The dreaded blank page: How to overcome writer’s block

It is all I can hear in my head sometimes as the cursor keeps blinking — mocking me as I start to go snow-blind. 

‘Why is this so hard?’ 

The irony isn’t lost on me. I am, after all, trying to write a blog on how to overcome writer’s block! Self-doubt is one of the biggest blocks that stops writers from putting pen to paper.

Are my ideas good enough? Will my words resonate? Would anyone want to read this?

The answer is, to start – no matter what.

It is the key advice given by the American novelist Louis L’Amour to overcome writer’s block. Ever hear the phrase, ‘You can’t edit a blank page’?

‘But I don’t know what to write!’ I hear you say. Well then, start with that.

Write, ‘But I don’t know what to write!’ and follow that with the next thought, and then the next. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to make sense. But till you have something written down, there is nothing to work with. Your first draft does not even have to see the light of day. Keep it for your eyes only. What this will do is propel you into a flow of creativity and the wonder of learning and flexing those muscles without relying on AI to spoon-feed you generic answers. Don’t get me wrong – AI has its benefits, but don’t let it get in the way of you developing your voice and writing skills.

We all work differently and have varying challenges, including fear, anxiety, and doubts that hold us back. However, here are a few wonderful tools and tips that have helped me as a writer to overcome writer’s block.

The morning pages

The morning pages are a brilliant exercise described in ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron. According to Cameron, it is non-negotiable if you want to explore your creative journey. 

The method is this.

Pick up your notebook as you wake up and write three pages of longhand writing. A stream of consciousness, if you will, meaning whatever comes to mind! For some of us, the first words could very well be the equivalent of a zombie groan or grunt — but it is a good way to remove unwanted blocks and negativity. 

Treat this as a freewriting exercise, so don’t overthink it. 

Just don’t take the pen off the page. Let your mind empty its thoughts onto the page. I find giving myself 30 minutes — or three ten-minute intervals using my alarm’s snooze feature — works well for getting it done.  

What to write? 

• The events of the day before 
• Your plans for the day 
• The remnants of last night’s dream! 

Anything. Again, don’t overthink it. 

Pretend you are talking to a friend

Sometimes we get so caught up in using the correct sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation it can detract from the substance of what you want to say. Writing like you speak can make all the difference.

So, why not think about how you would explain your story, article, or report to a friend? 

Imagine they are sitting in front of you and say it out loud — record it if that is easier. And if that doesn’t work, compose a letter or an email to them. Then use the relevant content in your draft.

I find this particularly useful when I am preparing to pitch to a client or give a presentation. It helps me structure my thoughts and keep my message clear and concise.

The Pomodoro Technique

My friend Eddie, a playwright, introduced this to me when I was just starting my writing career. Since then it has helped me not only with writing but also with tackling tasks during the day. 

The Pomodoro technique is a time management system developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. As a student, he struggled with procrastination, so he used a kitchen timer as a way to get more done in less time. The timer he used was shaped like a tomato — Pomodoro in Italian!

The timer starts for 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. At the end of it, you take a 5-minute break and then plunge back into the next 25 minutes of work. This cycle repeats four times before taking a longer break. It is a proven method to help you focus on the task at hand.

Now, there are apps you can try that provide this and many variations of this technique — so you don’t have to get a kitchen timer!

These are but a few simple yet effective exercises that can help you get your creativity flowing and overcome writer’s block. Experiment with each and find the one that works for you. 

Happy writing! 

If you like this post, why not read my five-step plan to copywriting?