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Is there a way to avoid writers block?
My name is Santino, im a junior in high school, and whenever writing I tend to reach a a block, where I cant think of anything to write. What can help with this or how can entirely avoid it?
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11 answers
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Tom’s Answer
Hi Santino. Writer's block afflicts us all at some point. Depending upon the nature of what you are writing, there are several ways to remove it that have worked for me. Here goes:
1) Step away and do something else for a few hours, like reading, listening to music, going for a walk outside, or anything that you find relaxing.
2) Sleep on it. Its remarkable what your subconscious will present when you wake up. The trick is to be prepared to capture the ideas and thoughts ASAP! I've found voice recording to be the best way to capture these thoughts.
3) Go for a drive, preferably where the traffic is sparse. I have enjoyed many breakthrough ideas from "windshield time."
These techniques are all good if you have an open-ended due date. But what if you have a paper due for school the next day? My high school teachers would be flabbergasted to learn I became a freelance writer because, as their student, I resisted using outlines and drafts as much as possible. My process was to write the final draft the night before the paper was due. A dangerous ploy that I always pulled off. But if that isn't your style (it isn't for most people), I recommend shortened versions of 1 and 3. A "change of venue" allows you to hand off your task to your subconscious and let it break the block.
One last thing I can suggest is asking an AI to help. Before I go further, it is important to use AI responsibly. Never let any AI tool write your final draft. In fact, I recommend limiting AI involvement to creating outlines or suggesting improvements, which I go over next. There are many good reasons to write your own copy, especially for academic purposes.
I use AI tools extensively for researching and ideation. If a client has a topic and no material to start writing from, I ask my AI to suggest an outline. When I hit a snag, I can ask for advice on how to complete the article. Let's take a class paper you're stuck on as an example. Go to whichever AI you like best (I prefer ChatGPT and Claude), and write a prompt similar to this:
"Hi AI, I have hit a snag completing a school paper and want your help. Below are the details of my assignment, and the attached content is what I have so far. Please suggest ideas for completing the paper and meeting the assignment requirements." Please let me know if you need any more information to complete this task."
Providing the assignment details, along with what you have so far, is the key to success with this prompt. Once you complete the paper, have the AI assess how well you meet what your teacher asked for. Be sure to do this in the same conversation, as QAIs don't work across multiple chats yet.
Hope these help you break all future blocks! Keep writing, and write something every day!
1) Step away and do something else for a few hours, like reading, listening to music, going for a walk outside, or anything that you find relaxing.
2) Sleep on it. Its remarkable what your subconscious will present when you wake up. The trick is to be prepared to capture the ideas and thoughts ASAP! I've found voice recording to be the best way to capture these thoughts.
3) Go for a drive, preferably where the traffic is sparse. I have enjoyed many breakthrough ideas from "windshield time."
These techniques are all good if you have an open-ended due date. But what if you have a paper due for school the next day? My high school teachers would be flabbergasted to learn I became a freelance writer because, as their student, I resisted using outlines and drafts as much as possible. My process was to write the final draft the night before the paper was due. A dangerous ploy that I always pulled off. But if that isn't your style (it isn't for most people), I recommend shortened versions of 1 and 3. A "change of venue" allows you to hand off your task to your subconscious and let it break the block.
One last thing I can suggest is asking an AI to help. Before I go further, it is important to use AI responsibly. Never let any AI tool write your final draft. In fact, I recommend limiting AI involvement to creating outlines or suggesting improvements, which I go over next. There are many good reasons to write your own copy, especially for academic purposes.
I use AI tools extensively for researching and ideation. If a client has a topic and no material to start writing from, I ask my AI to suggest an outline. When I hit a snag, I can ask for advice on how to complete the article. Let's take a class paper you're stuck on as an example. Go to whichever AI you like best (I prefer ChatGPT and Claude), and write a prompt similar to this:
"Hi AI, I have hit a snag completing a school paper and want your help. Below are the details of my assignment, and the attached content is what I have so far. Please suggest ideas for completing the paper and meeting the assignment requirements." Please let me know if you need any more information to complete this task."
Providing the assignment details, along with what you have so far, is the key to success with this prompt. Once you complete the paper, have the AI assess how well you meet what your teacher asked for. Be sure to do this in the same conversation, as QAIs don't work across multiple chats yet.
Hope these help you break all future blocks! Keep writing, and write something every day!
Updated
Roger’s Answer
Good question.
Personally I don't "believe" in mystical disease called writer’s block that descends from the sky and steals your talent. I do think writers experience very real periods where fear, confusion, fatigue, or life-stuff make writing feel impossible. And I guess many have agreed to call that "writer's block."
But it's not a curse, it's a signal. Often it means that you don't know what happens next. Or maybe you're expecting too much, or your standards for a first draft are too high, or you are emotionally worn down.
To me, there's no magical 'block'. There is you, your brain, and a tangle you havn't sorted out yet.
Ask yourself: am I tired, scared of writing badly, or just unsure what happens next? Each answer suggests a different fix.
Instead of waiting to 'feel inspired', maybe you need to lower the bar and do something small: freewrite for 10 minutes, write the worst version of the scene, or switch to a different tiny task (like describing the setting or a character’s mood). Write something you know about a character or a scene or part of the story to use for later.
It usually comes down to:
1. “I don’t know what to write.” Do mini research, outline the next 3 beats, or talk the scene out aloud as if telling a friend the story.
2. “I’m afraid it’ll be bad.” Give yourself explicit permission to write a messy draft; remind them you can always edit a bad page, not a blank one.
3. “I’m just fried.” So take a break: go for a walk, take a nap, read someone else's work, or a book that inspires you. Then come back, and dedicate 10 minutes to write - good or awful stuff. It doesn't matter. You can ALWAYS revise it, or cut it. It's yours dood.
I hope this helped - even a tiny bit.
Roger
Personally I don't "believe" in mystical disease called writer’s block that descends from the sky and steals your talent. I do think writers experience very real periods where fear, confusion, fatigue, or life-stuff make writing feel impossible. And I guess many have agreed to call that "writer's block."
But it's not a curse, it's a signal. Often it means that you don't know what happens next. Or maybe you're expecting too much, or your standards for a first draft are too high, or you are emotionally worn down.
To me, there's no magical 'block'. There is you, your brain, and a tangle you havn't sorted out yet.
Ask yourself: am I tired, scared of writing badly, or just unsure what happens next? Each answer suggests a different fix.
Instead of waiting to 'feel inspired', maybe you need to lower the bar and do something small: freewrite for 10 minutes, write the worst version of the scene, or switch to a different tiny task (like describing the setting or a character’s mood). Write something you know about a character or a scene or part of the story to use for later.
It usually comes down to:
1. “I don’t know what to write.” Do mini research, outline the next 3 beats, or talk the scene out aloud as if telling a friend the story.
2. “I’m afraid it’ll be bad.” Give yourself explicit permission to write a messy draft; remind them you can always edit a bad page, not a blank one.
3. “I’m just fried.” So take a break: go for a walk, take a nap, read someone else's work, or a book that inspires you. Then come back, and dedicate 10 minutes to write - good or awful stuff. It doesn't matter. You can ALWAYS revise it, or cut it. It's yours dood.
I hope this helped - even a tiny bit.
Roger
Updated
jose’s Answer
No. There is no way to avoid it. HOWEVER, when it happens, there are several ways to get out of it. HEre's a few:
1) Whatever is it you're doing, change that. Try something else. try a different routine. Try a different writing exercise, or try a different writing method. Most writer's block happen because we're doing the same thing over and over. So do something else.
2) Get into the habit that no writing is bad writing, rather it's just unpolished, unfinished, or not defined enough yet. You're not having a writer's block if you're just working on the next draft. And no draft is final. You can always change things later.
3) Writing isn't the same as typing. As long as you're aware that youre working on your craft, you're writing. The writing happens when you're out and about observing and leaning. typing is just transferring your writing from one format to another.
4) Listen to music and write a sentnce about. Watch a movie and write a few thoughts about it. Read a short story and try to write a poem about it.
5) Tell yourself that as long as you wrote, you did your job as a writer. The quality of that writing is semantics. But if you're writing all the time, something will eventually stick.
6) don't be precious with your writing. Perfection is the enemy of being done. And being done is more rewarding.
so, yeah... writer's block is real and annoying, and most Likely unavoidable. But there are solutions. Try something, change it later.
1) Whatever is it you're doing, change that. Try something else. try a different routine. Try a different writing exercise, or try a different writing method. Most writer's block happen because we're doing the same thing over and over. So do something else.
2) Get into the habit that no writing is bad writing, rather it's just unpolished, unfinished, or not defined enough yet. You're not having a writer's block if you're just working on the next draft. And no draft is final. You can always change things later.
3) Writing isn't the same as typing. As long as you're aware that youre working on your craft, you're writing. The writing happens when you're out and about observing and leaning. typing is just transferring your writing from one format to another.
4) Listen to music and write a sentnce about. Watch a movie and write a few thoughts about it. Read a short story and try to write a poem about it.
5) Tell yourself that as long as you wrote, you did your job as a writer. The quality of that writing is semantics. But if you're writing all the time, something will eventually stick.
6) don't be precious with your writing. Perfection is the enemy of being done. And being done is more rewarding.
so, yeah... writer's block is real and annoying, and most Likely unavoidable. But there are solutions. Try something, change it later.
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Santino
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Writer's block just means you're unsure of what to write. Take a break from writing and organize your thoughts instead.
Here's a method I've used in my 45 years of writing:
1. Identify the main topic you want to discuss (Theme Statement).
2. List the points that support this main topic.
3. Write a conclusion that sums up the main topic and supporting points.
Example:
Johnny starts with five apples. He gives away two. How many apples does Johnny have left?
Here's a method I've used in my 45 years of writing:
1. Identify the main topic you want to discuss (Theme Statement).
2. List the points that support this main topic.
3. Write a conclusion that sums up the main topic and supporting points.
Example:
Johnny starts with five apples. He gives away two. How many apples does Johnny have left?
Updated
Barbara’s Answer
Try talking into your phone's recording device, telling it what you want to write about. It's better to take action than just sit there. If you can, sleep on it and you might find your brain has started writing it again!
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
Hi Santino! I'm a songwriter and from my own experience, sometimes if you're trying too hard to think of something to write you're putting unneeded pressure on yourself and sort of have a brain freeze. Try and step back for a few minutes, hours, days, etc. and do other things that you enjoy doing and new thoughts will come into your mind in maybe a different way then you were trying to approach things, or how you were initially trying to write out a thought or feeling. Sometimes inspiration comes to you and you don't have to go looking for it. Hope this helps a little! God bless you! Elizabeth
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Santino
Updated
Taylor’s Answer
Hi Santino! Writer’s block happens to everyone, but there are ways to push through it. Start by giving yourself permission to write imperfectly...sometimes just getting words on the page, even if they’re messy, can spark ideas. Try prompts or freewriting for 10 minutes to get your creativity flowing. Taking a break to do something inspiring, like listening to music, going for a walk, or reading, can also help. Lastly, outline your ideas before you start writing so you have a roadmap to follow. Writing is a process, so don’t stress, just keep practicing, and the ideas will come!
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Put extensive thought into what you want to write before you start writing. This principle comes from Somerset Maugham, who advised young writers to not let the pen originate the thought (Summing Up, 1938). This practical approach is developed further by Betty Sue Flowers (1981). She taught a writing process called "Madman, Architect, Carpenter, Judge" to help writers avoid the block you are experiencing. In essence:
1. Madman: Let your ideas flow freely without judging them.
2. Architect: Organize these ideas into a plan or outline.
3. Carpenter: Write the first draft based on your outline.
4. Judge: Edit your draft for grammar and clarity.
For more details, see https://www.ut-ie.com/b/b_flowers.html.
Best,
Daniel
1. Madman: Let your ideas flow freely without judging them.
2. Architect: Organize these ideas into a plan or outline.
3. Carpenter: Write the first draft based on your outline.
4. Judge: Edit your draft for grammar and clarity.
For more details, see https://www.ut-ie.com/b/b_flowers.html.
Best,
Daniel
Updated
Matt’s Answer
There's no way to avoid writer's block, but you can do some things to help yourself out. First, read as much as possible. It doesn't matter what. Books, magazines, web sites. Anything that where you find complete coherent writing. Next is something that's always worked for me: Just start writing. It may not be the idea you think you should be putting on paper, but it's something, and it'll lead you to where you need to go.
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Rich’s Answer
Read constantly and practice free writing where you write for 10 to 15 minutes. You do not correct the spelling or grammar. Just write
Updated
violet’s Answer
Hello! It's a great idea to take breaks from writing and try something creative like drawing or crafting. Also, reading can really help—it's a fun way to learn new words and get inspired with new story ideas. Hope this helps!