Overcoming Writer's Block: Practical Strategies to Conquer Uncertainty in Writing

 

Hey everyone, the Relatable Scribbler here. I’m back and ready to dive into a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately: uncertainty in writing. It’s a big one, right? And let’s be real, every writer goes through it. It’s one of those things that can really trip you up, especially if you’re just starting out. How many times have you said, “I’m going to write this amazing story,” and then you sit down, stare at that blank page, and just freeze? You’ve got all these ideas, but as soon as that blank page pops up, your brain either goes completely blank too, or it’s the opposite—you’re bombarded with a million ideas and can’t figure out which one to focus on.

Writer sitting at a desk, staring at a blank notebook, struggling with writer’s block.







 


I was talking to a writer friend about this blog while trying to figure out what to say in this post, and they totally nailed it when they described it as “choice paralysis.” It’s a term I’ve heard before in other contexts, but I hadn’t really thought about it in terms of writing. But it fits perfectly. So many writers out there experience this. Choice paralysis is just one of the many forms of uncertainty we have to deal with. There’s also the challenge of not knowing what to write at all, or having an idea but being completely clueless about how to get from point A to point B.


So, the big question is: how do we handle these moments? You know, when your mind goes blank as soon as the page does, or when you’ve got so many ideas that you just get overwhelmed? Luckily, there are probably as many strategies for dealing with this stuff as there are people in the world. The key is figuring out which ones work for you—turning uncertainty from a roadblock into a strength. Because honestly, uncertainty doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can actually be pretty awesome and even fun once you know how to work with it.

In this post and the next few, I’m hoping to explore some strategies for turning uncertainty into something positive—something that gives you confidence rather than holding you back. So, let’s kick things off with one of the biggies: the blank page and blank mind.

Facing the Blank Page: A Common Writer's Block

As writers, one of our main jobs is to take that scary blank page and turn it into an amazing journey. But sometimes, it’s tough. You’re cruising along, and then out of nowhere, boom—writer’s block. Ugh, right? We’ve all been there.

Colorful sticky notes with ideas during a brainstorming session



Practical Strategies to Overcome Writer’s Block

One thing that’s worked for me is to just start writing. It doesn’t even have to be related to what I’m working on—just whatever’s in my head or whatever I’m seeing around me. It could be anything. The goal is just to get the words flowing again. Then, you can go back to your story and pick up where you left off. Sometimes, all you need to do to beat writer’s block is to simply write.

Anne Lamott talks about this in her book Bird by Bird, where she encourages writers to embrace "shitty first drafts"—just getting words down on the page, no matter how rough they are (Lamott, 1994). This approach helps you break through that initial block and gets the creative juices flowing.

Elizabeth Sims, in her book You’ve Got a Book in You, also discusses writer’s block and suggests that keeping the writing process light and fun can help ease the pressure that often leads to block. She recommends various strategies, such as writing exercises and changing your environment, to get the creativity flowing again (Sims, 2013).

writing outside good change of scenery to help overcome writers block



Taking it Step by Step

Another great point Lamott makes is about taking things "bird by bird," or one step at a time, which is a fantastic way to deal with feeling overwhelmed by too many ideas or the scope of your project (Lamott, 1994).

One strategy you can try is to write about literally anything—what’s in front of you, the show on TV, the music playing, your cup of coffee or tea, or even what you had for lunch. It doesn’t matter. The idea is to break through that block by just getting something—anything—down on the page.

Another trick is to step away for a bit—15 minutes, half an hour, maybe even an hour—and then come back with fresh eyes and a new perspective.

Remember, the key is to keep moving forward, even if it's just a small step at a time.

abstract light bulb indicating a breakthrough or new idea in writing

If you have your own strategies for dealing with writer's block, or any insights on how you handle uncertainty in writing, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—let’s help each other keep the words flowing!

Alright, I’ll wrap it up here for now. As always, take care, stay happy, and keep writing. I’ll pen you later.


References:

Lamott, A. (1994). Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books. Available at Amazon.

Sims, E. (2013). You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams. Writer’s Digest Books. Available at Amazon.

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