How to sidestep writer’s block (Writing Tip #1)

It’s time for me to stop telling you how hard writing is for me. Instead, here’s a tip on how to beat writer’s block.

Many of my longtime readers know me as a writing coach — so I’m delighted to start sharing some of my most effective writing hacks on Substack. It seems like the perfect place! Do try this one out and LMK in the comments if it works for you. 

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I was appalled when I realized recently that complaining about how hard it is to write has been one of my persistent themes on Substack these past few months.

Why would you, dear reader, want to hear about this more than once… or twice… or god forbid three times?

Instead, let me offer you (and me!) a writing tip on the topic of writer’s block and what to do about it.

Who gets writer’s block

A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people. - Thomas Mann

First of all, it’s very common. Most writers - and that includes famous writers like Joan Didion, Leo Tolstoy, and Virginia Woolf - suffered from writer’s block. Often it’s a form of self-doubt, along with fear of bad writing. Most writers push through and get beyond it, however painful that might be. 

Anne Lamott reminds us that your initial goal should always be a shitty first draft. So “bad writing” is okay.

Sometimes writer’s block is a sign you’re on the wrong track and should start over. Some say that experiencing writer’s block is part of the writing process. Still others say that “writer’s block” doesn’t exist; one doesn’t get “talker’s block.” I.e. just start writing, something, anything, and see where it leads you.

Hemingway famously advised stopping in the middle of a paragraph at the end of the day. Then it’s easy to start writing again the next morning.

Substack author

Amanda B. Hinton

helpfully writes about how you can work with writer’s block and make it part of your creative process.

What if writer’s block is actually on your side?

A five-minute unblocking exercise

Here’s an exercise that will sidestep writer’s block. If your brain is so scrambled that you can’t even write in complete sentences, then don‘t write in complete sentences.

Instead, set a timer for five minutes. Jot down 10 ideas or bits related to the article or chapter you’re trying to write. Anything counts. Write in bullet points.

A bit could be a scene or a memory or anecdote that you might want to include. An idea is current events, stats, historical context, your underlying philosophy, overarching theme, etc.

Scribble on paper or type into the Notes app on your phone or in the draft section of your Substack publication. Record a voice note to yourself. Doesn’t matter, anything works. 

I often write bulleted lists on a stack of yellow stickies. I make ongoing lists in my iPhone Notes app. (One advantage of digital Notes, I’ve found, is that you can search them.)

Important: the best time to make a quick list is when you are not officially writing. It’s when you’re walking the dog or waiting in line or cooking or folding laundry.

The point is that you are tricking yourself. You’re writing but you’re not in writing mode.

I designed this postcard to share writing tips with my nonfiction clients. The five-minutes exercise is under the 5/10 Rule.

Here’s an example

Assignment: write an 800 - 1200 word essay on why old age is an important topic to explore right now and why a 70-something woman is the right person to do it.

To illustrate, I gave myself the assignment above. Immediately, I felt overwhelmed. Where to start? What should I include? Why am I the right person?? So I took five minutes and jotted down the 10 items below, knowing they are not in a logical or outline order. Some of these ideas are overlapping. Some are too big and need to be broken down into smaller pieces. This list likely omits things to include.

My quick bits on why [b]old age is an important topic to explore

Disclaimer: I went back after the five minutes to make these sound more coherent for you. Your quick notes to yourself can be as garbled or cryptic as you wish.

• Hang “importance” of the topic on the stunning demographic shift to more people over 65, than under 18, that is expected by 2034. We’re becoming an “old” society.

• What this shift will mean for the workplace, for career patterns, for family structures?

• Old age is in the news: Biden and the current debate over how old is too old to run for President.

• Why does everyone fear old age? How does this relate to the pernicious ageism in our society?

• Mining one woman’s experience (mine) could prove useful and inspiring to others - i.e. in the particular lies the universal.

• Old age for women vs. men — how is it different?

• How can one prepare for old age when you are in midlife or earlier? What do you need to know in advance?

• The search for longevity (postponing death) via cellular rejuvenation and reduced calorie intake is now a full-time project for some billionaires and Silicon Valley techies — Bryan Johnson perhaps the best known.

• How do you change your mindset from fearing death to curiosity to wonder to heightening your appreciation of the here and now.

• SCENE: walking my 11yo granddaughter to school and she tells me how much she likes the “yoga” and “community service” clubs she belongs to

This is an initial, low-pressure way to brainstorm and breakthrough a block. The next step is to literally step away. Get outside for a walk, laugh with a friend, sleep on it, and come back refreshed. 

“I love having written. I hate writing.” - Dorothy Parker

Go ahead and try it in the comments

• Jot down your list of ideas or bits for your current writing project; I’ll respond!

• What are your tricks to combat writer’s block?