write. Overcome cover letter writer’s block like a boss by looking at the process from this point of view. These are some tips for how to get over cover letter writers block.

It’s A Story

Remember that when you’re writing a cover letter, no matter how formal the organization, you’re still only writing a story. And it’s about what you know about the job, what you’re capable of doing that applies to the job, and what makes you a great and awesome person. When you’re writing about the employer you want to mention their achievements, a project or two that they’ve completed successfully, or, their core values that you feel most connected with. Make this part official by including dates of occurrence and a short comment of how their success made you feel.

Capabilities

Writing about your capabilities is easy too. Visualize a simple list of your skills that apply specifically to the job and write about them. Remember that you’re also sending your resume so you don’t want to include too much detail, just the majorly applicable skills. (For posts that are less formal, you can include this part as a bulleted list.) This is another tip for how to get over cover letter writers block.

Exceptional Skills

Finally, you need to talk about you. By this, I don’t mean your favorite pizza place. More like your unique features. Are you overtly personable? Charismatic? Have exceptional persuasive skills? These are highlights about yourself that you should discuss to make you stand out more with the employer. Also remember that when you’re writing cover letters you have to provide proof, so be sure to state when and what else happened in the instance that you were being wonderful! This is another tip for how to get over cover letter writers block.

What Does The Employer Want

Comprehension of audience is key in everything we do! To make writing your cover letter easier, pay careful attention to the job posting. Sometimes the employer will request specific information for you to include in your letter. You want to show that you’re capable of following directions and that you’re attentive to what the job entails. An example of somethings the employer might ask of you are:  answering a writing prompt, including links to your professional sites right within the cover letter, or simply to include a sentence that shows you’ve read the entire post!

Here’s Why It’s Important To Keep Your Work Life and Personal Life Separate

Job description.

Another way to understand the employer is by copying the style of the job description. Is it a short post explaining job requirements and responsibilities in list form? Then you can probably offer a brief cover letter responding to it, that focuses on your skills and capabilities. If the post is in-depth and formal with complicated language, then you probably want to respond as such. Write a detailed story, using formal connotations and organized structure. It’s the story of you, it’s just told in a professional tone. This is another tip for how to get over cover letter writers block.

Don’t Get Stressed Out

Finally, don’t get stressed out! Job searching is tough but eventually you’ll get to the point where you’re breezing through posts like a pro. Remember that employers are putting in a great effort too, by evaluating numerous applicants and their capabilities. Make it easier for them and yourself by standing out. Write cover letters that tell stories, attract attention, and suit the situation. And don’t forget to take a break after every few posts to let your mind relax!

Which of these cover letter writers block experiences have you had? Let us know below.

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Nathaniel Tower

Juggling writing and life

How to Get Over Writer’s Block – 17 Proven Tips

Last Updated on February 18, 2024 by Nathaniel Tower

Whether you’re a brand new writer or a seasoned veteran with a handful of bestsellers to your name, there’s one thing that’s inevitable: writer’s block.

Every writer struggles with writer’s block. Even great writers deal with this dreaded condition. Whether you’re writing for work or pleasure, writer’s block can set in at nearly any time and wreck your productivity. When it happens, it can make even the best writers feel completely helpless. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways you can overcome writer’s block.

What is writer’s block?

Before we dive into the ways to beat writer’s block, let’s clearly define what writer’s block is.

Simply put, writer’s block is the inability to write productively .

Here are two primary symptoms of writer’s block:

• You can’t come up with anything to write. You just sit in front of a blank page and can’t physically writer anything.
• You can write words, but they aren’t satisfactory or don’t fit together cohesively to form the piece you want to write.

In other words, writer’s block prevents you from getting the task of writing done. It doesn’t mean you aren’t trying, nor does it mean you’ve lost your skills as a writer. It means your ability to write is being hindered by some internal or external force. Whether this is a mental obstacle or physical barrier will depend on your exact circumstances. Either way, writer’s block affects every writer and can have a dramatic impact on your production.

Writer’s block can be especially frustrating for writers who have limited time on their hands. If you have a full-time job along with parenting duties, writer’s block can be a crippling experience that makes you question whether you even want to write at all. Just imagine: after a long day of work and parenting, you finally sit down to write only to have nothing come out.

What causes writer’s block?

Writer’s block can occur for many different reasons, and it can vary from day to day. You might have the best writing session of your life on Sunday and then come back on Monday with a dozen things that prevent you from writing.

Here are a few of the most common reasons writers experience the inability to write:

• Mental fatigue – Your brain is too exhausted to get the right words out.
• Tiredness/sleepiness – Your body is too physically tired to write.
• Lack of motivation – You don’t really want to write.
• Lack of a good idea – You have nothing to write about (or what you’re trying to write about isn’t very good).
• Distraction – Your mind and/or body is constantly wandering to other things.
• Doubt – You don’t think you can be a writer.
• Self-criticism – You don’t think what you’re writing is good enough.
• Sense of failure – You feel like you haven’t succeeded as a writer up to this point, so you don’t think it’s worth trying.
• Lack of routine or organization – Your writing habits are too messy and prevent you from writing.

None of these things mean you aren’t a good writer . They are temporary obstacles that you can overcome with the right routine and positive thinking.

Before you can determine the best writer’s block tip, you need to understand the cause of your writer’s block.

Is writer’s block a myth?

Some writers swear that writer’s block isn’t a real thing. They call it an excuse. While there are some writers who never seem to experience this phenomenon, it’s certainly not a myth. The inability to perform has been well-documented in many different walks of life, including writing. Saying it’s just a myth won’t help you overcome it. Understanding the root cause of your writer’s block and trying proven methods for beating it will get you writing again.

17 easy tips to overcome writer’s block

A lot of lists of writer’s block tips consist of a bunch of things you should write instead of whatever you are trying to write. However, when you are experiencing writer’s block, you sometimes can’t write at all. The tips below primarily focus on things to do outside of writing that will help you get back in the writing mood.

When writer’s block sets in, don’t sit there for hours trying to force yourself to beat it. Instead try one or more of these tips from expert writers to beat it.

1. Reread the best thing you’ve written

Looking at something great you’ve created can inspire you and remind you that you can do this. If you’ve been published in print, grab a copy of that book or magazine and read your own work out loud to yourself. Take joy in your own great writing. You are a writer, and you will beat this!

2. Read a chapter from your favorite book

The words of others often inspire us to write. Pick up your favorite book and devour those amazing words. As you read, think about what the author did to make you love this writing so much. Put yourself in that author’s mind and try to imagine what writing this book must have been like. Make sure to limit yourself to a single chapter so your writing session doesn’t turn into a reading session.

3. Listen to a favorite song

It doesn’t matter if it’s classical, The Beatles, heavy metal, or a guilty-pleasure pop song. Listening to one of your favorite songs will put you in a happy place that makes you forget about the fact that you can’t write. And when you’re in a better mood, you can often be more productive with your writing. Try one of the best albums to listen to while you write .

4. Have a snack

If you’re too hungry or thirsty, it might be your stomach that’s keeping you from writing. Get yourself a nice little snack. Don’t stuff yourself full or chug a bunch of booze, but give yourself enough to keep those hunger pangs away. While some writers swear they write better when drunk, you shouldn’t try to incorporate a lot of alcohol into your routine to beat writer’s block. It might leave you with a headache or render you unable to write at all.

5. Go for a walk or a run

Inspiration often comes when you’re exercising, especially if you’re doing it outdoors. As you get a little sweaty, take the time to get lost in the world around you and let that be your inspiration to write. Just be careful not to run too fast or you might forget to think or wear yourself out and leave yourself too tired to write later.

6. Phone a friend

Having a conversation with a friend, especially another writer, can inspire you to write something. It’s okay to talk about your writer’s block, but that doesn’t have to be the center of your conversation. Chances are, your friend has had writer’s block before, so you might be able to get some additional advice. But this is also a time to connect and focus on things other than not being able to write.

7. Turn off your phone

The famous writers of yesteryear had it easy. They didn’t have an endless string of distractions at their fingertips. A smartphone is an absolute curse for writer’s block. You’re better off not even having your phone around when you’re writing.

8. Meditate

Sometimes we can’t write because our minds are too busy or because our minds and bodies are exhausted. Meditating can help this all melt away. Put yourself in a quiet space with no distractions, close your eyes, and just focus on your breathing. Don’t try to think about anything. This isn’t the time for you to create writing ideas. Just relax.

9. Eliminate temptation by locking down your computer

Temptation exists everywhere. You’ve already turned off your phone, but your computer gives you millions of options other than writing. Fortunately, there are lots of tools available to help you eliminate these distractions without switching to a typewriter. A few of the best tools are:

• FocusWriter

Or you could always just try using pen and paper instead of your computer. I often beat writer’s block simply by switching to a trusty old notebook.

10. Offer yourself a reward

It’s okay to motivate yourself to write with a tangible reward. Use something you’ve wanted to buy for a while as your motivation. If you can get through this writing session successfully, then you can purchase something from your Amazon wishlist. But don’t use this trick too often or you might go broke!

11. Take a break

One trick for when you can’t sleep is to get out of bed for a bit. Try this same approach when you have writer’s block. Instead of sitting at your writing station, get up and do something else for 15 minutes. Fold laundry. Do jumping jacks. Organize your sock drawer. Whatever you do during the break, keep it relatively mundane. If it’s boring enough, you won’t be able to contain your writing excitement when you get back to it. And when time is up, make sure you get back to your writing environment with no excuses.

Most writers feel like they have to write every day , but sometimes it helps to take a day or two off instead. Don’t just sit there staring at a blank page or screen. If nothing is coming to you, don’t try to force it.

12. Do a brain exercise

Sometimes your writer’s block comes from lack of mental stimulation. You need to flip the brain on to get writing. By doing a quick brain exercise such as a brain teaser, a puzzle, etc., you can motivate your brain to come up with the power to write.

13. Stop trying to be perfect

This is especially applicable if you are in the drafting phase, but it can work for any writing session. A lot of our writer’s block comes from only wanting to write the perfect words and not wanting to make any mistakes. Accept that you won’t be perfect every time you write and just get your thoughts out on the page. Remember, you can always edit them later.

14. Think positive

Since doubt and self-criticism are two major causes of writer’s block, it’s important to remind yourself that you can do this. Instead of focusing on how you can’t write at the moment, think of all the good things you’ve accomplished. You don’t have to focus solely on writing. Just take a few minutes and only let positive thoughts enter your mind. Then turn back to your computer and start to write.

15. Write something else instead

As I mentioned at the top of this list, most of these tips encourage you to do something besides write. Those tips are especially helpful when you find yourself completely unable to write. In some cases, writing something else will work wonders. When the words aren’t flowing on the manuscript or document you’re trying to write, then shift gears and write something else.

It often helps to write something that doesn’t require as much energy to get you started. For example, if you can’t get anything out for your novel, just write a paragraph about your day. Or even just write a list. This is a great trick to use when you really want to write but can’t will yourself to write the task at hand. Sometimes the simplest way to overcome writer’s block is simply by writing!

Here are some things you can try writing instead when writer’s block hits:

• A paragraph about your day
• An outline for your next story or piece
• A list of your favorite things to write about
• A list of your goals as a writer
• A goofy story that’s fun to write but doesn’t take much thought
• A simple writing exercise
• Pretty much anything else that’s easy to write and can build your confidence while taking your mind off your temporary failures
• If you prefer a more challenging writing exercise to break out of your writer’s block, try one of these great short story ideas

While not every trick is guaranteed to work every time, these tips are proven to get writers of all levels back in the flow of a great writing session.

16. Set deadlines

Setting a deadline can be an effective way to beat writer’s block because it forces you to sit down and write. When using deadlines to beat writer’s block, make sure your deadline is real, and find a way to enforce it. What happens if you don’t meet the deadline. There needs to be a real consequence.

Mark the deadline on your calendar and make sure that deadline is clearly visible whether you’re writing or not.

17. Get some help from artificial intelligence

I’m not a big proponent of using AI writing tools to do your writing for you, but they can help you generate some ideas. If you’re completely stuck and just can’t figure out a way to move forward with your writing, give an AI tool like ChatGPT a shot. Just make sure you use it as a tool and don’t let it do your writing for you.

Bonus tips to beat writer’s block

If the 17 steps above don’t help you beat writer’s block, then here are a couple more ideas that could work:

Try a writing prompt – there are hundreds of great writing prompts or short story ideas that can help stimulate your brain into writing something great.

Test an AI-writing tool – AI, or artificial intelligence, writing is on the rise. While I’m not a big fan of AI-writing tools for a variety of reasons, they can help you overcome writer’s block by giving you some good ideas. Seeing what an AI writer produces can also make you more confident in your own writing!

Things that make writer’s block worse

If you are experiencing writer’s block, avoid the following things that might make it worse:

• Staring at a blank document on your computer screen
• Forcing yourself to keep working on the same thing
• Scrolling through Facebook or Instagram
• Doing anything on your phone
• Watching TV
• Doubting yourself
• Thinking negative thoughts about your writing
• Ignoring the root causes of your writer’s block
• Telling yourself that writer’s block isn’t real
• Waiting for inspiration to hit

None of these things are likely to get you into the mood to write, and several of them can be destructive to your writing habits. Always think positive and be proactive about getting back your motivation. It isn’t going to come to you if you just sit there.

Final thoughts on beating writer’s block

Remember, different things work for different writers. When you experience writer’s block, you should try different approaches to see what works best for you. What works one day might not be effective the next day, so don’t get stuck on one method.

The best approach for beating writer’s block is to start using one of these tips as soon as you feel writer’s block set in. The sooner you beat it, the more productive your writing session will be.

What are your tips for beating writer’s block? Share your secrets in the comments. And don’t forget to share this post on all your favorite channels.

How to Get Over Writer’s Block FAQs

How do you get over writer's block.

Getting over writer’s block can be as simple as walking away from your writing space for a bit or trying to write anything else, even if it’s not perfect or not what you wanted to write. There are lots of different tips and tricks you can try to get over writer’s block. The important thing is to find out what works for you and stick with it.

What causes writer's block?

Writer’s block can be caused by a lot of different things. You might be too tired or too distracted. You might be having a bad day. You might be trying to write something that isn’t good enough or doesn’t motivate you. Or you might just be doubting your abilities. When you are experiencing writer’s block, it’s important to figure out why and then find a method that will help you beat it.

How long does writer's block last?

Writer’s block can last as long as you allow it to last. It could be hours, days, or even weeks. Writer’s block will never be permanent unless you let it be. The sooner you address the core issue, the sooner you’ll be able to find a method that works to get you writing again.

Is writer's block a real thing?

Yes, writer’s block is a real thing that affects nearly every writer at some point in their career. Although some people claim writer’s block is a myth, it’s an actual physical or mental barrier that prevents you from being able to write in a given moment. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to overcome writer’s block.

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2 thoughts on “ How to Get Over Writer’s Block – 17 Proven Tips ”

Exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you!

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• Career Planning
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• Cover Letters

Block Format Style Cover Letter Template

What is Block Format?

How to use a letter template, block format cover letter template.

• Modified Block Format

Semi-Block Format

One additional alternative, how to send an email cover letter, more cover letter examples.

Block format is the most common format for a professional business letter. It’s the easiest format to use and simplest to set up in your word processing program. The block format is perfect for a cover letter created to accompany a resume as part of a job application. Keep reading to learn more about block format cover letters and review examples and templates.

In block format, everything including your contact information, the date, the employer’s contact information, the body of the letter, and the greeting and closing, is all left-justified. It gives a clean and professional look to your letter.

In block format, the letter is single-spaced, with the exception of a space between each paragraph (as well as a space above and below the date, and above and below the salutation and signature).

A letter template  is a great starting point for your own cover letter. You can use a template to decide the best way to  format your letter  so that it looks polished and professional. You can also use a template to decide what information to put in each paragraph of your letter.

However, a template is only a jumping-off point. You can, and should, make any changes to the template that you want. Remove anything from the template to fit your personal circumstances. For example, if you don’t know the name of the recipient, you do not have to include a salutation.

You can also change the style and format of the cover letter template. For example, if the letter is in Arial font, and you want your letter to be in Times New Roman, just change the font.

Make sure that your letter includes information specific to you and is organized in a way that highlights your skills and qualifications. Finally, be sure to proofread your letter before submitting it thoroughly.

Your Name Your Address Your City, State Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email 

Name ( If you don't have contact information for the employer, start your letter directly after your contact information ) Title Organization Address City, State Zip Code 

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name (or other  salutation ):

First Paragraph: Why You Are Writing.  Remember to include the name of a mutual contact, if you know someone at the organization. Mention the job you are interested in and where you heard about the position. State that you think you’re an ideal candidate for the job. Be clear and concise. 

Middle Paragraphs:   What You Have to Offer.  Convince the reader that he or she should grant the interview or appointment you requested in the first paragraph. Make connections between your abilities and their organization’s needs. Use specific examples from past work experiences to prove your skills and qualifications.

Final Paragraph: How You Will Follow Up.  It is your responsibility to  follow up  if feasible. State that you will do so and provide the professional courtesy of indicating when (one week's time is typical).

Your Signature  (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name

Modified Block Format 

In addition to regular block format, there are similar, but somewhat different options you can also use for resume cover letters, such as modified block and semi-block format. With the modified block format, your name, address, and the date are on the top right, and the closing and your signature are on the bottom right. The employer's contact information (and the remainder of the letter) is left justified. 

To get the information such as your name, address, date, closing, and signature on the right side of the page, begin writing at the center of the page. It’s a slightly more informal format for a letter and is a format you can use with someone with whom you are at least somewhat familiar.

A third option is a semi-block format. Like the modified block format, your name, contact information, and the date are on the top right, and the sign-off and signature are also on the right. However, there is also an indentation at the start of each paragraph. It’s the most informal letter format.

If you are submitting a traditional resume on bond paper to an employer, you can enhance your presentation by using the same header (with your contact information) that you’ve used for your resume – even if this header is centered on the page (which many are). Simply copy-and-paste the header to your new cover document, then use the block format (left-justified) for the rest of your letter.

Make sure that you use the same font for your cover letter as you’ve used for your resume. This should be a conservative, easily readable font such as Times New Roman, Arial, Courier, or Verdana.

This presentation style works well if you are delivering your cover letter and resume through snail mail, in person, or as Word documents attached to an email.

Applying for a job by way of email means you’ll also send your  cover letter via email . Be sure to list your name and the job title in the  subject line  of the email message. Include your contact information in your email signature, and don't list the employer contact information.

Start your email message with the  salutation  and follow the block format for the rest of the message. For more tips, review:  How to Apply for Jobs via Email .

Review  sample cover letters  for a variety of scenarios including a follow-up letter, inquiry letters, job/industry-specific sample cover letters, cold contact, and referral letter samples.

Writer’s block—wanting to write and not writing—is a persistent problem that every writer (yes, every writer, even Stephen King ) deals with. At its simplest, it manifests as a lack of ideas. What do I write about? At its most pernicious, writer’s block can convince you that you lack what it takes to be a writer. We’re here to tell you: that’s simply not true.

Writer’s block is certainly a tough problem to solve. If we all knew how to get rid of writer’s block, the world would be overflowing with books, completed effortlessly and ahead of schedule.

Nonetheless, writer’s block doesn’t have to be chronic, or debilitating. In this article, we’ll look deeply into what causes writer’s block, and describe how to overcome writer’s block—in whatever way it might be manifesting in your writing. But first, what is writer’s block?

What is Writer’s Block?

What is writer’s block? It manifests in different ways in different writers. It might feel like you’re turning on a faucet, but the water has run out; it might feel like you’re hitting your head against a brick wall, jostling language, waiting for the words to arrive.

No matter how it manifests, all strains and variants of writer’s block share the same issue: a desire to write, and an inability to do so.

More specifically, it’s an inability to get into the flow of writing . The moment you set your pen tip to paper (or fingers to keyboard), your brain is plagued with questions, concerns, distractions. What do I write about? I don’t know how to write that. Where do I start? That wouldn’t make sense. Is this something I would write? I should really do the laundry first.

What causes writer’s block, and how do you staunch the flow of intrusive thoughts? Let’s dive deeper.

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What Causes Writer’s Block

Every writer experiences different roadblocks on their writing journey. Some of those roadblocks are external: rejections from literary journals, disagreements with book publishers, a lack of time and resources, and the like.

However, far more of those roadblocks are internal: self-doubt, perfectionism, low motivation, etc. The internal roadblocks we face around our writing practice are what cause writer’s block.

Our internal roadblocks in our writing practice—self-doubt, perfectionism, low motivation—are what cause writer’s block.

In writer’s block, something internal dams the flow of creativity. Our internal worlds shape how we access our creativity , so getting rid of writer’s block means working through whatever psychological barriers are inhibiting us.

The secret to a successful writing habit is writing every day, without inhibition or prescriptive judgments. So, to overcome writer’s block, we need to work towards a productive writing mentality.

6 Manifestations of Writer’s Block

Below are six common types of writer’s block, broken down one by one. For each type, I give advice I’ve collected and experimented with over the years on how to cure writer’s block.

Here’s what to do when…

1. Writer’s block: You feel motivated but uncreative

Often, feeling boxed in mentally is the result of feeling boxed in physically. When we’re confined to the same familiar spaces, our brains fall into repetition, and we create habits of stasis rather than habits of imagination. You need something to kickstart that creative flow.

Sometimes, the solution is to simply daydream.

Sometimes, the solution is to simply daydream. What happens if you spend an hour staring at the ceiling or out the window—what worlds can you come up with when undisturbed from technology or other people?

Try putting yourself in new, unfamiliar spaces.

Other times, you might need to kick your brain in action by putting yourself in new, unfamiliar spaces. Maybe find a new space to write: a hidden park bench, the back of a library, your best friend’s balcony, anywhere.

2. Writer’s block: You feel creative but have no motivation

Sometimes the opposite is true: you can dream up new stories, worlds, and metaphors, but you can’t seem to put them on the page. Why won’t the words come out?

Create an environment and schedule conducive to writing.

This is where creating a writing habit becomes useful. We need to train our brains to write by creating an environment and schedule conducive to writing. If you can make yourself sit in the same space at the same time every day, you will encourage your creative motivation through sheer force of repetition.

Where do you feel most creative? It may be at your desk or in the kitchen; it may also be in the bathtub, on your roof, or squirreled away in the closet. Find where you’re most creative, and write there frequently.

3. Writer’s block: Self-doubt is getting in the way

For some people, overcoming writer’s block means overcoming the voice of self-doubt. Self-doubt is only natural: when we write, we’re creating new worlds and human beings. That’s a tall order, and it can be easy to doubt that you’re writing “the right way.”

Self-doubt is a natural response to writing, but it doesn’t have to inhibit your creative flow.

Self-doubt is a natural response to the writing process, but it doesn’t have to inhibit your creative flow. Otherwise, you end up justifying your own self-doubt, which prevents you from writing the next Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

This is one of the hardest writer’s blocks to work through, but you’re not alone in feeling it. Many successful authors have their fair share of self-doubt. John Steinbeck, for example, wrote that he was “assailed by [his] own ignorance and inability” while writing The Grapes of Wrath —that great American novel which did win a Pulitzer.

Often, self-doubters will assume their work will be meaningless before it even reaches the page. If you’re experiencing a bout of writer’s block and doubt your ability to create, try to hold back that judgment. Allow yourself to write, even if that writing doesn’t meet your standards: you can always edit later, and the act of creation is the most important thing a writer can commit to. Think of it this way: every word you write brings you a word closer to the Nobel prize.

4. Writer’s block: You’re out of ideas

You want to write, you’re feeling creative, and you have time to sit at your desk and produce something. There’s only one problem: what do you write about?

First, ask yourself this: are you struggling to come up with ideas at all, or are you dismissing every idea you come up with? If it’s the first one, then prompt generators are your best friend. Hit refresh as many times as you want, add or subtract certain requirements, and have fun in the sandbox of language. You won’t be out of ideas for long!

You might also find writing exercises, like the ones in this article on literary devices , useful for juicing your creativity.

If it’s the second problem, then you might need to take a step back and actually slow your thoughts down . You might be rushing through ideas too quickly, and rather than finding your groove and setting words on the page, your thoughts are spinning like tires in a ditch.

This is your reminder, then: slow down, chew through your thoughts slowly, and imagine yourself inside of your ideas. You might find something unique or surprising, and realize that everything you need as a writer is already inside of you.

5. Writer’s block: You’re too exhausted to write

Let’s face it: this world was not built for writers. Very few of us have the luxury of dedicating our entire lives to literature: we have jobs to work, bills to pay, kids to raise, and thousands of decisions to make. When we find time to sit at the writing desk, we don’t always have the energy to write.

Try to block out some time, even just 5 minutes, to journal or dream on the page before going to sleep.

Our personal and professional lives are often what causes writer’s block. If this is the case, but you really want to write, then take a step back and focus on your needs first. Try to block out some time, even just 5 minutes, to journal or dream on the page before going to sleep. Over time, this habit will start to produce the writing you want to create.

Overcoming writer’s block usually begins with habits, and habits can overcome even the fatigue of day-to-day life. Be gentle with yourself, but be diligent!

6. Writer’s block: You aren’t sure what causes writer’s block for you

If all writers knew the reason they couldn’t write, then they’d know how to cure writer’s block. Sadly, this isn’t the case. It might take a couple of weeks to diagnose yourself with writer’s block, and it might take a couple more weeks after that to figure out the block. This is something that, sooner or later, most writers grapple with.

If you’ve made it this far into the article and you’re not sure what’s causing your block, try the following. Grab an empty sheet of paper and write the words “I can’t write because…” and then finish the sentence. Jot down as many reasons as you want, including false reasons, made up scenarios, and creative fantasies. If you can’t write because you’ve been abducted by aliens, write it down—and, consider what that could be a metaphor for.

Then, write another sentence: “I want to write because…” and do the same thing. Write because you want to win an Edgar Award, or because you want to heal from something emotional, or because you want your book read in high school English classes.

Finally, write this: “I will write because…” and go from there. I will write because I can. I will write because I’m good at writing. I will write because I’m bad at writing. I will write because I want to, and that’s all the reasoning I need.

This is an exercise in self-dialogue, which helps us navigate our emotions through the sheer act of creation. Instead of overcoming a block in the flow of language, try diverting the river, see where it leads you.

How to Get Rid of Writer’s Block: Make Writing a Habit

Ultimately, working through writer’s block is about developing practices that make writing a habit—on good days, bad days, and everything in between. What this looks like is completely up to you and what will really work in your case. Start experimenting!

Overcoming Writer’s Block Starts with Experimentation

Experiment with where, when, and how you write.

Especially for newer writers, the best thing you can do is understand what writing habits are best for you. Experiment with where, when, and how you write to find a place and style of writing that consistently lets you get words onto the page.

Your next story or poem might be best written on a typewriter. It might also be best written while staring at your phone, tucked in bed at 1 in the morning. That’s not to promote unhealthy sleeping habits, only to suggest that “real writing” can happen in any space.

Maybe you’re too tired to write when you finish work at night. Try writing in the morning! Maybe your laptop keeps dragging you onto Twitter. Buy a notebook! Maybe writing feels boring and isolating. Try it in a coffee shop!

Another great way to get the words flowing is to join a writers group. Depending on where you live, you might find writing groups on sites like Meetup or Eventbrite. If all else fails, check your local library.

Clear away any preconceived notions of what “writing” looks like, and find what will make your writing process work for you. If you try to force yourself to write in one specific way, you might be stifling your creativity and preventing ideas from coming naturally.

Consistent Creative Motivation Comes from Creative Habits

Overcoming writer’s block means setting the words down, no matter how great, terrible, logical, or nonsensical they are. The most successful writers have learned how to get rid of writer’s block by experimenting with when, where, and how they write, found the processes that best suit their writing needs, and developed a rock-solid writing habit .

The most successful writers have found the writing processes that work best for them, and developed a rock-solid writing habit .

Stephen King writes 10 pages each day, even on weekends and holidays. Haruki Murakami runs a 5K to clear his mind. Allegedly, Agatha Christie liked to sit in the bathtub, eating apples and looking at crime scene photographs, especially when she was out of ideas. The lengths writers go to to write!

How to Stop Writer’s Block Before it Starts

Two practices are critical for both preventing and overcoming writer’s block: productive self-talk, and forming a writing habit.

Can writer’s block be prevented? Not entirely, but there are many things you can do to stave off a wave of blank pages. Each of the writer’s block exercises we’ll be recommending below involve at least one of the following two things:

• Productive self-talk, and
• Forming a writing habit.

These practices are critical. Even if you don’t have writer’s block, you should incorporate them both into your writing life.

Positive self-talk allows us to transcribe our emotional worlds onto the paper: if we believe in ourselves and trust in our feelings, then we can shut out the world and trust our fingers to create something beautiful.

And if we put ourselves in a certain place—both physically and mentally—we can “ Pavlov ” ourselves into being creative during certain parts of the day.

We have to coax our creativity out, in the same way you might coax a cat out from under the bed. Be patient, kind, and habitual; eventually, creativity will curl up in our laps.

Overcoming Writer’s Block: Join a Writing Community

Although writers are often solitary creatures, writing thrives best with community support . Involve some trusted writers into your creative habits: join our Facebook group or sign up for a creative writing class with our award-winning instructors. (We even have a course that’s all about juicing your creativity with daily writing prompts.) Let’s beat writer’s block together!

Sean Glatch

[…] and we must have all faced what is commonly known as Writer’s Block, namely times when we feel totally uninspired and utterly bereft of ideas. This is indeed a terrible feeling, the desperate state of intellectual thirst and hunger in which […]

[…] Here’s a pretty good article to check out. […]

“Imagine yourself inside of your ideas” I love this advice. Thanks for the links in #4– “prompt generator” and “literary devices.” I appreciate your motivation and techniques to CREATE A WRITING HABIT! —that’s my personal bugaboo. Great article to bookmark!

Keeping up with a writing habit is definitely my biggest challenge as well. Thanks, Julia!

The tortured writer depicted at the start of this article could be a doppelgänger for someone I know…

I feel so seen to know there’s a writer’s block from being too exhausted to write. That’s the story of my life. Thanks so much for the tips!

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Sep 20, 2021

How to overcome writer's block

Wondering how to overcome writer's block? Get tips to get over the blockage and see how AI can be a potential cure to get rid of it once and for all.

Samuli Pehkonen

Table of contents

Ever found yourself staring at a blank page or screen, trying to write but unable to find the right words? This is writer's block, and almost everyone struggles with it at some point in their lives.

The silver lining is that you're not alone. As the problem is so common, there are lots of knowledge on it available and proven ways to get over it. 

Figuring out how you overcome writer's block is a delicate process that is often highly subjective and depends on each individual. However, it's most often about conquering any self-doubt and knowing that you're able to push through with hard work.

So, what to do when you have writer's block? This blog post will go through what writer's block means, its various causes and symptoms, and share tips, strategies and cures to overcome the hurdle.

What is writer's block?

Writer's block is a condition in which a person is completely unable to produce text, the amount they can write decreases, or they feel that writing is much harder than it used to be. It's not solely measured by time passing without writing, but rather as time passing without productivity in the task at hand. By definition, this stall isn't considered due to commitment problems or lacking writing skills. Instead, it can be caused by various internal and external factors, which we'll cover in the next chapter. 

Writer's block is most typically associated with creative writing. Another word for it is blank page syndrome which perhaps more accurately describes a failure to put any kind of writing to the paper. However, these synonyms are used interchangeably.

Most people who have to complete written work as part of their job experience it at some point in their careers. It's perfectly natural for students, professional writers, and business executives to combat writer's block. It's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, the world has been aware of it ever since 1947, and the growing reputation of psychiatry has made the term gain more recognition all the way today. If you are one of the people struggling to turn your ideas into text, know it's said that even some of the greatest writers of all time have had to push through writer's block.

Writer's block affects everyone differently. The common symptoms it might cause include anxiety or worry, depression, troubles at the workplace or school, muscle tension, headaches, and digestive troubles related to stress. Despite this creative stall not being a diagnosable mental health condition, it is as real as any challenge taking a toll on your mentality and should be taken seriously.

The good news is that this mental blockage is a well-documented problem, with much research done about its causes.

What causes writer's block?

Writer's block may have several causes, and it can come up in all different kinds of situations.

Some blocks originate within a person's work. You may run out of inspiration or be distracted by other tasks and events related to your work. In contrast, others may be caused by unfavorable circumstances in your personal life or career. Examples of such adversaries are physical or mental illness, relationship problems, financial pressures, or a sense of failure.

The high pressure to produce text in itself may contribute to writer's block, especially if you need to work in ways that are against your natural tendencies. Some of us express ourselves more naturally through speech than writing. For some, producing text has been challenging since learning to write.

Research  by Mike Rose states that writer's block can be caused by a person's history in writing, such as rules and restrictions from the past. You can feel hesitant about what you write based on how others perceive it in such a situation. Some other causes of writer's block have been due to  writer's anxiety . In his book,  Conceptual Blockbusting , James Adams notes that various reasons for blank screen syndrome. These include fear of taking a risk, "chaos" before the actual writing begins, and an inability to incubate ideas or judging them, as well as a lack of motivation. 

However, Rosanne Bane – a creativity coach and writing teacher for more than 20 years –  suggests  that getting stuck with writing is more than just a turn of mind. A human brain shifts control from the cerebral cortex to the limbic system associated with instinctual processes, such as a "fight or flight" response under stress which hinders the creative process. The person is typically unaware of this change, leading them to believe they are creatively "blocked".

Also, physical damage can produce writer's block.  For example,  brain injuries can cause an extreme form of writer's block known as agraphia , which turns off the brain's process of translating thinking into writing. Other brain-related and neurological disorders such as epilepsy are known to cause the inability to produce text.

Next, let's leave the research aside and take an everyday approach to examine the causes of writer's block. The following reasons are often cited as the common causes for challenges with getting the ideas and thoughts from one's head to writing.

1. Having too few ideas

At times you can even feel like you'll never have another good idea again. This can cause you to go in circles, trying to figure out what to write and how to write it. 

2. Having too many ideas

Sometimes you have so many ideas in your head that you don't know where to begin. Anyone who has felt this way can probably testify that it easily leads to writing nothing. 

3. Having a hard time expressing yourself 

Even though you'd know what you want or need to write, sometimes it's simply hard to put your thoughts in writing.

4. Putting off dreadful writing 

It's not that uncommon to fear writing. Especially when the thing you need to write is important. The feeling is only escalated if your penmanship is subject to an assessment of others.

5. Having many competing responsibilities

There is so much to do and so little time. We all have limited resources both at work and in our free time that can cause challenges with prioritizing.

6. Being a perfectionist

It's often hard to shut up our inner editor to the extent that you get stuck in revision hell. When you start to second guess every word choice, it's hard never to finish.

7. Talking to yourself negatively 

Negative self-talk is a corrosive force we have to combat to be able to express ourselves. If you're not encouraging yourself, can positive reinforcement from others even help?

8. Comparing yourself to others

We are all different. So, comparing your writing to others is an enormous waste of your time and can keep you from achieving your own goals for no reason. 

9. Fearing rejection

It never feels good to be rejected, whether it's an important email for work or submission for a feature in a prestigious publication. However, not having our way is part of life, and it happens to everyone at times.

10. Having distractions

Studies have shown that it takes 20 minutes to return to our task with total concentration after being distracted. About the time to banish social media addiction?

If learning about the causes of writer's block made you feel uncomfortable, let me assure you the help is near. By the time you've read this entire blog post, you'll have everything you need to get past the blank page syndrome.

What to do when you have writer's block – 15 tips to overcome it

Wondering what to do when you have writer's block? Fear not. Studies have concluded that it is a treatable condition. You just need to find a cure that removes the mental barriers and builds your confidence up. Often a fix can be found by speaking to others, but there are also ways to deal with writer's block on your own. If you're having trouble figuring out where to start, consider these common tips for writer's block and try the strategies that feel the most natural to you. 

1. Take a break

Let's get the most self-evident tip out of the way. When you get stuck, forcing the words doesn't work; it's time to take a break. Taking time to recharge can be essential to finding your flow again, so step back and then go back and do it again.

2. Freewriting

This tip is quite literal. Go ahead and just write off the top of your head. Ignore punctuation, grammar, and all the usual restrictions and see what comes out of it. It can be a totally random yet revolutionary experience. 

3. Physical exercise

Physical activity and exercising keep your mind alert and energetic. It can rewire your brain into becoming more focused and help you to become more productive. Closing the laptop and getting out of the house is also a great way to break the routine. 

4. Writer's block apps

Technology obviously isn't the answer to everything. Still, there are  writer's block apps  worth trying that take different approaches to help you when you feel stuck.

5. Journaling

Journaling means writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly. If you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, it can be a helpful method to make words flow again.

6. Brainstorming

Brainstorming encourages you to come up with thoughts and ideas that can, at first, seem a bit crazy. Some can be crafted into original, creative solutions to a problem, while others can spark even more ideas. This helps you to get unstuck by breaking you out of your typical ways of thinking.

7. List making

Good old list making is a powerful thing. It's a straightforward and effective way to reduce overwhelm, get organized, and gain control of your inner life.

8. Questioning

Research on students shows that asking questions that uncover your writing process can fix blank page syndrome. Suppose you have someone available to help you; go for it.

9. Alter the time of the day you write

There's no simpler cure than this one. If you struggle with writing tasks in the morning, try to block time for them in the afternoon or vice versa. If your routine allows, you can see if early morning or nighttime would feed your creativity.

10. Set deadlines

Let's face it – deadlines are scary. Especially when you put yourself under pressure to do something even if you feel that you can't do it. That's why it's essential to be realistic when you put yourself on the clock when experiencing a blockage.

11. Lower your expectations

If self-consciousness is the cause for you to seize up and shut down, you need to realize that your worst enemy is staring you back from the mirror. There's no way to reach expectations if they are unrealistic – at least, without taking all the small steps needed to get there. 

12. Mindfulness meditation

Meditation is a mental training practice that helps you learn to slow down your thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm your mind and body. It's considered an effective way to get out of writer's block.  Tons of  meditation apps  offer an easy way to try if mindfulness is for you.

13. Break your work into pieces

A study  of 2,500 writers found that breaking one's writing task into pieces is highly effective rather than doing all of the writing in one sitting. The approach was shown to help produce good quality work.

14. Evaluate the environment you work in

It's important to evaluate the environment in which you write to determine if it is the best possible place to work.

15. Mindmapping 

Mindmapping involves writing a stream of consciousness on a paper and connecting any similar or linked thoughts. By freely associating thoughts around an idea, the writer can receive an unfiltered map of potential ideas. There are also  online mindmap tools  if you are not into the old-school way.

How to get over writer's block with AI

Not yet familiar with AI writing? It's about time.

‍ Flowrite turns short bullet points into full-fledged emails and messages in seconds. And it can also help you to get rid of writer's block!

When you are completely stuck with an email or message, it will instantly give you an idea of what the final text should look like without you even typing the bullet points.

This is possible thanks to our templates. When we talk about templates, we don't mean anything prewritten.

Instead, they guide the AI to generate the type of text you wish. If you already have know what you want to say, but struggle with putting into writing, here's what to do.

Just jot down a couple of sentences as instructions, select a template for the type of email or message you are about to send, and watch our AI writer do its magic.

We hope that this blog post was able to help you to find out how to solve writer's block. If it feels like it's impossible to get around it, just remember that you are not alone.

People throughout the time have managed to get over the block and found their words again.

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Home / Book Writing / How to Get Over Writer’s Block: 25 Proven Methods

How to Get Over Writer’s Block: 25 Proven Methods

Writer's block. For some, it's as foreign as a disorder made up by a marketing company to sell mouthwash. But for others, it's a very real affliction that can affect their livelihood by preventing creativity from taking hold.

Luckily, writer's block isn't contagious and doesn't require medication to treat. Often, all it takes to get back to writing is a willingness to try something new. To that end, here are 25 tips you can use to get over writer's block.

• 25 ways to get over writer's block that actually work
• Additional questions about writer's block answered
• What you can do to overcome writer's block

Table of contents

• 1. Create a Daily Writing Habit
• 2. Imitate the Pros
• 3. Try a Writing Prompt
• 4. Use Gamification
• 5. Change Stories
• 6. Jump Ahead
• 7. Kill Your Characters
• 8. Change Your Belief
• 9. Take a Walk
• 10. Try Dictation
• 11. Use an App
• 12. Don't Wait for Inspiration
• 13. Read for a Bit
• 14. Copy Down a Favorite Work
• 15. Forget About Your Audience
• 16. Get to Know Your Characters
• 18. Do Some Push-Ups
• 19. Inhale Some Caffeine
• 20. Talk it Over
• 21. Take it Elsewhere
• 22. Address What's Bothering You
• 23. Try Auditory Cues
• 24. Power Through
• 25. Use a Brainstorming Tool
• What Causes Writer's Block?
• What Are the Symptoms of Writer's Block?
• How Long Does Writer's Block Last?
• How Do You Cure Writer's Block?
• How Do You Get Over Writer's Block Once and For All?

The best cure for writer's block isn't a cure at all — it's prevention. And the best prevention is a daily writing habit . By writing daily, whether you feel like it or not, you can turn writing into a habit instead of something you do when the muse strikes.

To be clear, you don't have to write every single day without fail, but a consistent habit is key to avoiding writer's block.

Many professional writers don't believe in writer's block. They can't afford to. After all, if you don't write, you can't call yourself a professional writer. And for those living off their words, not writing means not getting paid.

Since writer's block is, for many, a mental block, it helps to think of yourself as a professional. Visualize yourself having the kind of success you dream about when you're drifting off to sleep at night. What would that writer do? Would that super successful version of you get stuck? Or would that you power through and just get some words down on the page, even if they're the worst words ever?

See yourself as a pro to help release the mental block.

If you're stuck on a scene in your novel, a section of your college essay, or a sentence in a work email, breaking through the block often takes a change of pace. That's where writing prompts come in handy.

Selecting a prompt and writing a story that no one else will see can help you get back on track. You don't even need to finish the story — the point here is to get some words flowing to break the standstill. A good place to find creative writing prompts is Reddit .

If you’re experiencing writer’s block while working on fiction, you can try a character development exercise instead of or in addition to a writing prompt. 

Sometimes the creative process just needs a little push to get you back on track. Luckily, there are some gamification tools you can use to get that push. These tools use different tactics to turn writing into a game, so you can get over your fear of the blank page. Check out the following to give gamification a try:

• Written? Kitten!
• Write or Die

Sometimes all you need to overcome writer's block is a change of creative pace. If you find that you're stuck on one story, try writing on another one. This can be a new idea or an old one. By focusing on another idea, you may find that your block was a result of being stuck on a specific plot. 

Writing on another story for a few hundred words can free your subconscious mind to work on the other story in the background.

If you find that you can’t decide what happens next in your story, try jumping ahead in the plot. Chances are you have at least a vague idea of what will happen at the end of your story. Jump ahead and write the ending, then you can go back and fill in the blanks. Even if you don't end up using that specific ending, it can still help you get over your writer's block.

Sometimes overcoming writer's block is as easy as killing one of your beloved characters. Don't worry, your character doesn't have to stay dead (unless it works for your story). Really, this is just an exercise to get the creative juices flowing again.

Writing a scene or a chapter in which a main character dies can get your mind rolling and the words flowing again. It often brings up some strong emotions that get you back into the writing flow again.

This tip is easier said than done, but it bears considering. If you refuse to believe in writer's block, you won't suffer from it any longer. Like any other belief, this is all about faith — faith that you'll always be able to write something. Even if that something isn't very good, anything is better than a blank page.

A 2014 Stanford study found that walking actually improves creativity. The researchers found that subjects saw an average 60% increase in creativity when walking as compared to sitting. So the next time you get writer's block, take a walk to clear your head, gain some perspective, and get your creativity back on track.

Sometimes getting out of a creative funk is as easy as changing the mechanics of your writing. One great way to do this is by trying dictation. By talking your story out instead of writing it out, you may be able to clear your creative block and get back on track. You can use a tool or an app to record what you say, but sometimes just talking to yourself is enough to break through writer's block.

There are several writing apps that provide different ways of getting over writer's block. While these aren't magic bullets, they can certainly help. By keeping moments of inspiration organized on an app like Evernote , you can refer back to those notes to dust off your imagination.

Mind mapping apps like Miro can break you out of the ways of thinking that caused the block in the first place. Storyist is a great app that helps you map out your plot to keep you on track while writing.

Waiting for inspiration is basically like asking for writer's block. Between waiting until you feel inspired and dealing with everyday procrastination, you're not likely to get any writing done. This is why it's important to write on a schedule, even if you don't feel like it.

There's an excellent quote that sums this up:

“I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp.”

This quote, or some version of it, has been attributed to many writers, including William Faulkner and W. Somerset Maugham. It doesn't really matter who said it. It only matters what it means: Don't wait for inspiration to show up. Meet inspiration by keeping a writing schedule.

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If the words really won't flow, combat writer's block by reading for a little bit. Sometimes it helps to get some perspective by reading a chapter or two in a favorite book. This can lend you inspiration and help shift your creative gears.

For another tactic to help you break writer's block, turn to other great writers. Grab one of your favorite books — preferably one with prose that really speaks to you — and copy a few pages down. This is best done by hand instead of typing, as writing by hand tends to activate certain portions of the brain responsible for memory and learning .

This writing exercise can get your prose flowing while also giving you a glimpse of a professional author's writing skills.

One of the most common causes of writer's block is fear of pleasing others. It can be scary to put your writing out there, whether it's a short story, a novel, or a nonfiction book. Even the most famous writer you can think of has to deal with fear from time to time. But writing with a large audience in mind is not very conducive to creativity.

If you're going to be a successful writer, you need to learn to forget about your potential audience while you write. You can do as Stephen King does and write for one single person (preferably someone you know and whose opinion you value). Or you can simply write for yourself.

On occasion, writer's block stops a writing session short because you're having character trouble. You may be asking yourself what a character would do in a certain situation, or wondering why something doesn't feel right with your protagonist.

If so, it's a good time to get to know your characters a little better. This is easily done with a character profile . Writing a character profile will not only help you with character development, but it will also help make you a better writer!

Sometimes smashing writer's block requires some creative movement, but other times all it needs is some physical movement. So if you're feeling a little sluggish and you just can't get the words down, try doing a few push-ups, jumping jacks, squats, or any other physical activity that can get your heart pumping. This could be all you need to get the creative juices flowing again.

A lot of authors out there would find it hard to operate without caffeine. And while I don't think you should literally inhale caffeine, getting up to get a cup of tea or coffee can help you break the monotony of the blank page.

Not only can caffeine in the bloodstream help you wake up and get thinking again, but the act of getting up from the computer can also help you clear your head and gain some perspective.

Clearing writer's block is often as easy as talking your problem over with someone else. We all know what it feels like to discuss a problem with someone and find a solution without them actually saying anything. Sometimes we just need to talk it out.

Every good writer will need help like this at some point, so there's no shame in discussing your problem with another person. It may help if the other person is a writer, but this isn't always the case. Simply mulling over the story out loud can help.

Some instances of writer's block don't actually have anything to do with the writing task at all. Instead, they're an issue with your surroundings. Maybe you've been cooped up in your room writing for too long and you just need a change of scenery. If it's nice outside, take your laptop out there. Or consider going to the local coffee shop for an hour or two. 

Sometimes taking your writing project elsewhere is all you need to get back into the creative flow.

It can be hard to focus on the writing process if you have other issues occupying your mind. Things like overdue bills, house cleaning you've been putting off, or stress from personal relationships can all interrupt the writing process.

If it's possible to address whatever's bothering you, get it taken care of. This is not to say that you should continue skipping your writing time in order to unload the dishwasher every day. That's a slippery slope. But, on occasion, you may want to take the time to address what's bothering you so you can get back to getting your day's word count done.

You may want to try changing things up to keep your writing routine fresh. More specifically, try audio cues. You could try a new kind of music while you write — there are plenty of kinds to choose from. You may also want to try ASMR or apps like BrainFM to help you focus. Any of these are worth a try to help you get your word count done if you're struggling.

Using brute force is another tactic that many writers use to clear their creative blocks. They simply write anything at all, keeping the words coming so they aren't sitting staring at a blank page. Some call this free writing, and it's a legitimate tactic for getting back on track. 

You can always come back and edit what you wrote or delete it all if it doesn't work for you. The important thing is that you keep writing when it matters most.

There are many different types of brainstorming tools you can use when you get stuck. There are decks of cards available for this very purpose. Narata Storytelling Cards are a great option for reinvigorating your story idea. They have cards for character, creature, goal, activity, society, event, situation, and location, to name a few. Simply draw a card and see where it takes you.

The Writer Emergency Pack is another good option for fiction writing. It has 26 illustrated cards, each designed to help you break through creative blocks. The nice thing about both these packs is they're small and easy to take wherever you go.

Writer's Block FAQs

Writer's block has several possible causes. The block may be due to a problem with the writer's work itself, such as plot or character problems. Other causes include an overly harsh inner critic, relationship problems, fear of failure, procrastination, and other personal issues or distractions.

Anxiety and a sense of creative paralysis are the most common symptoms of writer's block. The inability to write can also cause stress, worry, depression, and lethargy. Some writers don't experience other symptoms aside from the inability to write.

There's no set amount of time that writer's block lasts. It can last for five minutes, five months, or even five years. Luckily, it's within every writer's power to take action and break through writer's block using the tips and tactics listed above.

There's no one proven cure that works for every writer experiencing writer's block. Every writer is different, but there's one thing that professional writers say helps: taking action to get back to writing. Persistence is the best cure for writer's block. It comes in many forms, you just have to find the right one for you.

 Don't give up! Push through to cure your writer's block.

The best way to get over writer's block once and for all is to write on a schedule no matter what. Create a word count goal that you achieve on a schedule. This will help you create a habit. And once your writing habit is ingrained, writer's block will be a thing of the past.

Whether you're in the middle of a school writing assignment, a blog post, or a novel, writer's block can strike at any time. Luckily, there are many ways to overcome this affliction, most of which include developing a regular writing habit or changing your mindset to clear the creative blocks.

From writing exercises and apps that facilitate creativity to physical movement and changing stories, there's no shortage of ways to combat writer's block.

To sum things up, I'll leave you with a quote from Steven Pressfield's The War of Art , which is a book every creator should have on their shelf:

“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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How To Overcome Writer’s Block: The Different Types Of Block And Their Solutions

• March 14, 2022

When writer’s block hits, it hits hard and absolutely no one is immune to its effects. But did you know that writer’s block can refer to a ton of different issues all with wildly different symptoms and solutions? That’s precisely what we’re talking about on this episode of Cover 2 Cover.

Join host Isabelle Mongeau as she breaks down some different types of writer’s block you’ll likely come across and tips on how to overcome each of them. Whether you’re a professional writer, an amateur, or you have to write anything ever; this is an episode you’re surely going to want to listen to.

Overcoming Writer’s Block:

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Episode transcript:

The clock ticks. You stare at the curser, every blink a mocking flash. You crack your knuckles and spread your fingers on the keys. Nothing. Nothing comes to mind. Just write SOMETHING. You scold yourself. You only have three minutes left. You type: “the dog…”

But there’s no dog in your story. Should there be? You try to spin out the possibilities but only Marley & Me comes to mind. You delete and start again. “I walked into…”

You hate the word ‘walked.’ DELETE. AGAIN.

You’d been writing so fluidly for the past week. Ideas and words and sentences forming an endless stream of creativity. You were even writing at the beginning of the sprint. But about halfway through, it was like the reservoir dried up.

Your timer goes off and your phone pings with a facetime. It’s Claire, your friend who you do writing sprints with. You answer and ask her how it went. She wrote 600 words. You?

“Barely 100,” you grumble. “What happened?” she asks. “You’ve been doing so well lately.”

“I don’t know! I was writing and writing and then just…stopped. I couldn’t start again. It was like my ideas were suddenly blocked. It was like…” You stop, your mouth going dry. “Oh no,” Claire says.

Dread fills your stomach. It can’t be. You’ve had a good writing routine, good ideas. Everything was going great, until… “I have writer’s block,” you say. “God dammit.”

Hi and Welcome to Cover 2 Cover, a biweekly podcast that teaches you how to write, produce and market your audiobook. I’m your host, Isabelle Mongeau from Q’d Up Audio and today I want to talk about the dreaded writer’s block.

The truth of the matter is that even the most professional and experienced writers can suffer from writer’s block. Sometimes it can last an hour, sometimes days, weeks or even months. However, when you’re on a deadline, whether imposed by others or yourself—you don’t have time for that. So, what separates an experienced writer from an amateur one, is learning how to overcome writer’s block—and actually doing it.

And that starts with first identifying what kind of writer’s block you have.

That’s right! There are different kinds of writer’s block and being able to pinpoint which one is plaguing you is extremely helpful in moving beyond it.

In fact, when I asked the other writers at Q’d Up how they personally overcome writer’s block, they all first responded with some rendition of: “what type?”

So, what are the different types of writer’s block?

Some people like to outline a multitude of situations, ranging from 5 different kinds to 30 or more. I believe, however, that all writer blocks can be categorized into three sections:

A procedural block, a creative block, or a psychological block.

A procedural block happens when something goes wrong in your process. This kind of writer’s block typically occurs in the middle of a project. I personally believe it happens when your writer’s intuition/ subconscious, whatever you want to call it, is trying to tell you that something is wrong or off with your current project or even approach.

Perhaps you’ve been writing a book for the past couple months and have backed your characters into a corner. Maybe the story has taken a direction you didn’t expect and now you feel like you’re scrambling.

It happens to us all.

Next, writers can experience what I call a creative block. This usually looks like struggling for new ideas. You can’t put words to the page because you have nothing to say. As opposed to a block, you’re experiencing more of…an emptiness.

In this case, you’re creatively drained. No matter how experienced or professional you are as a writer, there will come a time when your energy, and therefore ideas, is depleted. This can happen at any point in a project.

Lastly, there is a psychological block. Man, is this one fun. A psychological block happens when you’re having difficulty, not with the writing, but with yourself. Maybe you feel like you can’t be a writer. Maybe you think everything you write is garbage. Perhaps you’re wondering what the point is: the project will never be successful, so why even try?

Either the circumstances around the project or how the project relates to you, is bothering you so much that it’s preventing you from working on it. You’ve essentially talked yourself out of the project, for some reason or another.

But you’re not alone. and when we come back, we’ll talk about how to overcome these situation.

“How are things going?” Claire asks from the phone. You place your head on the desk and groan. “That bad?” she says. “Yes.” “What have you tried?” “Put a timer on. Didn’t work. Tried changing locations, nothing. Whatever I do, doesn’t work.” “Maybe you need to take a step back.” “No, I need to write.” “you shouldn’t force it right now. Go for a walk instead. Get a snack.” “I did that and still can’t work.”

“Well, maybe you’re burned out. You’ve been writing a lot these past couple of weeks. Maybe you’re creatively drained. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup.”You lift your head. “I think you’re right. I’ve made a lot of progress this month—like, A LOT. Maybe it’s time to take a break. Want to get a drink?” “Let’s do it.”

You see, if you’re able to identify why you’re having writer’s block, you can then go about overcoming it. Different blocks may require different solutions.

A procedural block, one that happens in the middle of a project, is usually your writer’s intuition. You can’t work on that piece because either something is off with it. This could be due to lack of research, a plot problem, a new character or an unclear direction. For this, I suggest a quick break from the project to do something that clears your mind, then come back to it.

Whether you write at a desk, table or even standing, writing can sometimes be sedentary—and this can impact your thoughts. So, if you’re having a procedural block, do something that clears your mind and allows you to think in new ways – even if it’s something small like getting a drink or a snack, petting your dog, playing a video game, or even something mindless like the dishes.

In particular: go for a walk. Get your heartrate up, your blood pumping. This can alleviate stress or nerves.

Try talking your issue through with a friend. When you vocalize the problem, you’re getting outside of your own head, allowing you to vent any emotions that may be clouding your thoughts. In articulating the problem, you may also discover your mind working towards its solution. And who knows? Your friend may also come up with a great idea.

If you’ve brought in a new character, new section or plot idea but now have no idea what to do with it, turn towards research. Research is a great way to find inspiration, as well as offer a direction or structure to hang your writing on. A lot of blocks come down to this.

Overall, try doing an activity that breaks you out of your own frustration so that you can begin to think clearly again. Even simply putting the project away and sleeping on it, can have huge benefits.

Next, if you’re having a creativity block—one where you have no new ideas—it may be because you’re creatively drained, and perhaps burned out. For this block, I strongly suggest taking a longer break from a project. Not just a few hours, or even a few days, but it can be a week, 2 weeks, or more. This can be difficult if you’re very passionate about a project. But don’t panic – you’re still going to come back to it.

In the meantime, however, it’s time to take care of you. Since you can’t pour from an empty cup, it’s time to fill that cup up with other people’s creativity. In particular, I find reading a great source of inspiration, whether it’s related to your book or not. Sometimes reading outside of your own genre helps inspire you even more and give you a break from your subject. I know I’m creatively drained when I start reading and suddenly can’t stop.

Additionally, watching tv, painting, sketching, or listening to podcasts and music helps restore your creativity. Going to a museum, a play, a comedy show are also great ways to indulge in the inspiration of others. In my opinion, nothing is off-limits. If you love old movies or trashy reality shows—consume it. It’s still creative, and you need that right now.

While it may sound too good to be true, or even a cop out, you’d be surprised by the power of your subconscious. Sometimes curating a playlist of new music or watching a stand-up routine or taking an art class can really trigger something in your mind about your own work. The way other people perceive stories and problems and characters can help you view your own book in a different light.

While you are going out and having fun, your brain is still working through your own art, and eventually you’ll become aware of that. This could look like being hit with a bolt of sudden inspiration. It may resemble you taking notes, only to have an epiphany. It may feel like your own work calling you back. Whatever the case, surround yourself with other people’s creativity—in whatever form it takes—and let your mind do the rest.

Now onto what to do when you have a psychological block. Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’re having this type of mental block, as you are so deep inside it. In my experience, it comes down to confidence, performance or other anxieties you may be having. Perhaps you’re writing creativity for the first time in decades. Maybe you really love the project—you love it so much you don’t want to screw it up. Or maybe you’re writing for work and just don’t feel like doing it.

The solution? You’re going to hate it, but it works for this kind of situation. You have to write through the block. Yes, sometimes you do just have to roll up your sleeves and write yourself out of this ditch.

It’s important you only do this for psychological blocks. If you’re having a creative block, this may backfire. Granted, none of this is scientifically proven – it’s just what myself and our other writers have found throughout the years. However, with trial and error, we have found what gets you past the psychological wall – and procrastination as well.

First, let go of writing well. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress: same thing goes for drafts. Sometimes you just need to word vomit – for lack of a better phrase. Get everything out on paper, no matter how bad you think it is. You can always edit it later.

Try setting a timer. I personally find that setting a timer for 30 minutes jumpstarts the wheels in my head.

Find a good writing playlist. Something that inspires you but doesn’t distract. Write with that specific playlist on enough times and soon, every time you hear it, you’ll want to write. Who said you can’t Pavlov dog – yourself?

Another great way to break though the barrier is taking a quick break, and then moving yourself to a less distracting location. Perhaps that’s your basement, your room, an office, a public library. If you move to a place that is not very simulating, then soon you’ll grow bored enough to write.

Lastly, if you’re feeling insecure or stressed, try telling yourself a different narrative. Instead of “I’m a terrible writer” repeat “I’m a great writer.” Or “I can finish this story” or “this book is going to be awesome.” While it may sound silly, speaking to yourself in a more encouraging and kinder way helps free up some of that anxiety or fear. Essentially, if you can talk your way out of writing, you can talk your way back into it.

Before we close out today, I want to say that if you can’t figure out what kind of block you have, that’s ok too. We find that taking a quick break, going for a walk, and indulging in other creative activities can really overcome any kind of stoppage. Try doing all of those things and see what helps. And if you overcome your writer’s block before you figure out why it happened – that’s ok too. The important thing here is to overcome. So, whether you do so accidentally or purposefully, it doesn’t really matter.

You unlock the door, keys jingling. Muffin greets you with a meow. Drinks with Claire was perfect. You spent the whole time talking nonstop until you practically closed down the restaurant. It was nice to get out, to take a break.

You shrug off your jacket, dump some food in Muffin’s bowl, and glance at your computer. Tonight, you’re going to get some rest. Tomorrow, you’re going to write down your new idea.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Cover Letters Part 1

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What should my cover letter look like? Your cover letter should be one page and single-spaced. Your letter should have 1-inch margins all the way around the page. Your cover letter text font should match your résumé’s text font. Lastly, your letter should also follow a business letter format. You have three options: Block format – the text of the entire letter is left justified (against the left margin) Modified block – the body text of the letter is left justified, but the date and closing are tabbed to the center point Semi-Block – the body text of the letter is left justified except for the first sentence of the paragraphs. The date and closing are tabbed to the center point Click here to see examples of all three formats on the Purdue OWL. Regardless of which format you choose, your cover letter should follow some general content guidelines. What should my cover letter accomplish? Your cover letter should

• Show the employer you have tailored the letter to the company and to the job you want
• Explain your experiences in a clear, story-like format that works with the information in your résumé
• Explain in detail your experiences/skills that relate to the job you want
• Explain in detail how your experiences/skills will help you help the employer and fulfill the job requirements
• Provide an example of your communication skills.

Click here to download the PDF file containing sample résumés and employment letters.

12 Writer Cover Letter Examples

Writers excel at weaving words into captivating stories, painting vivid pictures with their prose, and engaging readers with their narrative. Similarly, your cover letter is your chance to craft a compelling narrative about your professional journey, using your words to captivate recruiters and paint a vivid picture of your skills and experiences. In this guide, we'll explore outstanding Writer cover letter examples to help you pen your own captivating professional story.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start a Writer cover letter is with a compelling hook that grabs the reader's attention. This could be a brief anecdote about a writing achievement, a unique perspective you bring to your work, or a notable publication where your work has been featured. Follow this with a clear statement of your intent, such as the specific role you're applying for. Remember to address the letter to the appropriate person, if their name is available. This personalized and engaging approach will help you stand out from other applicants.

Writers should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the position and expressing gratitude for the reader's time. They should reiterate their unique skills or experiences that make them a good fit for the role. It's also important to include a call to action, such as a request for an interview or a meeting. The closing should be professional and polite. Here's an example: "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique storytelling skills to your team and I am confident that I can contribute to your editorial goals. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this opportunity with you further." Finally, they should sign off with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by their full name.

A writer's cover letter should ideally be one page long. This is because the purpose of a cover letter is to provide a brief introduction of yourself and to explain the reasons for your interest in the specific position or organization. It's important to be concise and to the point, while effectively communicating your skills, experiences, and why you would be a good fit for the role. A one-page cover letter is usually sufficient to achieve this. If it's too long, there's a risk that the hiring manager might not read the entire letter, and if it's too short, it might not provide enough information about your qualifications.

Writing a cover letter with no experience as a writer can seem daunting, but it's important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to approach it: 1. Start with a strong introduction: Begin your cover letter by introducing yourself and stating the position you're applying for. Make sure to grab the reader's attention with your enthusiasm for the role and the company. 2. Highlight your relevant skills: Even if you don't have direct writing experience, you likely have other skills that are relevant. Perhaps you have strong research skills, creativity, or a knack for storytelling. Maybe you've written blog posts, social media content, or academic papers. All of these can be valuable in a writing role, so be sure to highlight them. 3. Showcase your knowledge about the company: Show that you've done your homework about the company and the industry. This can demonstrate your interest and your initiative, both of which are attractive qualities in a potential hire. 4. Discuss your education: If you've taken any writing-related courses or earned a degree in a related field (like English, journalism, or communications), be sure to mention it. Even if your education isn't directly related, discuss how it's helped you develop valuable skills. 5. Provide examples: Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills. For instance, if you're applying for a content writing role, you might discuss a time when you wrote a well-received research paper or a blog post. 6. Show your passion: Passion can often make up for a lack of experience. If you're passionate about writing, make sure that comes across in your cover letter. 7. Close with a strong conclusion: Wrap up your cover letter by reiterating your interest in the role and your eagerness to contribute to the company. Thank the reader for considering your application and express your hope for further discussion. 8. Proofread: This is especially important for a writing role. Make sure your cover letter is free of typos and grammatical errors. Remember, everyone has to start somewhere. Even if you don't have professional writing experience, your unique skills and perspectives can still make you a strong candidate. Good luck!

Related Cover Letters for Writers

Content writer cover letter.

Copywriter Cover Letter

Editor Cover Letter

Journalist Cover Letter

Technical Writer Cover Letter

Digital Marketing Specialist Cover Letter

Writer Cover Letter

Senior Writer Cover Letter

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