Writers Block
Everyone’s had it. You’re staring at the story you’re passionate about, and it’s staring right back at you. Only—you can’t find the words.
There are just as many suggestions on how to overcome writer’s block as there are types of apples. So what works?
All of them. And none of them. That’s the punch in the gut with this problem. Every method has worked for someone. Just… not you. Or you wouldn’t be reading this right now.
I’m not going to tell you I have the solution. But I’ll share what’s helped me—and others—break through the block.
Walk away. (Or close it—whichever works.)
Sometimes the best move is to take a step back and let the idea simmer. Maybe you’re trying to write a chapter, and you know the destination, but not how the characters get there. Giving the story some room to breathe lets your mind work on it in the background. Let it stew.
Find a sounding board.
Not a real one. A person, a pet, a rock. Something to talk to. (Though if it’s a rock, maybe don’t do it in public—people will stare.)
You don’t need someone to give you solutions—just someone to listen. I’ve talked things out with other authors, with friends, or just out loud to myself. Hearing the problem helps me process it. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to untangle the knots.
And hey, the person (or cat) you're talking to might feel good knowing they helped you out—even if all they did was listen.
Do anything but write.
Play music. Watch a movie. Go for a walk. What do you do when you’re not writing?
Me? I love listening to music or—when I can—going for a drive. Some of my best ideas have come while cruising down the road, letting my thoughts drift off into the realm of fantasy
Maybe this will help. Maybe it won’t.
But here’s the real point:
Stop thinking about the problem.
Sometimes, like your characters, you just need to get out of your own way.
The First Draft Is Supposed to Suck
No, really. It's supposed to.
I used to sit there staring at the screen, wondering why the hell the words in my head didn’t come out like the ones in the books I love. I’d write a line, delete it, write another, hate it more, and spiral into this “maybe I’m not cut out for this” kind of thinking.
Spoiler: that’s garbage. The truth is, the first draft isn’t about making it good. It’s about getting it out.
That messy, awkward, cringey draft? That’s your foundation. That’s your block of marble. You can’t sculpt anything if you don’t slap that ugly lump of rock on the table first. Your favorite authors? Their first drafts were disasters too—they just didn’t stop there.
So stop obsessing over the perfect sentence. Write the bad version. Write the weird, rambling, bloated, too-many-adverbs version. Let it suck. Let it be real.
Because here’s the deal: You can edit crap. You can’t edit nothing.
Write now. Judge later. Your future self—armed with coffee, context, and hindsight—will turn that disaster into something magical.
Promise.
"You can always fix crap, you can't fix a blank page."
— Nora Roberts
Keep a 'Kill' Folder
Don't trash it. Recycle it.
You know that scene you loved? The one that had vibes, heart, maybe even your best dialogue yet—only it doesn’t fit anymore? Yeah. Don’t delete that. Don’t you dare.
Save it.
Toss it in a folder. Label it whatever you want—“Graveyard,” “Lost Scenes,” “My Sweet Murdered Darlings”—but keep it.
Because here’s the truth: Just because it doesn’t work right now doesn’t mean it won’t work later. That clever one-liner? Might be perfect in your next book. That deleted flashback? Could inspire an entire spin-off. That discarded paragraph? Might be the missing puzzle piece after a future rewrite meltdown.
I’ve gone back to my “Kill Folder” more times than I can count. Sometimes I’m just doom-scrolling through it out of frustration, and boom—there it is. A fix. A spark. An idea I totally forgot I had.
So yeah, cut what you need to cut. Ruthless edits are part of the game.
But don’t throw it away. Recycle that brilliance. Your future self will thank you.
“No word is wasted. Even your literary corpses can be cannibalized later.”
— Chuck Wendig
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