Tips for Combatting Writer’s Block
Writer's block is real. It doesn't matter who you are or what you are trying to write (a book, article, super cool newsletter that you hope people are recommending to their sports-loving friends), writer's block can (and does) attack the best of us.
I've been a writer my whole life and loved it so much that I have made a career out of it. Along the way, I have definitely suffered from many writer's block episodes, but have learned to cope by utilizing a few different strategies:
Stop. Drop. Write. I am always prepared for an idea to strike and will stop what I am doing to jot my ideas down. Confession: I keep a pad of sticky notes and a pen in my purse for this exact reason.
No bad ideas, just first drafts. Writing is a messy process and is never perfect on the first try. Write your ideas, then go back and edit them with fresh eyes. But you will never have something to edit if you don't first write.
Write out of order. This is my favorite advice to give to anyone who is writing any piece that has some length because it allows you to start with what you feel most confident in. Have a great conclusion? Feel most confident writing about the swim you completed last weekend than the first time you dove into a pool? Awesome! Work backwards! As you get more words on the page, then you can go back and fill in the gaps as your confidence grows.
Writing is a process and needs to be treated as such. Know when to push yourself. Know when to take breaks. But most importantly, enjoy the writing process and don't let any writer's block episodes cause you stress.
