How To Overcome Writer’s Block For Bloggers: 17 Top Tips!

Errm…what do I write now?? Errr….well…how about…no, maybe not. Aaargh!!! (close laptop, turn on T.V.).

Sound familiar??

As bloggers, most of us have faced the hopelessness of writer’s block. That brain-freezed state of staring blankly at your laptop, willing the words to flow but finding nothing.

It can make you feel pretty useless.

But don’t lose hope – with the proper techniques and a big dollop of patience, you can overcome writer’s block and resume writing fantastic content that your readers will love.

In this article, I’ve identified 17 practical tips to conquer writer’s block for good.

I’ll also examine why writer’s block can strike so that you can be better prepared should it ever happen to you.

With a combination of mental, environmental and habit-oriented solutions, you’ll push through the fog of writer’s block and rediscover your writing mojo! 

But before exploring solutions, let’s understand what writer’s block is and why it strikes.

What is Writer’s Block?

Writer’s block is the inability to develop or put words on the page during the writing process.

It refers to situations where a writer or blogger struggles with writing new material or feels unable to proceed with a work in progress.

Writer’s block makes writing feel impossible despite the desire and need to write.

Why Do Bloggers Suffer From Writer’s Block?

1. We Put Too Much Pressure On Ourselves.

To write a blog post is demanding work, but we often make it more challenging by imposing unrealistic expectations such as:

• Expecting Each Piece To Be Perfect – Let’s face it, but brilliant content rarely happens on the first go. Writing without judging yourself is one of the primary skills you must master.
• Comparing Yourself To Successful Bloggers – This is a slippery slope that can spiral into self-doubt and feelings of imposter syndrome. Remember, these guys have been blogging longer than you and have more experience. Also, bear in mind that these bloggers were once like you and probably went through the same frustrations you’re having right now.
• Not Permitting Yourself To Write Poorly – Try to silence the inner critic and create momentum in your workflow.

2. We Lack Inspiration and Motivation.

Bloggers need original ideas to create content and stay motivated, but writer’s block can set in when we feel we’ve exhausted topics related to our niche.

Specifically, this happens when:

• We Run Out Of Ideas Related To A Competitive Topic – Writing in a competitive niche can be challenging, especially if you’re trying to break into a saturated market. There are always new angles to be found, but sometimes, finding them is easier said than done.
• The Topic Feels Stale And Uninteresting – Unfortunately, no matter what niche you’re in, there will always be a selection of posts which have to be written to increase your topical authority and E.E.A.T. Try to be aware that your passion for your niche will always fluctuate, and when it’s low, creating content feels like a chore.
• We Lose Passion For The Niche – Burnout is common amongst fellow bloggers. But this isn’t necessarily the end of the world for your blog. Remember: recharging your interest takes time, but once you understand your output’s natural peaks and troughs, hitting a low point will be much easier to deal with.

The key to remember is to look down at the bigger picture and try not to criticize yourself for lacking inspiration or motivation.

These low points happen to all bloggers (even those ranking on Page 1), but once you can recognize them, you will be in a much better position to overcome writer’s block.

3. We Have Too Many Distractions.

Writing requires intense focus, which can be difficult to achieve in our modern digital lives.

Constant notifications and unlimited access to online content can lead to:

• Difficulty Focusing – The dings and buzzes from our devices are like little attention grenades going off when we’re trying to write. Even if you try to ignore them, you can’t help but glance at that text or email when your phone lights up. Before you know it, you’ve lost your train of thought.
• Social Media Black Holes – I’m very guilty of this one! One minute, I’m “taking a quick break” to scroll through Instagram or Facebook, and suddenly an hour has passed. The internet has a way of sucking us into the void where time and responsibilities disappear.
• Unnecessary Multitasking  – With so many tabs and apps open, we trick ourselves into thinking we can write while answering emails, texting, online shopping, etc. But divided focus damages creativity and leaves you drained. Writing deserves your full mental presence.

Later, I will discuss some valuable tips to limit these problems and to keep the doomscrolling at bay!

4. We Fall Into Unproductive Routines.

As bloggers, we often fall into routines that hinder our creativity rather than help it.

Some routine gives writing structure, but too much breeds complacency and mental ruts.

Lookout for:

• Writing At The Same Time And Place Every Day – Sitting down in the same spot, day after day, conditions your brain to expect business as usual. Familiarity leads to boredom rather than bursts of inspiration.
• Frustration And Creativity Lag In Your Routine – Negative emotions accumulate when your routine fails to produce creative ideas session after session. Soon, you start to dread your scheduled writing time because it feels forced and unproductive.
• Needing Novelty To Spark Creativity – Excessive routine limits the creation of exciting new ideas. Your brain craves novelty to form fresh connections and perspectives. When you recognize the need for change, it’s time to switch things up!

Shaking things up rewires your creativity and combats the mental staleness routines can cause.

Try to keep your mind on its toes so inspiration can strike when you least expect it.

5. We Don’t Take Care Of Ourselves.

Writing requires a lot of mental energy and focus. When our personal care starts slipping, creativity goes down the drain, too.

Common signs that you’ve neglected self-care and burned yourself out can include:

• Feeling Drained No Matter How Much You Rest – Writing feels like a chore rather than a passion, and mental exhaustion makes it tough to generate fresh ideas.
• Stress Or Exhaustion From Overwork – Inspiration and motivation are hard to find at the best times, but when you’re depleted physically and emotionally, your imagination shuts off.
• Lack Of Sleep – Physical health issues like poor sleep and fatigue can hamper your writing ability. Peak mental performance requires a foundation of physical well-being.

Unfortunately, there’s no magic wand to wave for a solution to how we live our lives.

With all the other stresses and worries outside of blogging, giving ourselves time to rest and recover can be pretty challenging.

So, if you recognize some of these symptoms above, that’s a great start!

Try to make small improvements in your daily life, and soon, these will positively affect your productivity and writing skills.

Now that we’ve explored the major causes of writer’s block let’s discuss techniques to overcome these obstacles and get your blogging mojo back!

How To Overcome Writer’s Block: 17 Top Tips!

The following strategies can help you overcome writer’s block by addressing its various causes. Try combining several approaches to best suit your specific needs and writing style.

1. Work In A New Location.

Our environment impacts our mindset. If you always write in the same spot, a simple change of scenery can reboot inspiration.

Try writing somewhere new, like:

• A coffee shop – Often, working in a public space will focus the mind and prevent you from procrastinating. Add to this a steady stream of caffeine, and you may find the words flow at a crazy rate!
• The local library – If you crave complete silence and a cut-off from the busy world (especially if you have a noisy household), head for the library and find a quiet corner for peace and inspiration.
• A different room in your home – Sometimes, a simple change of room in your house can be all it takes to get your writing on the move again. (even my loft has become my latest retreat!)
• Your car! – Ever-changing scenery is a great way to feel inspired. Why not drive to a beautiful location and start writing from the comfort of your driver’s seat.

Never underestimate the power of a simple location shift – even in your home.

By exposing yourself to new sights, sounds, and smells, you’ll be amazed at how creative juices flow and that overcoming writer’s block is not as hard as you think.

2. Add Background Music or Noise.

Too much noise is distracting, but gentle background audio can stimulate creative thinking.

Experiment with:

• Instrumental music – Avoid distracting lyrics. Movie soundtracks work well to spark ideas. My personal favourites include Brian Eno and Einaudi. What are yours??
• White noise – The steady low drone of a fan or the rhythmic hum of kitchen appliances can have a cathartic effect. Atmospheric soundtracks of rain noise or birdsong can also help you relax and find inspiration.
• Low-volume TV – Dialogue provides an ambient murmur without hijacking your attention, but keep the volume low so you can’t hear what’s happening.
• Noise-Cancelling Headphones – These are really useful! I like to turn them on (without music) when writing away from home. It’s a great way to send disruptive noise to the background and create a bubble of silence on the go.

Try experimenting with the soundscape that you’re surrounded by.

Let your ears enjoy some company of your own design, and see if it allows your mind to wander more freely when you’re feeling stuck for good ideas.

3. You Don’t Have To Be Perfect.

Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity! 

When you write blog posts daily and maintain a steady stream of content, perfectionism is the last thing you need. It slows productivity, and your daily word count will take a big hit.

Before you know it, you’re paralyzed on what to write next, and writer’s block takes a grip. 

But try not to worry!

Perfectionism means that you really care about what you’re writing; you just need to banish unrealistic expectations like:

• My first draft must be flawless.
• My content could be more sharp than [other bloggers] work.
• I can’t move forward until this is immaculate.
• I should never make mistakes or errors.
• This post will only rank if it’s perfect.

Progress requires accepting imperfection.

By understanding that an organic rewriting and editing process creates excellent writing, you will soon be able to silence your inner critic.

So remember:

• Done is better than perfect.
• My abilities will improve with time and practice.
• Writing poorly is better than not writing at all.
• The editing process will polish this draft.

4. Reward Yourself Frequently.

Creating enticing incentives gives your brain something to anticipate, energizing you to push through writers block.

Schedule rewards after:

• Completing a blog post or article draft.
• Finishing an outline or draft.
• Hitting a major milestone like 5,000 words.

Make rewards frequent and timely enough to stay motivated. Even small prizes for meeting mini-goals can keep you engaged and typing away on your keyboard.

5. Read Blogs And Books In Your Niche.

Try immersing yourself in the writing related to your niche. It’s slightly uncomfortable, as you’ll likely read the content from your competitors. Grrr.

However…

It will expose you to new facts and viewpoints you can adapt and use in your writing. You may even find and expand concepts your arch-enemies may have missed! Result!

(Please Note: Be careful not to accidentally plagiarize any material you have researched. For more information on this subject, please read my article on how to avoid plagiarism in blogging.)

6. Follow Influencers In Your Field.

This tip is in line with the previous one, except this time, you’re stalking your competitor’s social media and their presence online!

Although this is another bitter pill to swallow, their social media fan base is a goldmine for inspiration, which can inspire you to expand new ideas and inject them into your work.

Additionally, you may stumble across trending topics fresh in your niche, allowing you to write an article that will rank high relatively quickly.

7. Try the Pomodoro Technique.

The ‘pomo’ what??!!

Relax!

This has nothing to do with tomatoes but an excellent work routine to increase productivity and maximize your writing time.

The Pomodoro technique breaks work into focused sessions, separated by short breaks.

Follow these steps:

1. Set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted writing time.
2. Silence distractions and concentrate fully until the timer rings.
3. Take a 5-minute break after the session to refresh.
4. Complete three more 25-minute writing sessions, taking a brief break after each.
5. After four Pomodoro sessions, reward yourself with a more extended 15-20 minute break.

The timed sessions will help you zero in your focus while knowing a break is coming to reduce any stress.

I use this technique regularly, especially with tight deadlines, and it’s gotten me through the dreaded writer’s block on countless occasions!

Remember: Give yourself permission to write imperfectly during the 25-minute spurts – resist editing until later. Keep it short but intensive.

8. Schedule A Consistent Routine For Writing.

I’ve got a love/hate relationship with routines when I write a new blog post.

Sometimes, establishing a steady schedule helps get me in the zone. But, sticking to the same routine for too long, I start staring blankly at the computer screen, uninspired.

So what’s the sweet spot?

Here’s what works for me to create a routine without risking creative dead-ends:

1. Identify Your Energy Peaks – Are you a morning or afternoon writer? Lock in time slots for writing when you know your brain will be primed.
2. Build Some Variety Into Your Location – Sure, I love writing at my favourite coffee shop, but switching to the local library or from my desk to the back patio can be all it needs to keep things fresh and productive.
3. Avoid Clockwatching – Hide all visual clocks in the space you’re writing in, and instead use a hidden online alarm clock to start and end a writing session.

Routine and ritual can help instil focus, but watch out for autopilot mode!

Don’t be afraid to tweak your schedule to stay inspired and give your brain the stability and novelty it craves.

9. Change Your Writing Tools.

Whenever writer’s block creeps in, I shake things up and trade my laptop for a different writing tool.

Here are some useful ones I use:

• Pen And Paper – Yup! You heard it right! Writing by hand engages your brain differently than typing. It helps me capture ideas more freely without self-editing.
• Use A Speech-To-Text App – This is a great way to get all your thoughts out super quick. It adds a sense of freedom to the creative process and prevents you from editing straight away.
• Try A Different Writing Tool – Swap your standard word processor for something fresh, like Google Docs, if you usually use Word. My current go-to tool is Notion. Its note-taking functionality is excellent for keeping your research under one roof, and you can link your Google Docs to your pages.

The key takeaway is to create variety with your tools and to let these change organically throughout your creative journey.

If dumping the tech for pen and paper helps you to overcome writers block, then go with it and scribble down as much as you can!

10. Speak To Your Family And Friends.

As writers, we spend so much time alone with our thoughts that it can be easy to get stuck inside our heads.

When I feel a block coming on, it really helps me to take a break and have conversations with friends or family members.

Connecting with loved ones provides a necessary change of pace and scenery. It gets me out of frustrating mental cycles and exposes me to fresh perspectives I’d never thought of.

Sometimes, all you need is to verbalize your challenges to gain clarity.

Don’t isolate yourself when writer’s block strikes.

The people who know and love you can provide a valuable sounding board, comfort, and inspiration to get you unstuck.

11. Mind Map Your Ideas.

When you have lots of great ideas to put into a new post, it can get overwhelming on how to order them and write them down.

Using a Mind Mapping tool, you can visually chart your thoughts and processes to uncover connections between multiple topics and sub-topics.

Mind Mapping has helped me overcome writers block numerous times, especially on longer blog posts.

It’s also helped me generate ideas using it as a note-taking tool.

12. Switch Projects During Your Regular Breaks.

Writing for long periods can lead to mental fatigue and writer’s block. Taking regular short breaks helps recharge your focus between writing sessions.

However, don’t just step away from your computer during breaks.

Instead, try switching to a different writing project to give your mind an active change of scenery.

For example, you could:

• Spend 30-45 focused minutes drafting a new blog post.
• When you start to feel stuck, take a 5-10 minute break.
• During the break, switch gears and do some editing or outlining for a separate piece you’re working on.
• After the short break spent progressing on Project B, go back to your original draft to continue working on it with fresh eyes and renewed energy.

Switching writing projects during quick breaks allows you to maintain momentum while giving your mind a break from the specific project, causing fatigue and writer’s block.

13. Disable The Internet.

It’s impossible to tap into deeper levels of focus with constant dings, buzzes and pings. Every notification breaks attention, harming your workflow.

Try to create a distraction-free work bubble by:

• Turning off phone notifications.
• Writing in Airplane Mode when possible.
• Leaving your phone in another room.

(Don’t worry…the internet will still be there when your writing session is complete!)

14. Talk To Yourself.

Sometimes, talking through my ideas aloud helps get my creative juices to flow, even if I’m explaining a concept to myself!

The act of vocalizing my thoughts engages a different part of my brain and helps me make new connections.

You may be surprised what kinds of ideas start pouring out!

15. Use A.I. (Artificial Intelligence)

As professional bloggers, we all know the impact of AI being used to create sub-standard content.

However, in the right hands, it can be an excellent tool to overcome writer’s block.

Here are four ways to use AI and help combat writer’s block:

1. Describe your blog post topic and goals to an AI tool like Anthropic or Chat-GPT.
2. Use the AI’s suggestions and questions as ideation fuel.
3. Never directly copy suggestions, but build on them with your own ideas.
4. Incorporate your feedback to the AI. This will help improve the AI’s response and allow you to soundboard your ideas.

Many writers use AI tools to collaborate their best ideas with a virtual assistant.

But be careful; AI should never be used to replace the creative process altogether.

By providing fresh inspiration, these tools make writing feel less intimidating when trying to beat writer’s block.

Give it a try next time you need to brainstorm new ideas!

16. Try Freewriting.

Freewriting means writing continuously without stopping to edit yourself.

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write down every thought that comes to mind about your topic without judging whether it’s good or bad. No editing. No deleting!

Getting everything out of your head and onto the page can help unblock your creativity.

After the timer goes off, you can review what you wrote for nuggets of ideas to develop further.

Give it a go!

17. Analyze Your Analytics.

Sometimes, writer’s block happens when you feel unsure about what your audience wants.

To combat this, take a look at your blog analytics and see which topics have performed the best recently, then identify any content gaps around those topics to spark new ideas.

You can also take these new ideas and quiz your email list or social media followers on what posts they want to see more of.

Leveraging data and feedback ensures you create content your readers will love and, more importantly, get those fingers tapping on the keyboard again!

Final Thoughts.

Writer’s block can strike at any time, halting your progress in its tracks. But with these 17 techniques, no blank page should stop you from achieving blogging success.

Experiment with the strategies discussed one by one to determine what works for your unique creative process and style.

Feel free to tailor these methods to match your needs and form a personalized writer’s block toolkit.

With consistent application, you will be armed and ready to overcome writer’s block and rediscover your natural creativity.

Now get typing – your next blog post awaits!

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