How to Overcome Writers Block

Writer’s block is often seen as a frustrating and debilitating experience for writers, a barrier to creativity and productivity. Learning how to overcome writers block can be even scarier. But what if we told you that writers block is actually a blessing in disguise? If you’re ready to learn how to overcome writers block by leaning into it, keep reading for three techniques you can implement today!

The Misconception About Writer’s Block

Many writers view writer’s block as an obstacle to be overcome, a sign of failure or lack of discipline. They may feel stuck, uninspired, or doubtful of their own abilities, leading to a sense of frustration and helplessness.

In reality, writer’s block is a powerful opportunity for writers to deepen their connection with their inner author and their ideal reader. By embracing the block and exploring its underlying messages, writers can tap into new sources of inspiration, clarity, and purpose in their work.

Identifying Writer’s Block

At Difference Press, we believe that the first step in overcoming writer’s block is to acknowledge its presence. Many writers find themselves in denial about their struggle, forcing themselves to push through and write despite the resistance they feel. However, this approach often leads to frustration and even more significant blocks down the road.

By simply calling writer’s block what it is, you can drop the story that it shouldn’t be happening. When you’re in an easy writing state, you should be able to write freely and consistently. If you find yourself struggling to put words on the page, it’s essential to recognize that you may be experiencing writer’s block.

Calculating Your Words Per Hour Rate

To identify whether you’re in a state of writer’s block, we recommend calculating your words per hour rate. Set a timer for 30 minutes and write in response to the prompt, “Why I wrote this book.” Write freely, without editing or second-guessing yourself. At the end of the 30 minutes, count the number of words you’ve written and double it to determine your words per hour rate.

For most of our clients, a healthy words per hour rate is around 1,000 words. If you’re consistently writing at least 80% of that rate, or 800 words per hour, you’re likely in a state of flow. However, if you find yourself writing significantly less than that, you may be experiencing some degree of writer’s block.

Recognizing When You’re in a State of Writer’s Block

It’s crucial to be honest with yourself about your writing process. If you’re writing zero words per hour, you’re in a massive state of writer’s block. This means that your inner author is trying to get your attention, and it’s time to listen.

Even if you’re writing 700 words per hour, there may be a message or idea that you’re missing. By acknowledging that you’re in a state of writer’s block, you open yourself up to receiving the guidance and inspiration you need to move forward with your writing.

Remember, writer’s block is not something to be ashamed of or to hide from others.

Technique 1: Leaning into Writer’s Block

Try to lean into your writer’s block rather than resist it. By embracing the block and listening to the message it holds, you can unlock new depths in your writing and connect more authentically with your readers. Let’s dive deeper.

Asking Your Inner Author for the Message Behind the Block

When you find yourself in a state of writer’s block, take a moment to pause and ask your inner author, “What is the message you have for me?” Your inner author is the part of you that knows exactly what your book needs to be, and when you’re headed in the wrong direction, it will often use writer’s block as a way to get your attention.

To access this message, we recommend opening a new document and typing out the question, “What is the message you have for me?” Then, using only your non-dominant hand, type out the answer. This exercise helps you bypass your logical, critical mind and access the deeper wisdom of your inner author.

The Non-Dominant Hand Exercise

Using your non-dominant hand to answer the question posed to your inner author is a powerful way to access your intuition and uncover the message behind your writer’s block. By engaging a different part of your brain and body, you create space for new insights and ideas to emerge.

As you type with your non-dominant hand, don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Simply let the words flow onto the page, trusting that your inner author is guiding you towards the message you need to hear.

You may find that the message is related to your ideal reader’s fears, desires, or challenges. Or, it may be a reminder to focus on serving your reader rather than impressing them. Whatever the message may be, trust that it holds the key to unlocking your writing flow and creating a book that truly resonates with your audience.

By leaning into your writer’s block and engaging in this non-dominant hand exercise, you open yourself up to the wisdom and guidance of your inner author. This technique allows you to move past resistance and create from a place of deeper alignment and purpose.

Technique 2: Stepping Away from Writing

When faced with how to overcome writers block, many authors feel the urge to push through and force themselves to keep writing. However, this approach can often lead to frustration and even more significant blocks. Instead, we recommend stepping away from your writing and allowing yourself to take a break.

The Importance of Taking Breaks

Taking breaks is crucial to the writing process, especially when you’re experiencing writer’s block. By stepping away from your computer or notebook, you give your mind a chance to rest and recharge. This mental break can help you gain new perspectives, generate fresh ideas, and return to your writing with renewed energy and focus.

When you take a break, it’s essential to do so with intention. Rather than simply procrastinating or avoiding your writing, use this time to engage in activities that support your creative process.

Engaging in Other Activities with the Intention of Working on Your Book

One powerful way to overcome writers block and make the most of your writing breaks is to engage in other activities while holding the intention that you are still working on your book. This might include folding laundry, taking a walk, or spending time with loved ones.

As you engage in these activities, keep your book in mind and trust that your inner author is still working behind the scenes. By maintaining this connection to your writing, even when you’re not actively typing or putting pen to paper, you create space for new insights and ideas to emerge.

Setting a Timer and Returning to Writing with a Fresh Perspective

When stepping away from your writing, it’s important to set a clear boundary around your break time. We recommend setting a timer for 10 to 15 minutes and committing to returning to your writing once the timer goes off.

As you return to your writing, approach it with a fresh perspective. Open your document and simply observe what has changed since you last engaged with your work. You may find that new ideas or solutions have emerged or that you have a clearer sense of direction for your writing.

Incorporating intentional breaks into your writing process and engaging in other activities with the intention of working on your book can create space for your inner author to guide you through writer’s block and into a state of flow.

Technique 3: Connecting with Your Book Already Written

When writer’s block strikes, it can be challenging to see beyond the blank page in front of you. However, by connecting with the vision of your completed book, you can learn how to overcome writers block and tap into a powerful source of inspiration and guidance. One effective way to do this is through visualization exercises, such as the Creativity Temple, a guided meditation that is available to members of the Difference Makers Club, Difference Press’s free writing community.

Visualization Exercise: The Creativity Temple

The Creativity Temple is a guided visualization that helps you connect with your book in its already-written state. By engaging your imagination and senses, this exercise allows you to step into a sacred space where your completed book awaits you.

To begin, find a quiet, comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing yourself to relax and let go of any tension or distractions. Imagine yourself standing before a beautiful temple, and as you step inside, you find yourself in a serene, inspiring space filled with creative energy.

As you explore the temple, you come across a special room where your completed book is waiting for you. Take a moment to observe the book’s cover, feeling the texture of the pages beneath your fingers and the weight of the book in your hands.

Holding Your Completed Book and Discovering the Next Page

As you hold your completed book in your hands, allow yourself to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. You’ve poured your heart and soul into this work, and now it’s ready to be shared with the world.

Open the book to the page where you last left off in your writing process. As you do so, notice what appears on the next page. Are there new ideas, insights, or stories waiting to be told? Take mental notes of what you discover, and trust that this information will guide you as you return to your writing.

By connecting with your book in its already-written state, you tap into a powerful source of creative energy and inspiration. This visualization exercise can help you move past writer’s block and into a state of flow, where the words come easily and naturally.

Remember, your completed book is already waiting for you. By taking the time to connect with it through visualization and imagination, you open yourself up to the guidance and wisdom of your inner author, allowing the story to unfold in its own perfect way.

The Deeper Meaning of Writer’s Block

Learning how to overcome writer’s block can feel isolating. It often holds a deeper meaning that extends beyond the page. By exploring the connection between writer’s block and our personal challenges, we can gain valuable insights into our creative process and our lives as a whole.

The Connection Between Writer’s Block and Overcoming Personal Challenges

Writer’s block is often a reflection of the challenges we face in our personal lives. Just as we may struggle to find the right words on the page, we may also struggle to express ourselves authentically in our relationships, careers, or personal growth journeys.

Consider the example of overeating. When we overeat, we are often trying to numb or distract ourselves from uncomfortable emotions or experiences. Similarly, when we experience writer’s block, we may be avoiding a deeper truth or message that needs to be expressed.

By acknowledging the connection between writer’s block and our personal challenges, we can begin to approach both with greater compassion and understanding. We can learn to see writer’s block not as a failure or weakness, but as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.

How Writer’s Block Reflects Our Fears and Resistance to Success

Learning how to overcome writer’s block can be tough because writer’s block is often a manifestation of our fears and resistance to success. As writers, we may fear being seen, judged, or criticized for our work. We may worry that our writing isn’t good enough or that we don’t have anything valuable to say.

These fears can create a sense of resistance that manifests as writer’s block. By avoiding the page, we avoid the risk of failure or rejection. However, this avoidance also keeps us from experiencing the joy and fulfillment of creative expression.

When we recognize how writer’s block reflects our fears and resistance to success, we can begin to approach it with greater courage and determination. We can learn to lean into the discomfort and uncertainty, trusting that our inner author has a message worth sharing with the world.

By embracing the deeper meaning of writer’s block, we open ourselves up to a more authentic and purposeful creative journey. We learn to see the challenges and obstacles as opportunities for growth and self-discovery, and we find the courage to express ourselves fully and freely on the page and in our lives.

Writing from a Place of Service

One of the most powerful shifts we can make as writers is to move from a place of self-focus to a place of service. When we approach our writing with the intention of serving our readers, we tap into a deeper source of inspiration and purpose that can help us overcome even the most stubborn cases of writer’s block.

Shifting Focus from Self to the Reader

If you want to learn how to overcome writers block, you need to shift your perspective. Many writers fall into the trap of writing for themselves rather than for their readers. We may get caught up in our own ideas, opinions, or desires, losing sight of the bigger picture and the impact we want to make in the world.

By consciously shifting our focus from ourselves to our readers, we open ourselves up to a new perspective on our writing. We begin to ask questions like, “What does my reader need to hear right now?” or “How can I make a meaningful difference in my reader’s life?” These questions help us connect with a deeper sense of purpose and motivation in our writing.

Making the Book a Love Letter to Your Ideal Reader

One way to cultivate a sense of service in your writing is to approach your book as a love letter to your ideal reader. Imagine that you are writing directly to one person who needs to hear your message the most. What would you say to them? How would you comfort, inspire, or guide them?

By making your book a love letter to your ideal reader, you infuse your writing with a sense of intimacy, compassion, and connection. You write from the heart, sharing your own experiences and insights in a way that resonates deeply with your reader.

How Serving Others Dissolves Writer’s Block

When we approach our writing from a place of service, something magical happens: writer’s block begins to dissolve. This is one of the easiest tools to overcome writers block. By focusing on our reader’s needs and desires rather than our own, we tap into a boundless source of inspiration and creativity.

Writing becomes less about perfection and more about connection. We let go of our fears and doubts, trusting that our words will find their way to the hearts of those who need them most.

As we serve our readers through our writing, we also serve ourselves. We discover a sense of purpose and fulfillment that goes beyond the page, knowing that our words have the power to make a real difference in the world.

By shifting our focus from self to service, we open ourselves up to a more meaningful and impactful writing journey. We learn to trust the wisdom of our inner author, and we find the courage to share our message with the world, one reader at a time.

Overcome Writer’s Block with Growth and Transformation

Writer’s block is not an enemy to be feared or avoided, but a friend to be embraced and explored. By shifting our perspective and approaching writer’s block with curiosity and openness, you can learn how to overcome writers block and unlock new depths of creativity and self-discovery in our writing.

When we learn to see writer’s block as a tool for growth and transformation, we open ourselves up to a more authentic and purposeful writing journey. We learn to trust the wisdom of our inner author and the power of our words to make a difference in the world.

If you’re struggling with writer’s block, we encourage you to try the techniques outlined in this post. Lean into the block, step away from your writing, connect with your book already written, and write from a place of service. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to share your experiences and insights with others in the comments below.

Together, we can learn to embrace the power and potential of writer’s block, and create a more authentic and impactful writing journey for ourselves and our readers.