Posted on Jun 11, 2026
Writer's Block: What's Causing It, and How to Fix It
Loretta Bushell
Loretta is a translator, proofreader, and writer with 4+ years of experience in the publishing industry. She helps freelancers and authors build sustainable careers.
View profile →Writer's block can hit at any point in your career — just look at George R.R. Martin, who’s been working on the next installment of A Song of Ice and Fire for over fifteen years!
Broadly speaking, there are four overlapping causes of writer's block: a lack of inspiration, a lack of confidence, toxic perfectionism, and plain old procrastination. In this post, we’ll share twelve of our favorite remedies for writer’s block, sorted by which underlying problem they help to solve.
A lack of inspiration
If you can’t figure out where your story is headed next, these tips are for you.
1. Alter the POV or format
Experiment with telling your story from another perspective. How might a minor character, a fly on the wall, or even an inanimate object narrate the scene if they were witnessing it? Changing your story’s point of view (even temporarily) is a great way to break out of a mental blockade and gain new insight.
Alternatively, switch up the format of your book. Write a scene as a script and focus on the dialogue beats, or play with an epistolary format to deepen your understanding of characters’ relationships.
Q: How do I know what the best point of view (POV) is for my novel?
Suggested answer
I think it's paramount to keep one thing in mind first: There's nothing wrong with being most comfortable with a given POV and gravitating naturally to one or the other for all or most of your works. If you're primarily comfortable in close third, the story will read more smoothly in close third. That's not to say that you shouldn't ever push yourself beyond your comfort zone, but if you're torn 50/50 and not sure which POV is best for a book, just do what comes most naturally, and chances are readers will feel it's natural to the story.
If you're still not sure what POV to adopt for your novel, though, you have two main options:
The first option is to research your genre a bit more and try to find out if there's a favored POV. Some readers will always prefer first and some will always prefer third--ignore the ones that say their chosen POV is the only one they'll read because you can't please everyone. Instead, look for articles or resources that talk about genre/subgenre conventions and audience preferences. You can also take a glance at recent top-selling books in the genre, and if they're all in close third or all in first, that may answer the question for you.
The second option at your disposal is to experiment. Take a scene that's going to be key to your novel--the climax, a moment of realization for your main character, etc.--and try writing in both first person and third person. Compare the two scenes and see which reads more naturally and/or which one feels more natural to the story and character. Whenever I've been about to write a book and POV didn't feel clear either way, this was the method that ultimately pointed me in the right direction.
Jennifer is available to hire on Reedsy
2. Skip to the middle
There’s also no need to keep working on the specific section that you’re stuck on. Skip forward to a scene you’ve already got ideas for or write your first version of the ending. This exercise might shed light on the problem chapter, or it might not — but creating distance and then returning with fresh eyes will be useful either way.
3. Write something else
An even more extreme way to achieve distance is to write something entirely new. Don’t worry: we’re not asking you to abandon your WIP — just to take a break. Start outlining another project, craft a poem, or write a short story.
Check out Reedsy Prompts for over 1,000 short story prompts to help get your creative juices flowing.
4. Write somewhere else
Another simple but effective tactic is to find a new environment. Work from a different room, visit a nearby café, or take your laptop to a local park. A change of scenery can break the thought cycles you’re stuck in and trigger new connections and ideas. Scientific studies show that natural environments, in particular, can enhance creativity.
5. Take a break from writing
It may sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to overcome writer’s block is to step away from your laptop altogether. Remember, everyone needs a break from work sometimes. Trying to force words onto a page when you’re burnt out will do more harm than good — and giving yourself a few days’ “vacation” from writing could be just what you need to mentally reset and get the wheels turning again.
What should you do instead? According to a study at the University of Oregon, rote tasks like doing the dishes, cleaning the house, and walking the dog allow your mind to wander, making it easier to come up with ideas and tap into your creativity. Other research shows that exercise can also aid memory and idea generation.
We spoke to children’s book editor Maria Tunney, who has a third suggestion: take yourself out of your own work and into someone else’s. “Go to an exhibition, the cinema, a play, a gig — immerse yourself in great stuff and get your synapses crackling in a different way. Snippets of conversations, sounds, colors, sensations will creep into the space that once felt empty. Perhaps, then, you can return to your own desk with a new spark of intention.”
Q: What's your number one tip for authors dealing with burnout or writer’s block?
Suggested answer
Refill your creative well! Go watch TV, listen to your favorite songs, play a video game—do whatever you need to do to separate yourself from the book, even if only for a little bit. I've found that a small bit of distance can go a long way towards combating burnout/writer's block.
However, if the block is extremely pervasive (and you're not on deadline), it can also be helpful to briefly shelve a book and work on something that doesn't make you want to slam your head against the wall!
Chelsea is available to hire on Reedsy
My number-one tip to combat writer's block is to experiment.
Whatever routine you've built for yourself as a writer, try getting out of that routine and see how it affects your ability to write.
If you normally write on your desktop computer, try using a tablet or even writing longhand. Maybe the blank page is affecting you, and dictation will be something worth trying. If you normally write at night after everyone else in your family has gone to bed, try getting up early and writing then, or even snatching breaks during the day for writing time. If you write in longer chunks of time at home, try a coffee shop or restaurant, or if you like to write in coffee shops, try writing at home or in a local park. If you normally write in silence, try putting on music in the background.
Generally speaking, routine is a good thing for most writers, but some books/ideas demand a change of pace, and since we as writers change by virtue of changing as people and growing in our craft, that sometimes mean a routine will change.
Jennifer is available to hire on Reedsy
When writer's block or burnout arrives, move away from the page without shame. Creativity is not a faucet but a well that must be refilled. Do something that reminds you why you love about stories to begin with: Take a walk, read a treasured book, watch a film that moves you, or simply sleep. Inspiration has a way of returning once you stop trying to make it happen. Be kind to yourself in the process—writing is done most naturally when you permit your mind and spirit to gasp for air.
John is available to hire on Reedsy
A lack of confidence
Some writers do know where their story is headed, but are held back by fears that they’re not good enough to write it. If that sounds relatable, follow these tips to get out of your own head and start making progress.
6. Give yourself permission to fail
The key to overcoming your writer’s block is to realize that it’s okay to “fail.” Not convinced? Here are three good reasons why you should write that book even if it’s not up to snuff (though it’s probably not nearly as bad as you think!):
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Even bestselling authors have faced failure. Brandon Sanderson’s “debut” novel, Elantris, was actually the sixth book he wrote; the other five were rejected and remain hidden away from the public eye.
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If you don’t make mistakes, you won’t learn. You’ll never become a better writer unless you practice, practice, practice.
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You can’t edit a blank page. Your first draft may be borderline unreadable, but it’ll still be a starting point from which to make incremental improvements.
Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself of these points and push yourself to keep writing. For advice on maintaining momentum even when your prose is subpar, skip to tips 8 and 9.
7. Stop comparing yourself to your peers
Another source of insecurity is the (mistaken) belief that everyone else is better than you. This line of thinking often comes from comparing yourself to other writers online.
If this sounds familiar, then the solution is simple: get off Reddit, Facebook, or any other platforms where you interact with anonymous writers offering their experiences and “advice.” These users are not representative of all writers and are usually not authorities on writing.
Peer-to-peer support is highly valuable, but look for a local writing circle or a small and personal online group instead.
Perfectionism
If you have a strong idea of what your book should look like, but find yourself rewriting the same sentences endlessly as you struggle to fulfill the vision, you may suffer from toxic perfectionism. To overcome this type of writer’s block, all you need to do is remove the temptation to get everything right the first time round. Here’s how.
8. Try freewriting
Freewriting is the practice of writing continuously without stopping, editing, or censoring yourself. The idea is to churn out a raw, stream-of-consciousness draft that you know won’t be high quality, but that you’ll then be able to revise without feeling guilty. It’s easier to edit a middling draft than pen a perfect one first time, after all.
9. Use filler sentences when you’re stuck
Another way to maintain momentum when you can’t find the perfect expression is to skip the troublesome passage entirely. Rather than labor over a sentence, paragraph, or chapter for days, simply type “BLAH BLAH BLAH” or another filler word that you can easily search for later. Move on to the next part of the story that is coming to you and return to the skipped sections whenever inspiration strikes.
Q: What habits separate professional writers from aspiring ones?
Suggested answer
Professional writers treat their craft as both art and discipline. They write even when inspiration isn’t there, revising and refining instead of waiting for the perfect idea or mood. They finish what they start, pushing through doubt and distraction to deliver polished work on a schedule. They also seek and accept feedback, understanding that growth comes through critique, not avoidance. Instead of clinging to every word, they prioritize clarity, impact, and the reader’s experience. Above all, they build consistency—showing up at the page day after day—turning passion into practice. Aspiring writers dream; professionals do.
John is available to hire on Reedsy
Procrastination
Procrastination is rarely the sole cause of writer’s block, but it’s a common manifestation of deeper insecurities or burnout. To combat procrastination, try these techniques.
10. Remember your “why”
For some writers, the solution is as simple as reminding themselves why they’re writing. After all, writing isn’t mandatory. In most cases, if you genuinely don’t want to write, you don’t have to.
To reignite your motivation and drive, make a list of all the reasons you love writing. Hopefully, this will rekindle your enthusiasm and encourage you to pursue your passion in earnest rather than waste time procrastinating.
11. Build a purposeful writing routine
It’s also much, much easier to be productive when you follow good writing habits. Schedule time to write into your weekly routine and treat it with the same level of commitment as a doctor’s appointment. Leave your phone in another room and set an achievable word count goal for each writing session. Reward yourself when you meet your target, and keep track of your streak, ideally on a physical sticker chart or whiteboard. Once you’ve reached a high enough number, you won’t want to break it.
Q: What daily writing routines can help authors maintain consistent productivity?
Suggested answer
There are four things that I consider before settling in to write.
What sounds are there? The best is silence, but in a city environment this is impossible. If there are specific loud that I want to block out, I listen to drone music. This consists mostly of long, sustained notes (no melodies) and comes from the American and German post-war experimental musical traditions. The texture of the sounds is often rich which works for this purpose quite well. It has a meditative effect. Failing this, music without lyrics is also good.
What is my phone doing? Just switch it off.
Social media. Along with my phone, this is designed to distract. What I do is log out of my social media accounts. If I automatically go back in, I'm then met by the login page. This doesn't sound like much of a difference, but is just enough to nudge myself into becoming mindful of what I'm doing and what my present purpose it. And mindfulness is key.
Lastly, I take a page of Hemingway's advice: "The first draft of anything is s**t." It's ok to produce bad writing. In fact, it's totally ok; actually it's great. Why? Because my ideas are now down on the page, even if it's absolutely horrible. Nobody ever simply writes a finished product straight off the bat. I'll make it better later and that is a different process.
Don is available to hire on Reedsy
Get all domestic and admin chores out the way first, so that there is nothing else on your mind when you sit down to write. Then just stick at it for as long as possible.
Andrew is available to hire on Reedsy
Honestly, I think what's key is simply establishing any writing routine. Whether you write in the morning or in the evening, at your desk or in a coffee shop, or longhand or on your computer, having some routine will help you get into that writing mode more easily when you're ready and thus be more productive.
It's also important to note that every writer has a different process, and you need to figure out the routine that works for you. For me personally, it's key that I have a glass of water at hand and that the dogs have just been taken out for a bathroom break so that they don't interrupt me at the very moment I've gotten into a groove! For one of my book coaching clients, we've discovered she absolutely has to have music on in the background and her husband out of the house; otherwise, she's distracted by every little sound, whereas music she can treat as white noise.
Once you start experimenting, you'll find out what works for you. If you pay attention to what you discover, you'll be able to set yourself up for daily success, whether that's getting up early or going to bed late, or simply doing the dishes while you think over your plans for the next chapter that needs to be written.
Jennifer is available to hire on Reedsy
12. Quit while you’re ahead
When you’re finally on a roll, it can be tempting to keep writing for hours until you reach a natural endpoint. However, it can often be better to stop before you run out of ideas, so that you’ll hit the ground running the next time you sit down to write. With any luck, you’ll keep the productivity rolling throughout the rest of your writing session, and procrastination will become a thing of the past.
Writer’s block can be frustrating, but remember that it’s totally normal and it won’t last forever. If you’re still stuck after trying these tips, consider working with a writing coach who can offer you tailored advice, feedback, and support to overcome creative blocks and reach your goals faster.
