1. Lists — I have running lists on my phone and my computer. Ideas for blogs, blog titles, potential research, chapters in my book, short story beginnings, a cool phrase I heard someone say, a fact I need to look up … whatever it is, I’ve got a list for it and I check them often. When I’m stuck for what to write about, I can start 3 different topics before I get to the one that feels good in the moment and starts flowing. Leaving the other topics on the list for later means I’ll still have something to come back for, and I can mull over what I started to write and see if I can’t piece out more tidbits.

2. Prompts — Maybe you have a specific topic in mind, but nothing is coming. Go online and find some writing prompts. Start writing about a different topic just to get the juices flowing. If you have the time, join a writing group like something put on by the WCC (https://wcc-cec.org/) who have a different group every night of the week. Or, if you’re looking for inspiration right now, the Writer’s Digest has a whole section of writing prompts (https://www.writersdigest.com/prompts). Have you tried chat GPT? (https://chat.openai.com/ Can you ask, “Alexa give me a random writing prompt?” What happens? Cast your net wide and see what comes back.

3. Habits and Routine — Sometimes writing at the same time and place is a bore. But sometimes it can help your mind feel prepared for what is about to come. Sundays at 6:30pm I am going to write until 7:30pm and edit until 8, and then I’ll be done and come back to it later. Or maybe, I have 15 minutes at the end of every work day, and I’ll put in that time Monday to Friday. Whatever it is for you, give it a try and see if routine helps your writing flow.

4. Read and research — if you don’t know what to write, sometimes seeing what is topical now and reading fresh articles or a new book can birth inspiration in your own writing. Does a certain turn of phrase pique your interest, or has the writer missed the plot entirely? Could you do it better? Do you have new insights to bring to the topic? They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, can you write in the style of your favourite authors?

5. Pomodoro Technique — this was developed by Francesco Cirillo, who says that people are most productive in 25 minute blocks. You can use your phone, or the stove, or a specific timer to set 25 minutes. Be honest, write for 25 minutes without checking notifications or email, or getting up to get a drink or use the loo. At the end of the entire block of time, THEN you get up, move around, take a break. And the idea is to do this several times until you’ve completed your writing. I have a friend with ADHD who says sometimes he can only do things in 10 minute intervals, then he needs a break, but then he comes back for another 10 and another 10, for as long as it takes. Try this for yourself, can you make the 25 minute mark? I think you can!

6. Make space — For some people, a busy desk doesn’t interfere with their flow. Sitting down, clearing away papers and pulling the keyboard close, some can simply focus on the task at hand. For others, this clutter will only distract, they simply cannot get started until they’ve cleaned and cleared their workspace. Either is fine, just know which you are — for the former, cleaning can take up precious writing time when it was unnecessary to get going, for the later, trying to write when things are messy can eat up minutes when you knew cleaning first was the solution.

Do you need quiet to write, or the hubbub of a busy cafe behind you? If you can’t work in complete silence, there a cute website (https://coffitivity.com/ ] that will recreate the ambient sounds you can’t find in your home office — a bistro, a teahouse, a lounge, you name it, they’ve got you covered.

And when do you work best? Is it in the morning sun, or burning the midnight oil? Trying to get something done when you’re at your best performance-wise is going to give you the most success.

7. Just start. — The first draft is just that, a draft. It means you can come back and edit, correct, update or completely erase and start again. Just start writing and see where it takes you. Maybe the topic you chose or the scenario you’re creating isn’t right at all, and your words will take you on a magic dance to the spot you’re meant to be. Let them flow. Another important part of creating writing is being able to acknowledge that it’s okay to make mistakes or have something no be perfect from the word go.

8. Are you actually stuck? — Some people say that the real reason we’re actually stuck is because we’ve told ourselves we’ve got writer’s block in the first place. If we’d just sit down and prove ourselves wrong then we’d have plenty to say. There is power in a title or a name. Take that power back. Let the words fly in the face of the block and just keep going! If you are waiting until you’re inspired, you might never get going.

Whether you believe writer’s block is a real phenomenon or not, I think we’ve all had that feeling of sitting down to write and suddenly we don’t know where to take the words on the page. Try out some of the above tips and see if they work for you. If you’re still feeling stuck, reach out and I’ll help you brainstorm a new direction to try!