Overcoming Writer’s Block: 7 Tips to Keep Plugging Away

Many writers suffer from a slump from time to time, especially while tackling a big project like a novel. After days or weeks of plugging away, you hit a wall and don’t know what the next word should be, much less the next few pages. Or else you encounter a part in your story that is more difficult to get through, like a B plot or lull after the climax. Whatever the issue may be, it’s easy to give up, put your writing project away, and hope for a day when you feel inspired again. But this is a trap—don’t fall into it! Use the tips from this blog for practical and creative strategies to push through writer’s block and rekindle your motivation. 

1. Prepare a writing prompt to answer for the day. 

Prompts can bring a fresh perspective and reduce that overwhelmed feeling you have when staring at a new blank page. Plus, they are fun to work with and can take your story in unexpected, but not bad, directions. Here are a few prompts to help you get started: 

• Describe a new setting in your story. Use as many descriptive words as possible, including those that appeal to the senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. 
• Write about a character’s back story that you haven’t explored before. What was their favorite food as a child? Describe a scene where they eat it. Who was their childhood hero? Explain how they learn about this hero for the first time. 
• Take a side character and develop a scene wherein they have a random, but funny, desire. Maybe they’re really hungry and want a freshly baked pie. Maybe they suddenly want to go for a swim. How do they deal with this desire and try to fulfill it? 
• Describe a scene where a character wears a new outfit—and they hate it. 
• Describe a scene where one character writes a letter to another character about something that has already happened. How do they describe this event? Why are they writing the letter? 

There are also a vast number of writing prompts available online, if none of the above work for you—or you’re looking for more. One fun thing I like to do is look up a list of 100 Writing Prompts, which usually has 100 individual words meant to inspire. Using even a single word to start off a new part of your story can get those creative juices flowing again. 

2. Draw inspiration from your real life and surroundings. 

You know those TV show moments where a character needs to lie about their identity so they glance around and come up with a silly name like “Iceberg Lettuce”? Well, as silly as it sounds, you can do the same with writing. Look around you. Who or what can you see that might inspire a story? One idea to help with this is to go to a public place, like a park or café and do some people watching. Observe those around you, see what they do, and when something captures your interest, write it down. How can you incorporate that into the story you’re already telling? 

3. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Write without pausing, and continue after if you feel like it. 

Timed writing sessions create manageable goals to reach. You know you only have to keep writing for 20 minutes, so it’s easier to plug away. And the writing doesn’t have to be good—it just has to be on the page. To make this writing session the most productive it can be, eliminate all distractions for as long as the timer is on. Turn off your phone (unless you’re using it as a timer), close all your tabs, and put yourself in a quiet place. Who knows, maybe you’ll feel so inspired that 20 minutes will turn into two hours!

4. Introduce a new character to stir the pot. 

Sometimes you’re stuck on a scene or at a particular point in a story because it lacks conflict. Adding a new character can bring a new energy and offer more avenues for drama and tension. Think about a character who acts as a foil to another character, or who is obviously working in opposition to them. Make your new character clash with the ones who already exist, ensuring that you’re furthering the drama of the story. Who knows, you may end up inventing your favorite person to write about!

5. Create a situation in which a character explicitly fails to do something. 

Another way to create drama and tension is through failure. When a character does not succeed at getting what they want, it automatically adds depth and tension to the scene. The failure doesn’t have to be anything big—it could be something everyday, like losing an important item, failing to keep a promise, or answering a question wrong. Whatever it is, it will add layers to your story by putting your character into a situation in which they don’t succeed. How they react to that, and the effect it has on the rest of the story, can motivate you to continue writing. 

6. Use a tarot deck (or other deck of cards) for inspiration. 

Tarot decks are not just fun and mystical, they’re often also beautiful, featuring art by talented artists to represent the different cards. For a fun way to get some inspiration, try using one to give a character a reading or take a description from a tarot book to determine a plot point. Other kinds of games, like Cards Against Humanity or Wingspan or a regular set of cards could also be used to inspire! Even playing a game like Scrabble can be a fun way to take a step back and use your brain in a different way for a while, which can get the creative juices pumping once again. 

Don’t own a tarot deck? Check out our Literary Tarot. It’s a unique take on a classic tarot deck that utilizes famous stories to unlock the secrets of the arcana. Learn more here!

7. Change your surroundings. 

Sometimes, we feel stagnant because our surroundings are. It may be time to mix up where and when you write. Put yourself in a space where the people and sights around you can serve as invigoration. Some of our favorites include coffee shops, museums, parks, libraries, and libraries. Hearing others’ conversations or even just putting yourself in a new environment can help turn on the part of your brain that gets you writing.

Just Keep Writing

Aside from all these prompts and ideas, the most important thing is to just keep writing no matter what. Even if you end up scrapping everything you write based on these or other prompts, using them will help you explore your characters and world more and hopefully result in further inspiration. Everyone struggles with feeling unmotivated sometimes, and so even if you do need to take a break from writing for a few days, don’t let it discourage you. Remember to celebrate even the smallest breakthroughs—like putting words on the page after a week—and find ways to inspire yourself.