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How to Overcome Writer’s Block: Expert Advice & Strategies for Breaking Through

Sophie Campbell
January 20, 2025 | 3 min read

In a perfect world, there would be a quick fix for writer’s block. A potent elixir that could jumpstart your brain, magic up genius ideas, and make your fingers race across the keyboard like a lightning storm crackling through the sky.

Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world. But there are proven strategies you can use to get back into your story. Let’s explore a few of them.

#1 Journal to Uncover Your Block

Understanding why you’re recoiling from your writing project, even though you desperately want to write, is the first step.

If you’re continually experiencing writer’s block, address it — don’t ignore it. They say a problem shared is a problem halved, so share your problem with your journal.

If you’re continually experiencing writer’s block, address it — don’t ignore it.

Bestselling ghostwriter, mystery writer, book coach, and developmental editor Dr. Rachel Clair wrote on this topic for our book Set Your Story Free: The Writer’s Guide to Freewrite.

She suggests shifting your mindset by using prompts like: “I can’t write because…” or “I’m not enjoying my writing project right now because…”

When you know the answers, it’s easier to interrogate the specific issue you’re experiencing, realize it's probably unfounded, and move past it.

Finish your journaling session on a positive note. Answer these questions: “I am excited about my writing project because…” and “I will write today because…” Then, jump straight into your project!

#2 Build a Regular Writing Habit

Imagine you’re heading off on a cross-country road trip. Your tank is full and you’re raring to go. But your car keeps stalling and breaking down on the side of the road. You can’t rack up the mileage when you’re constantly stopping and starting again. Your destination always feels far away. It’s the same with writing.

If you dip in and out of writing without a sustainable regular routine, you’ll likely encounter writer’s block. To combat this, build a regular writing habit, whether it’s 30 minutes twice a week or two hours every day.

If you dip in and out of writing without a sustainable regular routine, you’ll likely encounter writer’s block.

Find what’s sustainable and realistic for you and, come figurative hell or high water, stick to it. Try habit stacking until writing in a certain place and time becomes second nature.

#3 Do Writing Sprints

Writing a novel is a marathon. But it can, and should, include sprints. A sprint is a timed writing session — it’s as simple as that. Writing against the clock provides the urgency and pressure needed to get the words down, even when you’re not particularly in the mood to write.

Writing against the clock provides the urgency and pressure needed to get the words down, even when you’re not particularly in the mood to write.

Depending on what makes you most productive, you might like to challenge yourself to write X number of words in X number of minutes. (You can use the Pomodoro technique or a good old-fashioned egg timer.)

Or you could allot, for example, one hour of your time to writing without a specific goal or word count target. When you make your writing time sacred and distraction-free, writing becomes more tempting than staring at the wall.

#4 Use a Single-Purpose Writing Device

Distractions are a writer’s Achilles’ heel. Anything you can do to reduce distractions and tap into deep concentration will help you write more and more often.

One of the best ways to bat away distractions is to write on a single-purpose device with focused functionality.

Enter the ultimate tonic for writer’s block: Freewrite. This dedicated drafting device — free from blinking notifications and noisy alerts — helps writers 2-3x their creative output. Each Freewrite is specifically designed to give you the forward momentum to keep writing without looking back, so you can edit and polish later.

One of the best ways to bat away distractions is to write on a single-purpose device with focused functionality.

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Writer’s block sufferers, we know it’s tough out there. But implement these strategies and you will rediscover your productivity and fall back in love with your writing project.

Return to “Cracking the Code of Writer’s Block."

August 22, 2025 3 min read

Most of us are surrounded by screens all day. To get your writing done, take writer Shannon Liao's advice and unplug.

July 21, 2025 2 min read

It’s literary legend Ernest Hemingway’s birthday week, and we’re throwing "A Moveable Feast" in his honor. Purchase a Hemingwrite this week and be entered to have your purchase completely refunded.

July 21, 2025 2 min read

Official Rules for the Promotion

No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your changes of wining. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

1. Eligibility

The Purchase Refund Giveaway ("Promotion") is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of Astrohaus ("Sponsor") and its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and/or those living in the same household are not eligible. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

2. Promotion Period

The Promotion begins at 8 a.m. EST Monday, July 21, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 27 ("Promotion Period"). Sponsor's computer is the official timekeeping device for this Promotion.

3. How to Enter

There are two (2) ways to enter:

a) Purchase Method:

During the Promotion Period, make a purchase of any product through https://getfreewrite.com/. All eligible purchasers will automatically be entered into the Promotion. Limit one (1) entry per purchase.

b) Free Alternate Method of Entry (AMOE):

To enter without making a purchase, fill out the form here.Limit one (1) AMOE entry per person.

4. Prize

One (1) Grand Prize: A refund equal to the amount of the winner’s eligible purchase (not to exceed $1,099.00 USD). If the winner entered via the AMOE method, they will receive one Ernest Hemingway Signature Edition Smart Typewriter.

Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): up to $1,099.00 USD.

5. Winner Selection

One (1) potential winner will be selected in a random drawing on or about August 15, from among all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.

6. Winner Notification

The potential winner will be notified by email within five (5) business days following the drawing. The potential winner may be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability & Publicity Release within seven (7) days of notification. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize, or fails to timely return the required documents, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner selected.

7. General Conditions

By participating, entrants agree to abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Promotion if it becomes technically corrupted or cannot be conducted as planned. The prize is non-transferable. All federal, state, and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

8. Limitation of Liability

Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, or illegible entries or for any technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the Promotion.

9. Privacy

Any personal information collected will be used in accordance with the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy located at https://getfreewrite.com/pages/privacy-policy.

9. Sponsor

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