Writer’s block is like a hammer that shuts down productivity and creativity. Today, you’ll discover how to overcome writer’s block.
It’s frustrating when you sit down to write but nothing comes to mind.
Writer’s block can strike at times, severely impacting your productivity and creativity.
However, don’t despair—there are proven strategies to help you overcome writer’s block and generate fresh, original ideas for your copy.
This article will share 12 tips to help you overcome writer’s block and craft copy that connects with your audience and converts.
12 Tips to Overcome Writer’s Block
Whenever you feel stuck in your writing, use one of these techniques. It gets you out of your funk and makes you productive again.
1. Write Without Judgement
Writer’s block happens because we censor ourselves.
You may have plenty of ideas, but you reject them before putting them down, thinking they’re not good, relevant, or original enough.
This stifles your creativity and stops you from exploring different possibilities.
To overcome writer’s block, try brainstorming without judgment.
Write down everything that comes to your mind, no matter how silly or off-topic.
Don’t worry about grammar or logic.
Just let your thoughts flow and jot them down on paper or a digital tool.
You might be surprised by how many ideas you can generate quickly, and some may lead to interesting and unexpected directions for your writing.
2. Use Templates & Prompts
To beat writer’s block, try using prompts and templates to spark your imagination and provide a structure.
Prompts are questions, words, phrases, or images that inspire you to write about your topic or goal.
For instance, use prompts like “What if…”, “How to…”, “The best way to…”, or “The ultimate guide to…” to create headlines for your blog posts, landing pages, or emails.
Templates are pre-written formulas or formats that help you write copy faster and easier.
For example, use templates like PAS (Problem-Agitate-Solve), AIDA (Attention-Interest-Desire-Action), or FAB (Features-Advantages-Benefits) to craft copy following a proven sequence that appeals to your audience’s emotions and needs.
3. Research Your Audience & Competitors
Writer’s block may indicate a lack of information about your audience or competitors.
If you’re unsure about who you’re writing for, their desires, struggles, or preferences, creating copy that resonates and stands out becomes challenging.
To overcome this, research your audience and competitors.
Understand their pain points, goals, motivations, preferences, and objections.
Dive into reviews, testimonials, comments, and feedback. Analyze their behavior, actions, and reactions. Observe what your competitors are doing, saying, and how they communicate.
Use this information to craft copy that directly addresses your audience and presents a unique value proposition.
4. Change Your Routine
Writer’s block can also happen because of boredom or tiredness.
If you always write in the same place, at the same time, and with the same tools, you might feel not so interested or motivated.
To fix this, try changing things up.
Write in a different spot, like a coffee shop, park, or library. Try writing at a different time, maybe early in the morning, late at night, or during a break.
Use a different tool, like a pen and paper, a voice recorder, or a mind map. Test out different music, lighting, or temperature.
See how these changes affect how you feel and how creative you can be.
A simple switch might make a big difference in how you write and what you produce.
5. Work With Others
To beat writer’s block, work with others.
Writing can feel lonely, and you might get stuck in your thoughts.
Collaborate with colleagues, friends, mentors, or coaches. Join a community of writers. Ask for feedback and share your ideas. Learn from others and build relationships and confidence.
Collaborating can bring new perspectives and skills, helping you overcome challenges.
6. Take a Break
To conquer writer’s block, take a break and unwind.
Writer’s block can sometimes come from stress, pressure, or burnout.
If you’re constantly pushing yourself to write more, faster, or better, you might end up overwhelmed, frustrated, or exhausted.
To overcome this, take a break and relax.
Step away from your writing project and engage in something enjoyable, like reading, watching, listening, or playing.
Try activities that relax you, such as meditating, breathing, stretching, or sleeping.
Recharge by eating, drinking, exercising, or socializing.
Taking a break and relaxing can clear your mind, calm your nerves, and restore your energy. It can also reignite your passion, purpose, and joy for writing.
7. Break it Down
Feeling overwhelmed by a big writing task can lead to writer’s block.
To tackle this, break down your copy into smaller tasks.
Begin with an outline and note down key points, then gradually expand on them.
By concentrating on one section or paragraph at a time, you’ll find it easier to start and keep the momentum going.
8. Be Mindful
Doing mindful activities can clear your mind and boost focus.
Take a short walk, meditate, practice yoga, or enjoy a hobby.
These activities can decrease stress, boost relaxation, and improve creativity by letting your subconscious mind process ideas and make connections.
9. Silence Your Inner Critic
The fear of creating work that’s not perfect can cause writer’s block.
Remind yourself that the first draft doesn’t need to be flawless.
Let yourself write without being overly critical or editing too much.
Keep in mind that editing comes later in the writing process.
By quieting your inner critic, you grant yourself the freedom to explore ideas and unleash your creativity.
10. Time Yourself to Overcoming Writer’s Block
When you look into copywriting tips, one suggestion is to use a timer to overcome writer’s block.
If you want to make it fancy, there are apps, plugins, and various tools available for this. Squibler’s The Most Dangerous Writing App is a free tool that deletes everything you’ve written if you stop typing.
You can use it for writing in five-minute to one-hour slots, aiming to boost productivity and help copywriters and authors overcome writer’s block.
If that seems too extreme, you can simply set a 10-minute timer on your phone and see how much you can write during that time.
Working against the clock might lead to some of your best copywriting.
At the very least, it provides a starting point for improvement and editing.
11. Eliminate Distractions
Distractions can easily turn writer’s block into a wasted afternoon of procrastination. If they are hindering your ability to produce excellent copywriting, it’s time to eliminate them.
Store your mobile phone in a desk drawer or leave it in another room. Turn off email notifications on your laptop. Silence the radio or music if it’s causing your mind to wander.
If you’re working from home, find a space where you can avoid the sight of the laundry pile or dirty dishes.
Understand yourself and what is likely to distract you.
Personally, even a hint of writer’s block makes me seek ways to divert my brain, and before I know it, I’m 25 videos deep into TikTok with no progress on my word count.
By minimizing distractions, you can clear the clutter in your mind and create a calm mindset to let the words flow.
12. Shut Down Your Screens
Screens contribute to stress and anxiety when trying to overcome writer’s block and create engaging content.
If that resonates with you, take a break from screens and go back to the basics.
Grab a notebook and jot down some initial ideas.
Alternatively, close your eyes, think, and record voice notes to inspire your next copywriting project.
Final Thoughts on Overcoming Writer’s Block in Copywriting
Hopefully, these tips will help you overcome writer’s block the next time it appears, allowing you to create excellent copywriting for your upcoming project.
If you genuinely can’t find the time or motivation to conquer your writer’s block, you can hand your project over to an experienced freelance copywriter.
I’d be delighted to help with your content writing needs – reach out to me and let’s have a conversation.
Hi, my name is Maku Seun. I am a direct-response marketer and copywriter. I help business owners grow their businesses by creating high-converting sales pages and writing sales letters, emails, and website copy for their products and services. If you need any help with your copywriting needs, Contact me here let’s talk!