Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned writer or a startup content marketer juggling many different hats, we all struggle with writer’s block every now and then. However, there are ways to minimize your risk of staring at a blank page for hours and keep those creative juices flowing.
In this post, you can find a writing routine that’ll guide you through the creative process from start to finish. The different steps are meant to offer you a starting point at each of the various stages of writing an article (or any other type of text).
But what if you do enter into a writing funk and need to know how to overcome writer’s block? Then you can scroll to the second part of this post for a collection of tips that’ll help you defeat writer’s block and get right back on track.
How to Overcome Writer’s Block in 5 Steps
1. Keep a running list of content ideas
The best way to prevent writer’s block is to just get started but to be able to do that, you need to know what you’ll get started on. If you first need to come up with an idea, research it, and add it to your keyword plan, you’ll use up a lot of precious brainpower before you even open up your preferred writing tool.
A better way to go about it is to regularly hold a content brainstorming session to come up with new ideas and define which articles should be written first. That way, you’ll always know exactly what to write about next.
While walking through Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, I once nearly slapped a pushy salesman who grabbed my shoulder. I use everyday stories like that as analogies in my content. That particular one helped illustrate how overly aggressive Facebook and LinkedIn ads can drive people away. Judging by how many companies have told me they reached out because of that story, I’d say the strategy is working.
Sarah Sal, Facebook & LinkedIn Ads Specialist – Hootsuite
2. Go over or fill out your briefing
A blank page can look scary. Luckily, you can avoid it by using a clear content briefing. When you’re a writer working with an SEO or a content marketer, you’ll likely get your briefings from them. If you’re responsible both for the strategy and the writing, or if you only get a topic angle and target keyword to work with, you can still create your own briefing to facilitate the writing process.
The briefing is the first step in turning your content idea into a publishable article. Consider it your ingredient list. It gives you all the information you need but you’ll still need to gather the right utensils to use and figure out how you best combine everything into a tasty dish.
Your briefing might include the following elements:
- Article topic
- Search intent
- Target keyword
- Secondary keywords
- Internal links to include
- CTA to include
- Target word count
These are all things you can arrange on a blank page. Not only does it make you feel like you’ve gotten started on the article (and you have!), it also prompts your brain to start thinking about how you can work with these different ingredients.
Here are some things you can do with the ingredients in your briefing before you even start to write:
| Briefing ingredient | Action |
| Article topic | Check if you have any related resources you can use and if not, go in search of interesting statistics and expert opinions. |
| Search intent | Think of different angles that would match the search intent. |
| Target keyword | Research which articles are already ranking for this keyword so you can analyze both what you need to do the same (for example, follow the same type of article format) and how you can make your article better. |
| Secondary keywords | Go over these and write down any ideas that pop up for headings and subsections. |
| Internal links to include | Open these in your browser and read them. This will make it easier to integrate them once you start writing. |
| CTA to include | Make sure you have the correct link or form to add to the CTA. If not, go find it. |
| Target word count | Go back to the different angles you came up with and see if any of these is better suited to hit the target word count. |
3. Create your content outline
By now, you already should have quite some ideas and material to help you write your article. The next step is to cut up all of your vegetables, put your pans on the fire, and layout all of your utensils so that the cooking writing process becomes a breeze.
Start by writing down a working title and headings to create a rough outline. Then, go over the information provided in the briefing and the research you’ve done and drip them into your content outline.
I treat outlines like a working doc. If I don’t have the words yet, I just drop a placeholder—something like “come back to this later” or “need a stat here.” That way, I stay in motion instead of getting stuck trying to make every section perfect upfront. Usually, my outline is full of links—client feedback, Reddit threads, random LinkedIn posts that sparked a thought. Sometimes it’s just a messy bulleted list, but it gives me enough raw material to come back with a clear head and actually write.
Sharan Kaur, Senior Writer & Editor – dslx
And of course, you may also be wondering about AI, and how this could fit in when it comes to creating content outlines.
Recently, we tried a new approach to better understand how to create a structure that matches the user’s intent and covers all the necessary angles. We train AI to follow Google’s content quality guidelines. Furthermore, we adhere to a set of internal rules outlined in our company’s editorial policy. Once we’ve selected the topics, we analyze all competing articles on the same or similar subject. We identify which parts are well-covered, which are weak, and what’s missing. This allows us to extract the best elements from existing content and understand how we can improve upon them. One of our key criteria is whether an article includes a unique image, screenshot, or GIF that helps explain a particular point more clearly. All the work is still done manually, but by combining it with Google’s guidelines and our editorial standards, we’re able to structure our content in a way that ranks well and truly provides value.
Mike Shcherbachov, CMO – Collaborator.pro
4. Fill in the gaps
Now, all that’s left for you to do is weave everything together in a way that guides the reader smoothly from top to bottom. Fill in the gaps, expand on ideas, and give advice. In cooking terms, this is when you add all of your ingredients to the pot.
When creating content, it needs to be relevant. Research the macro trends happening in your industry and create content that articulates your point of view. Then align with what other thought leaders and your customers are saying.
Allyson Havener, CMO, TrustRadius
In cooking terms, this is when you add all of your ingredients to the pot. This is also a great time to pay attention to your community and their ideas as well.
I start with Reddit, Quora, and communities to fill topic gaps, and if nothing turns up, I ask in Slack, Discord, or check with experienced friends. It helps me understand what’s missing in the SERPs from the audience’s point of view. For example, if I’m writing about creating documentation that increases signups, I’ll ask software developers what makes them leave a documentation page or which sections they check first to see if a tool is useful. If I’m working on content related to product reviews, platforms like TrustPilot, G2, or Clutch reveal customer struggles, and those insights add depth and relevance to the final piece.
Tooba Jamal, Head of Marketing, Fierce Firefly
5. Revise and edit
Before you know it, your first draft will be done. You might be tempted to do a little victory dance and send it off, but I recommend you let it simmer for a bit and revise it the next day with fresh eyes. Chances are, you’ll want to rewrite a few sentences and it’ll be for the better.
Until a year ago, I used to obsess over getting everything right in the first draft. This slowed me down and drained my energy. That changed when I started using LLMs to support editing. I now write freely based on the outline, leave rough notes in caps or color, and move on. I know I can return with help from an always-available editor to catch gaps, inconsistencies, or typos. I use a 1,000-word prompt to guide LLM reviews. It hasn’t saved much time, but the process feels lighter. That shift helped me avoid writer’s block and write better.
Burcu Uluçay, Content Writer, Ollang
How to Get Rid of Writer’s Block When You Really Feel Stuck?
Following the steps above is a great way to avoid writer’s block, but sometimes we just have one of those days and our brains struggle to turn our outline into an engaging article. When that happens, the following tips can help in overcoming writer’s block.
1. Do a sensory activity
When you research how to combat writer’s block, people often advise you to go do something else. While that’s a good tip, I think it needs to be more specific: go do something else that gets you out of your brain and into your senses. Go do the dishes, take a shower, go for a walk, …
Switch to an activity that keeps your body busy while allowing your mind to wander and before you know it, the start of that new paragraph will come to you as if out of nowhere.
When I just can’t get my fingers to type the words that are spinning around inside my brain, I always tend to start cleaning. Someone once said something about a clean environment leading to a clean mind. I’d like to believe that’s true, as I rearrange my Converse by the color wheel. But miraculously, I always get an idea, and the words start flowing so quickly that now I have half my closet poured out onto my bedroom floor… and it doesn’t matter. Because I am WRITING!
Angela Ash, Content Manager & Digital PR Specialist at Flow Agency
2. Write something else
If you feel guilty about taking a break (unnecessary, but we all have those moments), try writing something else. Reply to an email, respond to a few text messages, journal a bit, or make your grocery list.
When you hit a wall with writing, pause and check in with yourself. What are you feeling? What’s weighing on your heart, your mind, or your spirit? Journaling your internal dialogue can help uncover the tiny truths someone else might need to hear. When you write from a place of personal truth, you naturally create something more authentic and relatable.
Dii Pooler, Founder – Pooler Digital
The idea is to write something that doesn’t take a lot of effort so you can get in the flow of writing and then maintain that flow as you return to your article.
3. Read
The more words, phrases, and expressions you know, the easier it is to write. While you could read anything, try reading content that’s loosely related to your industry or the topic you’re writing about. That way, you can try to experiment with angles and perspectives without accidentally copying things over.
Alternatively, go through your company’s blog and open up any articles that could be loosely related to the one you’re writing now. Reading in the same voice you’ll be writing in can make it easier to formulate new thoughts in that voice as well.
Reading fiction helps me immensely, and when that too feels like a lot for me, I watch YouTube videos related to the article. Having someone explain the topic to me (as in a YouTube video) helps me gain a deeper understanding. Once I’m done, sometimes, even halfway through the video, I’m often bustling with more ideas to get me started.
Angel Leonard, Freelance Writer
4. Change your environment
If the tips above don’t work and you’re still wondering how to get over writer’s block, try to literally change your perspective. Move to the couch (not ergonomic but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do), go sit in another room, or pack up your laptop to go work at a coffee shop.
Simply changing your environment can give your brain a little refresh and before you know it, words will come flowing.
When brain fog strikes, step away from the screen and give your mind space to wander freely. Jot down every idea as it appears, no matter how rough or scattered, then start organizing your thoughts into a clear outline. Identify the gaps, and do focused research to fill them in. Don’t hesitate to ask an LLM to help rephrase a clunky idea, too! Sometimes, a single well-crafted line is all it takes to get the rest of the paragraph flowing.
Santa Potisek, SEO Specialist – Flow Agency
5. Write anyway
Still feeling stuck? Write anyway. If I’ve learned anything during my 12 years as a professional writer, it’s that the most important thing is to just get started. Jot down loose ideas, single sentences, word groups, and a paragraph here and there. Write whatever wants to be written and don’t allow yourself to stop for a certain time.
The hardest part of writing is to look at a blank page. The second-hardest part is to look at a page full of unstructured briefing, research and ideas, wondering where to begin. Before you convert your notes into a clean draft, focus on the flow of your writing, rather than focusing on finding the right words. Our fear of using “bad” words is where we often get stuck. Once you’re happy with the flow and narrative, take a break to do something fun. Return with fresh eyes to refine your wording. You could ask AI tools for synonym suggestions as a last resort if you’re really stuck with vocabulary.
Sara Vordermeier, Content Marketing Manager – Uberall
You might have to go back and rewrite it all later, or you might just get into that flow where suddenly, it’s three hours later and you’ve written something you’re proud to put out there.
But, there’s definitely something to be said about discovering “why” writer’s block happens to begin with.
Writer’s block often isn’t a lack of ideas – it’s fear. Fear of judgment, of imperfection, of saying the ‘wrong’ thing. The way through it? Shut out the noise—close the door, both literally and mentally.. Don’t write with an audience in mind. Write with honesty. Write what you need to say, not what others expect to hear. That’s where real momentum begins.
Smit Dholakiya, SEO Analyst, Upmetrics
Overcoming Writer’s Block Doesn’t Need to Be Hard
Many writers struggle with writer’s block but there are ways to both prevent it and deal with it when it does arise. By following a step-by-step process such as the one outlined above, you’ll always have something to write no matter which stage you’re at.
Keeping a list of good ideas makes it so you never have to waste time looking for a new topic.
Following a content briefing will give you at least one page of material.
And once you start filling in that outline, you’re already writing.
If you do get stuck and want to know how to overcome writer’s block: take a break. Go for a walk, read, write something else, or do another type of creative work. Your first draft might not be perfect, but the more you look writer’s block in the eye and keep writing anyway, the better writer you’ll become, and the easier it’ll get.
Want to try this step-by-step process for yourself? At Flow, we can get you started with a clear content plan and briefings to follow. Get in touch for more information.
