All writer’s get writer’s block at some point. So how can you stop feeling blocked so you can start writing?

Are other people’s voices getting in the way?

A lot of writer’s block can be traced back to ‘that’ teacher you had at school. You know the one who seemed to delight in belittling students. I had one who told me I’d never learn to write well – it hurt at the time, but now I just think such miserable people should never be allowed near a classroom.

But we can’t go back in time and remove them, so how do we get their voices out of our heads?

I doubt many grown-ups are going around worrying about what a teacher said to them when they were 16. But those hurtful words and their accompanying doubt creep in when we’re feeling stressed or vulnerable.

When the naysayers of the past pipe up, ask yourself these questions:

• What am I stressed about?
• What, realistically, is the worst thing that could happen if I write this thing?
• What will/might happen if I don’t write it?

I’ll start with the last of those, if you’re writing something to help your current or future clients – social media posts, blog posts, newsletters, or books – what will happen if you don’t write it is that you won’t help the person who needs to read it.

Often, focusing on the reader who needs the thing you’re trying to write is enough to unblock your writing.

If that doesn’t work, look at the other two questions.

Worst case scenario

If that voice from your past was from school, the worst thing that could happen was you’d get a lower mark than you wanted. It may have felt like the end of the world then, but now you have perspective on it, you can see that it wasn’t.

Out in the real world of grownups, some writing can be dangerous. If you’re naming and shaming a person or company that has harmed you, you need to cover yourself legally.

However, most business owners aren’t writing things that leave them open to charges of libel. 

You’re more likely to be worried about hurting someone’s feelings or looking stupid.

If you’re worried about hurting someone, look again at what you’re trying to write and ask yourself if it really needs to be written and posted publicly. If you’re planning to express a position or opinion that will surprise or offend someone close to you ask:

• Are they actually going to see the post?
• Is it time you were honest with them about where you stand on the issue?
• Would it be better to have a conversation with them about it before you write and post the thing?

As the political situation across the Anglo-American world develops (deteriorates?), I expect this kind of concern to become more common. We’re not all going to agree on every issue.

With some issues, we’ll be able to agree to disagree, with others, we won’t. We’re going to have to figure out how to navigate things as respectfully as we can.

My approach of putting my politics out there for all to see won’t be for everyone. If you want to see what I’m talking about, have a look at these:

• Scandalous Books (Substack)
• Anaesthesia Culture (Substack)
• Bluesky
  
  

How to not worry about looking stupid

If you’re worrying about looking stupid when you’re writing about something related to your business, you likely just need to review some evidence. What proof can you find for these things:

• That you’re qualified to be in business
• That you’re qualified to write about what you do in your business
• That other people value the professional help you’ve given them

We all need to go back over these things from time to time. I have been teaching writing since 2001, have a PhD in English, and have published lots of things. Still, I sometimes wonder who I am to advise anyone on writing.

Put the proof you gathered above in a little box and refer to it as needed.

Are you too tired to write?

Tiredness, whether it’s physical or mental, gets in the way of writing.

If you’ve been going nonstop or worrying nonstop, give yourself a break.

We can’t be on, active, and “productive” (how I loathe that word) all the time. In the vast majority of cases, your writing deadlines only matter to you.

Cut yourself some slack. Otherwise, you risk turning into the worst boss imaginable. That’s not why you started your business, is it?

Take this blog post, for example. I wanted to get it out more than a week ago. That didn’t happen because life got in the way.

If you’re worn out, take a nap, spend an evening watching nonsense on TV, read a relaxing book.

Fear of the blank page

No one likes staring at a blank sheet of paper. Here are some ways to quickly get some words on yours:

• Use the speech-to-text function in Word or Google Docs and talk about what you want to write (the transcription won’t be perfect, but it will be a start)
• Write a simple outline. I explain how to do this in ‘How do you decide what to write?’
• Repurpose something you’ve already written. Turn a social media post into a blog post by going deeper. Break up a book chapter or blog post into several newsletters or social media posts. You’ll be surprised how much time you save when you stop starting from scratch every time you sit down to write.
  
  

Is your internal editor getting in the way?

I’ve been giving this advice for 24 years. I’ve only been consistently taking it where my writing is concerned for the last 3 – when you get blocked

• Step away from the computer/notebook with lined paper
• Grab a big, brightly coloured sheet of unlined paper and crayons
• Get creative – doodle a little, and start writing the words you want to get out

Something beautiful happens when we colour. We stop judging what we’re writing.

Why does this happen?

Your brain has never seen you be judged for what you coloured. Simply switching from pen/keyboard to crayon releases you from the fear of judgement.

When you don’t feel at risk of judgement, you feel free to play – think about how you sing and dance when you’re home alone. This is the same thing, but on the page.

How can I help?

Book writers

If you’re working on your book, check out First Steps to Becoming an Author (£75). It’s the first module in my 6-month course, but I sell it separately so you can try the course before you commit to the whole thing.

In the workshop you’ll

• Overcome the blocks that are holding you back so you're excited to get your book out!
• Find the time in your busy schedule (without working longer hours) so you can quickly and easily write the book your future clients need to read!
• Create a simple step-by-step plan for getting your book done and published!
  
  

Writers of blogs and social media posts

The first workshop in my blogging club, Write Engaging Blog Posts the Easy Way, will help you write more and more easily.

Currently, it’s free. From 1 October, it will cost £50.

In the workshop I teach you how to create an outline that will make writing a blog post (or series of social media posts) easier. Then, I show you how to break that post up into several social media posts and/or newsletters. In short, I show you how to work smarter, not harder.