Top 7 Actionable Tactics to Overcome Writer’s Block

Writing is the core of content marketing.

No matter what you do as a content marketer, writing is somehow involved in it.

Doesn’t matter whether you work on a guest post, design a social media post, or create a video, writing is involved in everything. But, writing doesn’t always come easy.

As writers, we often find ourselves in situations where we are unable to write. We feel as if some unknown force has blocked our ability to think and pen something down.

Despite trying our best, we cannot come up with something. Consequently, we begin to feel agitated and frustrated which further complicates things. This situation that we often find ourselves in, is known as writer’s block.

When you write for your own self, writer’s block isn’t bothersome. However, if you are a professional writer, full-time blogger, or a content marketer, writer’s block becomes an enormous cause of trouble for you.

If you find yourself unable to write, your productivity drops significantly. And you can’t afford that.

If you truly want to excel as a content marketer in this highly competitive world, it is crucial for you to know how to overcome writer’s block.

In this blog, we’ll explore 7 actionable tactics to overcome writer’s block. These are tried and tested tactics that are very fruitful. So, let’s proceed.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

Running into a case of writer’s block can be extremely frustrating for writers and content marketers. Fortunately, I’ve been there as a writer, and I’ve found a few tried and true practices that work for me when I hit a wall.

#1 – Determine what’s holding you back.

Whenever we have to solve a problem, the first step is to understand the root cause of the problem. If you don’t treat the root cause, but keep treating the symptoms of the problem, your efforts will be futile.

Hence, when you experience writer’s block, it is crucial for you to first understand what’s holding you back. You should introspect and find out the reason why you can’t write.

For example, you might be afraid of not being able to write well or you doubt your content marketing capabilities. Consequently, you might engage in a lot of thinking, which might push you into writer’s block. If you understand why you are experiencing writer’s block, you can treat the root cause of the problem.

For instance, according to the example we discussed above, you can let go of this fear and begin to write fearlessly. As soon as you start doing it, you realize that suddenly you have made your way out of the writer’s block. So, start your journey of self-improvement by identifying what is holding you back.

#2 – Let go of perfectionism and what your readers will think about you.

As writers, most of us carry the huge baggage of perfectionism on our shoulders. We often worry about what our readers will think about our work. We don’t want to let them down.

We just want to be perfect, and this perfectionism holds us back. It throws us into writer’s block.

Having said that, if you aspire to overcome writer’s block, you should let go of perfectionism. You shouldn’t let the thoughts of what your readers will think about you bother you.

Take a deep breath, trust yourself, research well, and express yourself well in your writing, and that’s all you need to do. Do what you need to do and don’t bother about the results.

No doubt you should try to get the best results but don’t be so occupied with the results that you get too wrapped up in them to the point that your writing suffers. If you keep focusing on your actions, you’ll definitely reap the desired fruits.

#3 – Do something that makes you feel alive.

Sometimes all we need to overcome writer’s block is to recharge ourselves by doing things that make us feel alive. If you love listening to music, plug in your headphones and listen to your favorite songs. If you love reading, read something written by your favorite writers. Give yourself 5 to 10 (or more) minutes to enjoy these things.

As you return back to work, you’ll begin to flow with your writing. This is one of the best tricks that have worked for me well most times. Do try this one out and see the results for yourself.

#4 – Plan before you write.

As content marketers, we often feel pressured because of our work. We have to meet project deadlines while ensuring the quality of work.

Due to this immense pressure, we often begin to write without planning things. We sometimes don’t even think before writing. We just jump into it. No doubt, it is not good to think a lot before writing as it breeds confusion, but a little thinking and direction is required.

If we plan things a little, we know in which direction we have to move in terms of writing. When the outline is clear, we are unlikely to fall into writer’s block. So, you should engage in strategic planning before beginning to write. Don’t buckle under pressure. Stay calm, think a little, and keep marching ahead.

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#5 – Align yourself with the psychological state of flow.

In the words of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “Flow is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.”

“Flow is being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.”

– Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

When you experience the psychological state of flow, you are so involved in the activity you are doing that everything happens smoothly.

In a way, the psychological state of flow is the opposite of writer’s block. So, you should try to align yourself with the psychological state of flow. How can you do that? The following are three steps that can help you with it.

Start your work 10% slower than you do.

The key to experiencing the psychological state of flow is to start your work 10% slower than you do. When you begin slowly, you give your brain the time to get completely engrossed in the task at hand which is the foundation of experiencing the psychological state of flow.

Give yourself a little challenge.

When things are too easy to accomplish, we begin to feel bored. When a task is very difficult to achieve, we feel discouraged due to a lack of confidence in our abilities. However, when a task is neither too difficult nor too easy, we feel excited about it. As a result, we are more likely to experience the psychological state of flow.

Follow the Pomodoro Technique.

Our mind begins to feel tired after working for some time, usually around 25 to 40 minutes. Then, it needs a break to replenish its productivity. If we don’t give our minds the desired break, fatigue seeps in and we cannot think clearly.

When we can’t think clearly, how can we experience the psychological state of flow?

So, to flow in your work, you should follow the Pomodoro Technique. It involves working for a dedicated interval of 25 minutes and then, taking a short break for 5 to 7 minutes.

After the break, you can begin working again. Alternatively, you can also use the Pareto Principle for excellent time management.

#6 – Write what is going on in your mind.

When you experience writer’s block, you should let your thoughts out. Give yourself the opportunity to write what’s going on in your mind. You don’t have to write something related to your work. Just write whatever is going on in your mind.

If you are thinking about your dog, write about it. If you are thinking about your inability to write, write about it. The moment you let your thoughts out, you have made yourself free from their impact. Consequently, your subconscious mind begins to feel relieved. This naturally frees you from writer’s block.

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#7 – Practice deep breathing.

You might wonder, why deep breathing, we aren’t discussing stress management. Yes, we aren’t discussing stress management, but you will be surprised to know that deep breathing can help you overcome writer’s block.

How?

Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to your brain.

When your brain receives an increased supply of oxygen, your thought process becomes clear. Consequently, you can write better.

So, wherever you find yourself suffering from writer’s block, give yourself five minutes to practice deep breathing. Just 10 deep breaths and you’ll experience the magic yourself.

Closing thoughts on eliminating writer’s block as a content marketer

Content marketing revolves around writing. If you are a content marketer, you already know that writing isn’t easy.

You are not always in the zone. Sometimes you write in flow while other times, you find yourself suffering from writer’s block.

You feel as if your brain has stopped working and you can even pen down a single sentence. Finding yourself in such a situation feels horrible. After all, as a professional, you are answerable to your company and your team.

Hence, it is imperative for you to know how to deal with writer’s block. The above-mentioned are some tactics that can help you overcome writer’s block.

Do try these out and you’ll see the results for yourself. Wish you All the best and immense success in all your endeavors.

Jessica Robinson

Jessica Robinson loves to write interesting and knowledgeable blogs regarding business management, education and life to satiate the curiosity of her lovely readers. Currently, she is serving as a content manager at the ‘Speaking Polymath’. Every piece of content that she writes demonstrates her immense love and passion for her profession.