Staring at a blank page and feeling completely stuck? You’re not alone.
Writing can be a daunting task, but the right writing strategies can turn that blinking cursor from an enemy into a friend.
Whether you’re crafting a novel, diving into academic writing, or creating blog content, specific techniques can break the wall of writer’s block.
From productivity hacks to personal growth, we’ve compiled 101 strategies to get your idea off the ground.
Ready to transform your writing strategy?
Let’s dive right in.
Handle Writer’s Block Before It Handles You
If you want to write but can’t, you might have writer’s block.
And although writer’s block is a common problem, it often remains unacknowledged because it’s actually fear masquerading as something else.
So when you have writer’s block, you may mistake it for another problem entirely. And it doesn’t help that some writers deny that it even exists!
But you can’t solve writer’s block if you’re looking in the wrong direction.
The following resources will let you know when you’ve got it and show you how to get over it.
1. Diagnose the real problem and discover what to do about it.
2. Learn how to beat your psychological creative blocks.
3. Draw upon the wisdom of others by reading what famous writers have to say about writer’s block.
4. Control your inner critic by silencing negative voices.
5. Learn what to do when fear takes over.
6. Accept resistance and self-loathing as normal experiences.
7. Try a creative writing prompt.
8. Punch writer’s block in the face with these humorous tips.
9. Give your verbal brain a break and try getting visual.
10. Stop getting blocked by comparing yourself to others.
Boost Your Confidence, Mindset, & Motivation
Mindset and confidence are critical to achieving goals. In fact, many experts believe that mindset is the most important factor of success.
That’s why you can’t afford to underestimate your inner game.
The following resources will keep your attitude working for you.
11. Start by putting yourself in the “write” mood.
12. Give your excuses a reality check with Charles Bukowski’s myths of creativity.
13. Just get over it and accept that writing is hard.
14. Learn how to become a kick-ass writer.
15. Soar past rejection with these Olympian traits.
16. Breed creativity with rejection.
17. Stay motivated with these practical quotes on the creative life.
18. Embrace rejection and learn why it’s good for you.
19. Use these three steps to recover from creative rejection.
20. Get a pep talk and put that ‘S’ back on your chest.
21. Study how successful writers overcome challenges.
Set Goals, Prioritize Your Time, & Create a Routine You Can Live With
Many writers report that lack of time is their biggest obstacle.
Sound familiar?
But if you change the way you think about time, it can be created rather easily in most circumstances.
From getting up an hour earlier in the morning, to sacrificing a TV routine for a writing routine.
In other words, it might be time to put your grown-up britches on and take control.
22. Change your relationship with time.
23. Either find the time for writing, or don’t, but stop thinking about it.
24. Learn how to hack your procrastination.
25. Read how professional writers fit writing into a busy life.
26. Create time with these 6 habits to help you write when you don’t have the time.
27. Add more time-saving tips to your collection with these 5 tips for finding writing time.
28. See how you can find time for large projects (such as writing a book).
29. Build a f***in’ great writing routine.
30. Leverage the power of a morning routine.
31. Get inspired by the daily routines of famous writers.
32. Use science to keep the drama out of your writing routine.
Conquer Inertia & Stay Productive
Productivity is like money — we all want more of it.
Yet, what does productivity really mean?
Put simply, it means that you’re writing at your maximum effectiveness, as you define it.
You have a unique personality, lifestyle, and set of challenges, right? Therefore, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution (no matter what the experts tell you).
So experiment with the following resources to find a good fit.
33. Keep it simple with common sense productivity.
34. Slice and dice your content to maximize productivity.
35. Bump up your productivity with these unconventional tactics.
36. Write more and stress less with the help of The Productive Writer.
37. Find your own personal productivity bible like the Ultimate Writing Productivity Resource.
38. Harness the power of mini-habits to become more productive.
39. Improve your productivity by taking writing seriously.
40. Learn how popular bloggers keep their productivity sky-high.
41. Discover how crazy-busy people stay productive.
42. Get inspired by productivity tips from writers just like you (check the post’s comments).
Anticipate Stuckness & Fuel Up on Inspiration
If you feel like you don’t have any good writing ideas, then you’re stuck.
And while stuckness is discouraging, it’s just another part of the writer’s life.
Being stuck can look suspiciously similar to writer’s block — and writers often confuse them — but writer’s block is a more general, chronic issue that’s psychological in nature.
Stuckness, on the other hand, is a simpler affair.
It usually requires a light nudge to get the ideas flowing again, and the following resources should help.
43. Don’t freak out when you run out of ideas.
44. Discover the seven most effective techniques for creativity (backed by real data).
45. Learn where successful writers get their ideas.
46. Get lots of ideas for brainstorming blog topics.
47. Try these 31 ways to find inspiration for your writing.
48. Find even more great ideas to enhance your writing skills.
49. Get more content ideas than you’ll ever have time to write.
50. Open your eyes to everyday inspiration.
51. Try getting inspired by filling in the blanks.
52. Use these clever ways to keep your muse on speed dial.
Crush Distractions & Maintain Focus
There are limits on your time and attention.
Factor in the innate curiosity of a writer and you have an ADHD cocktail hour all day, every day.
The best response is to acknowledge challenges and limits, anticipate the demands, and call in reinforcements.
53. Jolt chronic distraction with this no-nonsense approach.
54. Understand why creativity comes and goes.
55. Read the Focus Manifesto.
56. Get Zen about finding focus.
57. Find focus by going analog.
58. Train your brain to get monk-like focus.
59. Get the self-care advantage with these 4 proven tips to increase focus.
60. Improve your focus with these focus-boosting habits.
61. Try an app to help you stay focused when browsing (requires Google Chrome).
62. Refresh your focus by rebooting your brain.
Build the Right Relationships & Improve Your Communication
Admit it.
Whether someone likes you is more important than whether you know the difference between “your” and “you’re.”
And it always will be.
That’s why communication is one of your most crucial challenges.
You’re expected to build your own audience and affiliates, promote yourself, and develop the strategic relationships that lead to success.
In addition, you need a good elevator speech, just like any other professional. So, dig into the following resources and learn how to be more likeable.
63. Figure out who you are, what you do, why you do it, and how to talk about it.
64. Discover how an accountability partner can help your writing and your career.
65. Understand that your personality is your most precious commodity.
66. Learn how to win friends and influence people online.
67. Follow these writers’ tips for getting noticed on social media.
68. RSVP to an intensive, professional workshop like Social Media Bootcamp. (The first broadcast of every class is free — catch free re-broadcasts periodically.)
69. Stay mindful of how to speak to other humans on the Internet.
70. Learn the value of conversational writing skills. Use power words. Pack your prose with sensory details.
71. Nix phrases that make you look wishy-washy and mediocre.
72. And seriously. Ditch the snark.
Get Extra Help with Tools, Services & Support
It’s an unprecedented time to be a writer.
Never before have there been so many tools and services. Never before have so many people begged you to let them help you.
From enhancing creativity to getting that first word on the page, the list of services and tools is virtually endless.
But the following are a good place to start.
73. Try a creativity app like OFLOW.
74. Try a program just for writing, such as Scrivener (free for 30 days).
75. Reward your progress with a new kitten picture for every 100 words you write.
76. Use Write or Die to force yourself to keep writing.
77. Create a daily writing routine with 750 Words, inspired by Julia Cameron’s morning pages.
78. Enter a post-a-day challenge like this one at WordPress.
79. Block distractions with Freedom, my personal favorite Internet blocking software.
80. Chill out and write with OMM Writer.
81. Let your audience decide what you should write.
82. Check your writing with the “best grammar checker in the world.”
83. Let the Hemingway App edit your writing to make it bold and clear.
Feed Your Mind with Education & Community Resources
You have another job besides writing. You know that, right?
It’s to never stop learning and growing.
The following are some great online resources for growing as a person and writer.
84. Learn how to stand out by being interesting and smart.
85. Expand your horizons by checking out the latest TED talk.
86. Get a weekly dose of “interestingness” without a trip to the library at www.brainpickings.org.
87. Try a free creative writing class from The Writing University.
88. Practice story-telling and blogging on Medium, my favorite platform for writers of all stripes.
89. Invest in blogging and online business classes such as GuestBlogging, Write Like Freddy, Quistic, or Authority.
90. Subscribe to Scratch, an online magazine for writers.
91. Find a great writing critique group online.
92. Join offline communities such as local classes, workshops and writing groups. The value of IPR (in-person relationships) can’t be overstated.
Bonus: Personal Growth + Writing = Awesome
Sure, you’re a freelance writer, blogger, and maybe an entrepreneur too. But you don’t live in a vacuum.
After all, you’re probably writing because you want a life full of rich experiences, joy, fun, and love, right?
And the better life is, the easier and more effective writing becomes.
That’s why you can’t allow quality of life to slip through the cracks while you build a career.
That’s so 1995. Do the following instead.
93. Soak up this creative manifesto on art, life, and human relationships.
94. Find out who you really are and what makes you happy.
95. Write for joy.
96. Quit the church of self-improvement.
97. Choose meaning over happiness (so you can feel happy more often).
98. Undo the damage of long writing hours at the desk with these yoga poses.
99. Learn to write even when you’re depressed.
100. Empower yourself to take risks.
101. Play like a kid every day — having fun boosts your success and happiness.
Which of These Writing Strategies is the Secret to Your Success?
There you have it: 101 ways to solve nearly every writing problem you might face.
Keep them close to hand, and pull them out whenever trouble strikes.
Or better still, put them to use immediately.
Just ask yourself:
What problems am I already facing as a writer? Where could I use a breakthrough today?
Maybe you need to get unstuck on that half-finished blog post you know your readers would love, if only you could get it done.
Or maybe a simple productivity boost would make the difference between struggle and success.
Or maybe finding the right tool would have the most impact on your writing.
It doesn’t matter where you start, just that you get started.
So pick a problem, then pick an effective writing strategy above.
Creating great content just got a little easier.
Thanks for all these great tips, Cynthia. This blog post is a veritable gold mine.
HANK!!! Thank you for visiting and that’s a true compliment coming from a writer like you.
Only 101? I need more suggestions. lol
Nice post.
LOL >>> Feel free to contribute a few if you’ve got some good ones 🙂
Thanks a lot for this awesome compilation! I must say that writer’s block is quite hard to overcome! I’ve been facing that problems since a few days! I’d better start looking into the resources you shared in this post! ]
Thanks a lot! You are providing stuff that usually costs money for free!
Thanks again!
Krishnaputra, You are welcome. Writer’s block is really difficult. I know because I had it for years. So days is not so bad. I put some REALLY good resources for understanding how to recognize it, where it comes from, and solutions. I hope it helps you 🙂
AWESOME list, Cynthia! Thanks so much–not just for compiling it, but for SHARING it!
Thanks Michelle 🙂 It was quite a job but I wanted to make things easier on us writers.
Wow, such a great and comprehensive resource! Thank you!
UNBELIEVABLE…
I am blogging since 2011 but I have never ever seen such an EPIC resource for improving writing and hitting the stone with single post.
Thanks a ton.. You made me busy for this month.. ha ha..
Wow, thanks 🙂 I hope it proves useful to you and helps you succeed in all your goals!
Hi Cynthia,
What an epic resource you’ve given us here! Kudos.
I’m especially impressed with all the link love you dished out. And I’m very happy you included my friend Henneke on your list at #70!
Good job, Cynthia.
Thank you Kevin! Henneke’s article was pretty fantastic so . . . it made the list 🙂
Talk about evergreen content! I’ll be visiting this post over and over. I already do #85. I visit TEDtalks on a regular basis for inspiration and intellectual stimulation after everyone else has left the office and I can put my feet up.
Thank you for this great list.
Kathryn, sounds like an awesome way to relax and get your Vitamin I in.
(vitamin I = inspiration)
Cynthia, I may have to use that Vitamin I reference, if I may. With attribution, of course.
Wow! No time to write. Reading.
Understood. It only took me about 8 months. Use as needed 🙂
Hi Cynthia,
This is a super great resource so I just saved it to my Evernote. This isn’t something to read and forget and will take time to use over the years.
Thanks for doing the hard work for all of us and providing this for free.
I had recently posted about some headline resources including Jon’s Headline Hacks Cheatsheet and published a post on my blog about it here: http://iwriteaboutblogging.com/free-downloadable-headline-resources/
Will be printing some of the resources in your list like I did the ones mentioned in my link above. Thanks again.
Raspal,
We can always use more high-quality resources. Thanks for sharing!
cynthia, this is really impeccable post on writing. I have bookmarked it for studying later. I am waiting further quality posts from you. Anyway, thank you for given resources.
Nice, thanks 🙂
Hi Cynthia
I was just about ready to throw my laptop out the window. That’s how frustrated I was with writing. That was until I saw your blog post. Amazing resources you have stuffed into this post. It’s definitely going into my “bible” folder where I keep gold mines such as this.
Nokthula, I hear you on that!
Oh my! This post must have taken 101 hours to put together. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post with SO MANY resources! I can’t wait to dig in. Thank you so much.
P.S.
Cynthia, I clicked on your link in your bio box and tried to sign up for your offering but it took me to a 404 page.
Thanks for letting me know. I’ve let Glen know as well. The link is here: http://cynthialindeman.com/leadthree-tips
Holy Moly Jon Morrow! I feel like it’s Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one. I don’t know where to begin and thanks to you I will be spending hours upon hours trying to digest and read this humongous gift you have given us.
Now I gotta go unplug from the rest of the world and dig in to this delicious Bible of resources. I’m calling in sick tomorrow and telling my boss I got a virus from Jon Morrow.
I was so excited to read the list I forgot to look to see who actually authored the article. I kinda knew that as brilliant as Jon Morrow is, he can’t possibly write every blog post. I must credit the amazing author, Cynthia Lindeman.
Cythnia, thank you for putting in what must have been weeks or months to put together this list. It is truly a remarkable resource and one that I will cherish for a very long time.
Hey Kevin, thanks :)) I hope you find it useful for a long time to come
WHAT A LIST. Thank you for creating this absolute gold mine, Cynthia. It’s so comprehensive I bet it took you countless hours (days, weeks, or months even) to write it, just like how every great blog post gets written. I haven’t seen all of the resources yet, but I’ll surely bookmark this one for future reference. Thanks once again, Cynthia!
Mai, It was lots of time for sure but time well spent. I learned a lot and get tot help others as well. Hope it comes in handy.
Cynthia,
How did you know exactly what I needed this morning? Your suggestions are fabulous and I already feel my pressure to produce a grand idea melt away! Thank you for your inspiration. I am excited to investigate all the options and more importantly–to get working NOW. 🙂
Susan,
Don’t you just love serendipity? I’m all about taking the pressure off, relaxing, feeling good AND working hard. Hope the list continues to help you!
Thank you, Cynthia, for posting this awesome article jam-packed full of information, motivation, and inspiration.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Joan, You too 🙂
I hate to be the lone curmudgeon in the crowd – and I do appreciate the butt-ton of valuable information here – but you can’t possibly support yourself if each blog post takes 20 hours. That’s HALF A WORK WEEK. So, *if* we could reliably earn $200 per blog post we’d still only be earning in the vicinity of $20K/year. Hardly a living wage.
What am I missing here?
Thanks, I certainly do appreciate the work that must have gone into this post.
Sharon
Sharon, The article is meant for bloggers but lots of them don’t write blogs for money — in fact, most of them don’t.
The general purpose of this article is to give people resources for writing problems that come up . . . the focus is not how to make money.
That said, different types of posts have different purposes. It’s a good idea to spend 20 hours on a post if it will add value to lots of people over a long period of time. It’s not a good idea in many other circumstances, such as if you’re writing for a content mill and you’re getting paid $25/post. Just keep the goals in mind and then decide how much time you want to spend on a particular post.
Ah, thanks for pointing out what I *was* missing. Makes good sense to think ahead about the purpose and longevity of each piece relative to time to be invested.
Holy moly, now that’s a collection indeed! I was just skimming through the list now, but already came quite few gems – especially in the tools section… By the looks of it a wee writer’s compendium, many thanks for compiling and sharing Cynthia!
Best wishes and write on,
Oliver
All of these are pretty high-quality . . . so pick ones that speak to you
As always great post Jon, really fantastic resource, Thanks Jon for your efforts to collect these amazing resources 🙂
I hate to say it, but… As soon as I saw this huge list, I couldn’t even read through it. It’s just too much for me to cope with right now. I’ve got too much on my plate to add going through dozens of more things to think about, and trying to decide which to use. Sorry! Glad other people found it helpful, though.
It’s not actually meant for people to read the entire thing through at once. I sure wouldn’t 🙂 I suggest you use it as if it’s a dictionary or reference. Use it when you have a particular problem.
Others have said it all am short of adjectives to qualify the depth of this work. Thanks for investing the time and efforts.
I like to suggest that you convert it to a downloadable form while hyper linking the resources. I think it is a TRANSGENERATIONAL CLASSIC.
Thanks a Gig. Lol
Cynthia,
Wow! What an amazing and inspiring post. Testament to what Jon has said about spending the time to make it outstanding. It is! Thank you so much. I look forward to looking through all the fantastic resources you’ve included. 🙂
Thank you Sonia. I’m a student of Jon’s so he’s got a lot to do with this post. I hope you’ll find it helpful!
Another awesome post of amazing resources. Thanks for the time and effort you put in to make it so!
Hi Cynthia,
You are a Super Star!
In different ways
All 47 comments say, Wow!
Add my – Wow! Wow! Wow!
A resource – Amazing.
Collection of gems – Sparkling.
Content – Enlightening.
LOL >>> The. Best.
Hey Cynthia,
What magic pill did you take that actually gave you the determination to compile this resource. OK, I guess its one of these articles on focus and productivity; and guess what? Its paid off immensely.
As bloggers, we can always do more with productivity and focus on our side. In addition, I love the one that talked about winning friends and influencing people online. Checked it out, and not surprised its from copyblogger.
Good job Cynthia. I just bookmarked it for future reference should I run into a kind of problem.
Godwin, thanks for the props. It was a zig-zaggy kind of thing that got put on the back burner for moves, sicknesses, etc . . . but that worked out for the better because it forced me to look at resources over a longer period of time. There are also some that are much older than 2013-14. They’re just that good.
Got a little Dale Carnegie feeling…
This is… a bunch of links.
Uhm… WOW!…
You have a great blog that is truly heartfelt. What an exception among all the virtual blabber.
Have taken the liberty to share some of your posts with over 11,000 twitter followers.
I’m with you on the virtual blabber. This post was meant to spare writers from it.
I made a comment above about converting your post into a downloadable format. Don’t you think its necessary ?
Hey Sam, I think it’s a really good idea and I’ll probably do that soon. Thanks for the awesome suggestion 🙂
Hi Cynthia,
Tremendous resource as always.
The information is always there for us to seize, read and use, so that we can improve our writing skills and grow our communities.
Thanks for sharing.
Tweeting in a bit.
Ryan
Cool, thanks a bunch Ryan.
This article was just what I needed this morning! Great ideas, great links. Lots of positive energy. Thank you so much!
Your welcome Deirdre 🙂
**blushes** — I mean “you’re”
Wow. What a great list.
Sent off a quick email to my writing group with several links, including the link to writtenkitten.com where for every 200 words you write you are rewarded with a kitten (puppy… bunny) photo. Sadly the kitten seems to have run off with the puppy. Too bad. This was worth a good chuckle anyway.
Again, I’ll be coming back again and again to this amazing resource.
-WR-
I recently had to fill out a “how to work with me” document for a board meeting. One question was: “what do you need when you are stressed out?” Here was my reply: “kittens.”
Hi Cynthia,
I’m a huge fan of Steven Pressfield and his book, The War of Art. When writers aren’t writing and making excuses for it (and we’ve all been there) we are simply caving into resistance. It’s so important to create a routine…stick to the routine…and if you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back to it.
Now…I’m off to check out the wonderful links you posted! Thanks for such a great article!
Peggy
Peggy, great idea and good advice. I’m expanding this list so I’ll add War of Art. It’s a classic, I think.
Thanks Cynthia, this is a fantastic list and I can’t wait to put some of these hints into action.
Love this! Thank you…
Kostas + Mary Jane: You are both very welcome.
I’ve set about adding to this list as well and I’m including links for creative writers, too. I’ll probably put it in downloadable form on my website soon.
Great post, thank you for compiling this list. The main problem I have is running out of ideas. A few of these articles gave me some good tips to get past that.
I think it’s been mentioned before here, but I can’t stress how important it is to write down your ideas as soon as they pop in your head, or enter them in your phone. If I don’t do this I’ll forget about it, I’ve lost many great post ideas this way. The best ideas come out of the blue when you’re least expecting them.
Tom, It’s so true. I am trying to get better about that. Google Keep is really helping me — I use it on my phone.
Wow, thank you for putting together this list! I have so many open tabs right now after scrolling through your post…and that’s only 1/3 of the way down the page. Luckily it’s the weekend!
Hey Carrie, So glad it’s helpful . . . remember you don’t have to digest all at once — keep it handy and reference as needed 🙂
I am seriously awed by this post…what a great resource. I’ve tucked it away in a safe place (Evernote, in my writing notebook) so I can come back to again and again…
You have done a fabulous mitzvah, and I’m delighted to share this.
Blessed be,
Sue
Thank you! I often stall when it comes to sitting down to write a blog post. I will be printing out your suggestions!
Really, in my 2.5 year of blogging carrier, I have never seen such a great resource post to improve writing. Really amazing post indeed. Thanks for sharing all these things with us.
Thanks for tweeting this 968 times! Can we make it to 1000?
Great post. As a new blogger, I find some of your advice very fitting, especially #26 and #27. I don’t bookmark a lot of posts, but this one is top of the file. I am sure I will still be finding great information from it in a decade …timeless, excellent and high quality. Thank you!
Wow. Seriously impressed with the scope of these resources, Cynthia – very impressive!
Hey if any creative writers are still following this thread, I just posted several links that got cut out of this article over at my blog.
http://cynthialindeman.com/23links/
Thanks for adding the links, Cynthia. Helpful stuff. We all write in different ways, get inspiration in different ways, etc.–but there are so many helpful resources linked here and on your blog that most folks will probably find something useful. Great stuff here.
Thanks for sharing. This is a great post. This will definitely help me a lot.
So many options to choose from. This is unbelievable. With so many options to choose from anybody can become a pro in copy-writing.
Thank you for your help 🙂