Writer’s block will plague the best of writers at some point. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. And the earlier you admit what is going on, the sooner you can get some help.

So what can you do when writer’s block hits? Can you really overcome it? Let’s talk about it.

Write something else

If I’m staring at a blank page and nothing is coming, sometimes that’s happening because I’m out of practice of writing.

Writing is more of a practice than a skill. The more you do it, the more you can do it. This is a big reason why I try to write every day and I don’t really care if I’m writing high quality stuff. I just need to flex the muscle so that’s available when I do need it.

And if you do that already and you’re still in the midst of writer’s block, try writing something completely different. Getting into the practice with something that is easier for you to write can usually bring you back to writing what you actually have to write. Whether that’s because you just need to get started or because you need the required writing to marinate in your brain for a little longer, it’s a great way to get your work done.

Use AI

I have to admit that I used AI to get to this topic. My brain was a little fuzzy when I came to write something, and a topic just wasn’t coming. So I typed a few things into ChatGPT, and writer’s block came up. It just seemed like something great to write about while I was experiencing a bit of it.

I not only use it for when I’m having trouble with coming up with topics, but also when I’m having trouble coming up with sections of blog posts. It either gives me enough to come up with something on my own or something that was on the tip of my tongue. In other words, I can keep going and finish a blog post instead of having to set it aside for another day because of writer’s block. And that’s been game-changing for me and my writing.

Research

If you want to get a little more original than AI might give you, then you really can’t beat doing some old fashioned research.

I’ve said a number of times that Answer the Public is a great resource. If you know the keywords you want to attack, it will give you endless terms people are searching around those keywords. If you don’t know your keywords, you really should do an analysis first. That process is way too long to address here. But it should be your first step before using a website like Answer the Public. Otherwise, the results you get will be overwhelming and probably not exactly what you need.

You can also go to places where your audience is discussing your niche. What’s on their mind? What can you add to the conversations? Where are the holes? If you’re not able to answer these questions after looking at these conversations, you’re either looking in the wrong place, at the wrong conversations or you’re not thinking it all through enough. And if it’s the latter, you might want to put some terms from those conversations into AI. That just might get you there.

Get outside of your niche

Looking at other niches can help as well, especially if you want to get creative. Sometimes another niche has faced similar problems with different solutions. It can really get you thinking about what you’re currently doing. This is a big reason why I try to network with a lot of different consultants doing different work than I do. It gets my brain thinking differently. And when you’re dealing with writer’s block, getting your brain thinking differently may be just what you need.

Take care of yourself

Sometimes writer’s block is just a simple sign of being overworked. Find ways to take care of yourself and how to make your work more manageable.

I sometimes ask myself if I really need to write a blog post every day. The answer is no. It just feels good to go through that process daily. But when I am overwhelmed with other work, it’s the first thing to go. I don’t even let myself dwell on it, because I know I made the right call.

What is on your plate right now that you can get rid of and it really wouldn’t be a big deal? Or maybe you can delegate it to someone else? Do that now. It will save you in the long-term. And your work will be better simply because you will have time to think and breathe again.

Breathing is such a discounted element of writing. Being able to take a breath and let your mind wander will give you more creative solutions and better ways to do them. If you take away the breath, you will take away the creativity and be faced with writer’s block again and again and again.

How do you overcome writer’s block?