How do you fix writer's block?

Writer’s block. Just the phrase itself is enough to make any writer’s brain freeze over. Whether you’re staring at a blinking cursor or watching the kettle boil for the third time in an hour, the struggle is real. But here’s the good news: writer’s block isn’t a life sentence, it’s a solvable hiccup. You just need to know how to tackle it.

Let’s walk through practical, real-world techniques that genuinely work, including insights from neuroscience, psychology and experienced writers.

What exactly is writer’s block?

Writer’s block isn’t about laziness or lack of talent. According to researchers at the University of Illinois, it’s often linked to cognitive overload, perfectionism or emotional stress, meaning your brain is simply not ready to write under the current conditions. It’s like trying to force a tired muscle to lift a heavy weight: it’ll resist until you change your approach.

You might be dealing with:

• Overthinking or self-criticism

• Lack of direction in your writing

• External stress, pressure or burnout

• Fear of failure or comparison

• Decision fatigue from juggling too many choices

  
  

You’re not alone. Even bestselling authors like Neil Gaiman and Maya Angelou have admitted to hitting that same mental wall.

1. Reset your brain, not just your page

Sometimes the best writing solution doesn’t look like writing at all. According to the NHS, a short walk, change of environment or even switching tasks can help refresh your brain’s neural pathways.

Try:

• Going for a 10-minute walk outdoors (natural light improves cognitive function)

• Moving to a different room or writing spot

• Washing the dishes (yes, really, simple tasks lower cortisol)

• Reading a page of a book you admire

  
  

The goal here is simple: break the feedback loop of staring and stressing.

Source: NHS Mental Wellbeing Tips

2. Lower the pressure to “be good”

You don’t need to write well. You just need to write. The British Library reminds us that many masterpieces started life as chaotic, error-filled drafts. Your job is to get something down, not polish it to perfection from the first word.

Try this:

• Give yourself permission to write badly

• Set a 5-minute timer and free-write without editing

• Start in the middle of the story if the beginning feels impossible

• Write a letter to yourself as your character

  
  

Writing is thinking. Let it be messy.

Source: Good Story Company – Advice for Beginner Writers

3. Shrink the task down

Writer’s block often creeps in when a project feels too big. So shrink it. According to productivity expert Oliver Burkeman, breaking writing into laughably small steps helps bypass the brain’s resistance.

Instead of: “Write chapter one”, try:

• Open the document

• Write a title

• Jot down three scene ideas

• Describe what the main character is doing right now

  
  

Small steps build momentum. Momentum silences doubt.

Source: Oliver Burkeman, The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking

4. Trick your brain with constraints

Blank pages are scary because they offer too much choice. Use constraints to force focus. Copywriters use this all the time: writing in a strict word count or fixed format helps the ideas flow faster.

Try these constraints:

• Limit yourself to 100 words

• Only write dialogue, no narration

• Describe a scene using just the five senses

• Use pen and paper (no backspace key!)

  
  

Constraints remove paralysis by giving your brain something to push against.

5. Change your medium

Typing might be blocking you. Many writers, including novelist Zadie Smith, switch to handwriting or even voice notes when stuck. The physical act of writing or speaking lights up different areas of the brain.

Try:

• Writing by hand with a scruffy notebook

• Recording your thoughts as if talking to a friend

• Using post-it notes to move scenes around visually

  
  

Source: Zadie Smith – On Writing

6. Reconnect with why you’re writing

Sometimes writer’s block isn’t about writing at all, it’s about disconnection. From the purpose. From the audience. From yourself.

Ask yourself:

• Who am I writing this for?

• Why does this matter?

• What excited me about this idea in the first place?

  
  

If needed, write it out as a note to yourself: “I’m writing this to help people who…” or “I want someone to feel…” That clarity often unlocks the next sentence.

7. Accept that writing is hard and do it anyway

Writing isn’t supposed to feel easy all the time. The difference between writers who succeed and those who don’t often comes down to this: showing up when it feels pointless.

As Anne Lamott says in Bird by Bird: “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”

So start ugly. Start unsure. But start.

Source: Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

Need help getting unstuck? LetterLab can take the pressure off

If your writer’s block is about a cover letter, personal statement or something important and time-sensitive, LetterLab can help. We’re a UK-based letter writing service trusted by individuals, students and professionals who need their message to land, even when the words won’t come.

Our expert writers don’t just fill the page, we capture your voice and intention with clarity and care.

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