The Ultimate Guide to Overcoming Writer’s Block: 89 Top Resources to Get Your Words Flowing Again

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If you’ve been writing for any length of time or ever been faced with a writing deadline, then you’ve probably smacked into the brick wall that confronts us all eventually: writer’s block.

This article is all about providing you with tools and methods for overcoming writer’s block.

Because …

While nearly every author goes through periods when words come slowly if they come at all, the truth is that these word stoppages are not inevitable, and you can overcome them with the proper help.

And that’s what this guide is all about — helping you find the information you need to get your writing moving again when you can’t find the words on your own.

Luckily for all of us, the Internet has brought together writers from all over the world, and most of us are eager to share the tips and tricks of the trade that we’ve learned over the years. Now, the best of the best in busting writer’s block is available in one place — right here!

What you’ll discover below is a collection of nearly 90 of the best articles on the web for breaking through the various forms of writer’s block.

Want a handy PDF version of this guide? Just click here to download your copy now.

Here is the complete list of tools for overcoming writer’s block, broken into 9 categories so you can focus on the areas that concern you most at any given time.

 

Table of Contents

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Chapter 2

What Is Writer’s Block?

Given how ubiquitous writer’s block seems to be among writers of all types and experience levels, you would think we’d have a good handle on at least what it is. As it turns out, that’s not quite the case. There are as many definitions of “writer’s block” as there are ways to overcome it, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. When you’re trying to diagnose a malady as insidious and nebulous as this, you need all the help you can get in identifying the symptoms. Here are some of the best resources on the web for pinpointing not just whether you have contracted writer’s block but from which form of the ailment you suffer. (Return to Table of Contents) Read through a few of these, and you’ll see that writer’s block really does span a wide range of conditions and maladies, and the “treatment options” for same are just as varied. Even so, there are common threads that run through most of these articles, and we’ll focus the rest of this guide on advice for overcoming eight specific causes for writer’s block:
  • Lack of ideas
  • Distractions
  • Procrastination
  • Perfectionism
  • Lagging motivation
  • Lack of commitment
  • Little available time
  • Weak confidence
Any and all of these plagues can sap your writing efforts and leave you disappointed with your results. But there is help available … in the links in this guide, courtesy of the global internet writing community. (Return to Table of Contents)

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Chapter 3

Finding Ideas to Fuel Your Writing

It’s probably what most people — at least non-writers — think of when they hear the term, “Writer’s Block”: you just can’t come up with an idea for your next story, novel, or blog post. And it makes sense, too, because every story starts with a fairly simple concept and blossoms from there. Some ideas mushroom almost before you even realize you’ve had an inspiration, and some take active cultivation. But what happens when you run dry? How can you restore your muse’s voice when she goes mute? The truth is, story ideas are all around us if we’re receptive to them. These articles will help you open your senses and pick up the trail of your next great tale. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 4

Eliminating Distractions

Distractions have always been a problem for writers, and that’s never been truer than it is now. Whereas in generations past, we might have had trouble moving past the television or hearing over the cacophony of children, pets, and ringing phones that invade adult life, at least we were pretty safe once we actually got to our writing desks. Now, just getting ourselves in front of the keyboard is no guarantee that we will be able to shut out the diversions that derail our writing. In fact, with all the wonders of the internet, our next work stoppage is never more than a couple of keystrokes away. If you find yourself in a constant struggle to shut out the distractions that peck at us from all directions, these articles will help you devise a plan for quieting your world and your mind so you can get down to business. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 5

Overcoming Procrastination

Come on, admit it: sometimes you allow yourself to be distracted because you want to delay digging into your next writing foray. You have a great idea, an ideal working space, and time to write, but you just … keep … putting … it … off. Maybe it’s fear of failure or a lack of motivation or trouble getting started — see the other chapters in this guide for help with those — but you can’t seem to get going on your project and convince yourself that it can wait until later. The resources below will help you take that first step and put your writing plan into action sooner rather than later. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 6

Moving Past Perfectionism

Have you ever sat down at your keyboard all fired up to crank out a great story, banged out a few sentences, and then — boom! — got stuck? You backspace every couple of words and fuss over every bit of punctuation. You labor over your word choice, searching for the perfect tone and connotation in every syllable. Before you know it, an hour has passed, and you’re sweating through your clothes. You’ve written maybe 200 words — maybe — and you’re not really happy with any of them. If this sounds familiar to you, then you’ve had firsthand experience with the bugaboo of perfectionism. Aspiring to be the best that you can be is an admirable goal, but trying to be perfect is stifling and can lead you down the road of full-blown writer’s block before you even realize you made a wrong turn. Luckily, there are techniques that can help, and these articles will get you started on a “cure.” (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 7

Finding the Motivation to Write

Even if you have the perfect story idea and a plan to eliminate distractions, sometimes you’re just not enthused to write. Procrastination (see above) can be a symptom of such a condition, but you might be better served to treat the root cause — often a lack of motivation. If you find that you’ve lost some of the fire and joy that writing used to bring you, read through these articles for pointers on how to turn things around. You’re sure to find a nugget or two that will remind you why you’re writing in the first place and get you rearing to go again. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 8

Committing to Write

For almost all of us, writing is hard work. It requires you to dig down deep into your soul and splatter bits of your being onto the blank page on a regular basis. It can be frightening and exhausting, and if you’re not absolutely dedicated to making a go of it, then chances are you’ll let it slide down your list of important things to do. If you feel uncertain about whether or not you should be devoting time to writing, then it’s time to check your commitment levels. Do you really plan to write most days for the next 10 years? 20 years? The rest of your life? The articles below can help you answer those questions and come up with a plan that will allow you to truly commit to making writing a regular part of your life — if that’s your goal. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 9

Finding Time to Write

Writing is subject to the concept of “flow” to a greater extent than almost any other human endeavor. When you’ve been writing every day for weeks at a time, the words tend to come easy, and you move from project to project with barely a pause. But when you scuffle to squeeze in 15 minutes here and there and end up going days or weeks without working on your projects, writing can become a colossal struggle. And most adults with jobs — writing or non-writing — are super busy, which means that time is always at a premium. If you suffer from this type of “inconsistency” writer’s block, then you need to get a handle on your schedule and figure out how to make writing a priority in your life. These articles will help you get started on that journey. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 10

Building the Confidence to Write

Nothing in this world will turn you into a writer, a productive writer, if you don’t believe that you can do it and that you deserve to do it. A lack of confidence will make you susceptible to a world of problems, including most of those described here — lack of motivation, distractions, procrastination, lack of time, etc. You must develop faith in your ability to be the writer you want to be if you hope to avoid or overcome writer’s block. If you don’t believe you’re good enough to produce compelling stories, novels, blog posts, or essays, then no one else will either. We’re all unsure of ourselves from time to time, but learning to put those doubts aside and dig in to the writing trenches is absolutely key to long-term success. If you’re feeling a bit light in the confidence department, the articles below can help you identify techniques for bolstering your writing swagger. (Return to Table of Contents) (Return to Table of Contents)  

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Chapter 12

Conclusion

Writer’s block happens to everyone at some point, but it’s not inevitable. More importantly, it’s not a fatal blow to your writing endeavors. Simply by being aware of the types of writer’s block that can derail your progress, you can take steps to avoid or overcome prolonged droughts. The resources presented here are some of the best available anywhere on the web for keeping your words flowing. Come back to them often and make adjustments to your own plan so that you can be the happiest and most productive writer possible. Happy wordsmithing! (Return to Table of Contents)  

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