How long does it take you to write a website page or blog post? Hours, days, weeks? Now, I’m not trying to shame you – we all take things at our own pace. But if you’re getting to a point where every single word you write is like getting blood out of a stone, you might be dealing with writer’s block.
Don’t worry though. It’s not life threatening and it is treatable. I’ll walk you through my top tips on how to overcome writer’s block, whether you’re a copywriter, content writer, or an occasional dabbler in the art of writing. Let’s get started!
What is writer’s block and why do I have it?
Writer’s block is when you’re either unable to write anything, or dealing with an incredibly slow bout of productivity. It can be as mild as you not being able to come up with topics for a new blog post, to being as severe as you missing big deadlines and not being able to produce anything at all.
It is quite possibly one of the most frustrating things to experience as a writer, so what causes it?
- Anxiety: fear of judgement or failure which can lead to avoidance and/or overthinking
- Perfectionism: wanting every word to be perfect, which slows down productivity and makes it impossible to finish
- No inspiration: struggling to come up with new ideas or find the motivation to start writing
- Distractions: dealing with interruptions from people or the environment which makes it difficult to focus
- Mental health: exhaustion or burnout can wreak havoc on your creativity
- Uncertainty: tackling new topics or formats that you’re unfamiliar with can create a huge mental block
Knowing what’s causing your writer’s block can be really helpful.
If you’re dealing with perfectionism, for example, you can work on ways to remind yourself that no one is a perfect writer (excluding yours truly of course 😏) and that every piece of copy and content has to undergo rounds of edits before it’s as close to perfect as it’ll ever get.
You can also get stuck into my top tips on how to overcome writer’s block so that you can get back to wowing your target audience.
How to overcome writer’s block
Don’t feel like you have to rush
I think a problem that a lot of people have when writing website copy or content is feeling like they’re taking too long to actually start.
Instead of taking the time to research a topic properly, or consider what it is an audience actually wants to read, they’ll jump straight into writing to move things along…except they end up staring soullessly at a blank page half an hour later.
More often than not, a well-rounded, thorough research phase will mean you speed through the writing phase faster because you actually understand what it is you’re writing about.
Good research takes time. If you want to write something that is valuable and will rank high in the SERPs, you need to take the time to look at quality sources, and use the right keywords and relevant information.
So don’t sweat it!
Start with an outline
I’ve known a fair number of content writers over the years and we all approach projects differently.
Some people love to jump into writing without a plan, letting the words lead them wherever they may. Others prefer to start with an outline, coming up with a general idea of the headings, subheadings, and accompanying sections.
I fall into the latter category. Whether it’s a webpage or a blog post, I always start with an outline. It doesn’t necessarily stay the same once I start writing the rest of the content, or getting into my second draft, but it is a great foundation, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Even better, an outline is a great way to make sure you’re optimising your content. As you’re figuring out what sub topics and headings you might want to use, you can start mapping out where you want your primary and secondary keywords to go – making it an absolute cakewalk when you get around to writing.
Try a different research approach
If you find yourself getting confused about a new topic, or can’t seem to find the right words to explain something effectively, try switching up your research approach.
Nine times out of ten, when I’m writing, I’ll look at what’s ranking top of the SERPs and any related content, and compile relevant research and sources to back up my points – kind of like how you would with an academic paper.
When I get overwhelmed or feel stuck for words though, I’ll look at YouTube videos, Reddit threads, and even social media (I did this a lot when I had to get stuck into the nightmare of cryptocurrency for the first time 😱).
There’s just something extremely authentic and user-friendly about people writing or speaking in their own voice to a community, whether they’re explaining a topic or ranting about it.
Step into your target audience’s shoes
It doesn’t matter if you’re struggling to nail the right tone of voice in your copy, or can’t quite figure out what to write about, understanding your target audience is the key to success (bit corny 🤢 but unfortunately very accurate).
Look at your buyer personas, customer research, social media, and basically anything else that tells you what your audience is interested in, what language appeals to them, what they love and hate, and so on.
The more you learn, the easier it gets to write something that actually speaks to your audience. It also helps you generate new ideas faster for your content and copy.
Talk to someone
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. I think one of the worst things you can do when you’re experiencing writer’s block is to retreat inwards.
Even if you don’t have fellow writers to talk to (though there’s always someone to harass talk to on platforms like LinkedIn), a conversation with a colleague or friend can help a lot.
They might be able to offer you some interesting insights and a different perspective, help you realise you’re being too hard on yourself, or just act as a sounding board for your ideas.
Try a different format
Does all of your content and copy look exactly the same? It’s no wonder your creativity’s flown out of the window.
Try using a different format when you’re really struggling to get started with a piece of writing. It can help you shift your focus (and agony) away from being unable to write to adjusting to a new way of organising your content.
A basic blog post, for example, can become a:
- Listicle
- How-to guide
- Comparison guide
- Interview or Q&A
- Opinion piece
- Infographic
- Powerpoint
- Quiz
Trying something new can help you escape the monotony so that you can actually feel excited about your writing, which always makes the writing process easier.
You might even find these new formats to be more effective with your target audience, which is a big plus.
Take a step away
I know, I know, the last thing anyone wants to do when they’re pulling their hair out over writer’s block is to step away from the keyboard. But honestly, when the pressure starts to rise, you’ve got to leave before you inflict damage on yourself or your laptop.
Now, I’m not talking about taking a couple of hours out of your working day. When you’re dealing with important deadlines, or working in an office, it’s not like you have a lot of flexibility with your schedule.
Taking 10 minutes to go get a coffee, stretch your legs, talk to a colleague, or look at cute pictures of dogs (an instant dopamine boost for myself), can give you a reset.
Sometimes that’s all you need to return to your work with a fresh set of eyes or perspective.
Just write
Okay, I’m aware of how cruel this sounds in a blog post about how to overcome writer’s block, but it is a really good tip.
Whether you’re like me and you use an outline, or just throw yourself into it (you chaotic heathen), get your page open and start writing.
Don’t think. Don’t pause. Just write.
Even if you think it sounds like absolute s***, it doesn’t matter. You can edit and clean it up after. The only thing you need to do is write until you’re finished (or, if you’d rather do it in phases, until you’ve completed a section).
Odds are, at least half of what you’ve written will be something you can work with. And sometimes, once you start, your creativity comes back and the process feels like a breeze.
Use a different medium
What do you like to write your content or copy in? Are you an old-fashioned Word user, a down-with-the-kids Google Docs writer (my personal favourite), or do you do it all in your CMS like an absolute weirdo?
Whatever your preference is, you might find that switching it up can give your brain a bit of a refresh so that you can overcome writer’s block.
You could switch out your laptop for a pen and paper (stone age style), or switch between Google Docs, Word, your CMS, or whatever else catches your fancy.
Once thing I also like to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed by a chaotic outline that’s chock full of bullet points and research is to open a new document and split my screen between the two. It makes me feel like I’m starting fresh and cleaning up the mess of my notes.
Keep it quiet…or loud
I’ve always been someone who listens to music when they write. It helps to drown out the noise of the office, or home, and gets me in the zone.
I flit between loud, energetic music (anything 70s to 2000s, or K-pop) which puts me in a good mood and definitely helps with the “just write” approach discussed earlier, but it can sometimes have the opposite effect where I end up getting distracted by a good tune.
When this happens, I stick to soundtracks (anything Hans Zimmer is 10s across the board for me).
Whatever your preference is, try something different to see if it has an impact on your writing.
Jump to the next section
Sometimes when I’m writing, I encounter a section that challenges me more than the others (usually the introduction). If I’m not careful, I’ll end up spending 30 minutes rewriting the same sentence over and over again until I’m convinced that the whole piece of content is utter s***.
It’s a frustrating process that tests my already limited patience.
Instead of wasting my time crying about it though, I’ve actually found it to be more useful to jump to the next section.
I know what you’re thinking: “But Bethany, you still have to write the next section 🙄”
And you’re right. I do have to return to it, eventually. But by that point, I’m in my creative flow – running on the high of finishing everything else – making it an absolute breeze to finish.
Overwhelm yourself with research
This sounds counterintuitive, and it can be depending on what kind of person you are, but it does work for me.
When I’m writing, I usually end up gathering more research than I actually need (which is usually why my content is on the higher end of long-form, but that’s another issue entirely), but it can work in my favour.
Reading through all of this information, even if it’s just the highlights, can help you understand your chosen topic inside and out.
Once you’re armed with this knowledge, you can write pages and pages about your topic. Sure, your first draft might need a lot of finetuning, but it definitely gets you writing!
Weigh up prompts
Some people will recommend using tools like ChatGPT to generate writing prompts or brainstorm ideas. Though this can be useful (I’ve dabbled with it for the ideation phase), it can, depending on how bad your writer’s block is, cause you to become too dependent on it.
Think about it. Every time you start to struggle with a new piece of content or copy, you go back to your old faithful friend to give you ideas. Next time, you ask them to write some of it for you. Before long, you’re not even trying to do any of it yourself.
Okay, maybe I’m catastrophising just a little bit…
You do still need to be very careful with how you use these tools though.
And there you have it – all of my tips on how to overcome writer’s block. For more content and advice, head on over to the Crying Over Copy blog.
Or, if you can’t bring yourself to type another word for yourself (it’s not for everyone), get in touch today and wave goodbye to those copy tears.
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