
Hi Meshers,
It's day 6 of our writing challenge.
And You're sitting there, staring at a blank page. Minutes turn into hours, but the words just won’t come. Does it sound familiar?
That is called writer’s block.
It's a frustrating feeling of being unable to think of what to write or how to continue.
It’s like your creativity is stuck behind a locked door, and you don’t know where the key is.
But writer’s block doesn’t mean you’re not a good writer.
It’s just a bump in the road. Once you understand what causes it, you can find ways to push through. Let me break it down for you
What Causes Writer’s Block?
There are four common culprits, and I’ll give you a quick story for each so you can see how it happens:
- Apathy: Feeling Stuck in the Rules
Imagine Atieno, who loves writing short stories. Lately, she’s overwhelmed by all the advice she’s read—“Avoid adverbs,” “Start with action,” “Show, don’t tell.” She spends more time worrying about following the rules than actually writing. Eventually, she gives up, feeling like nothing she writes is good enough.
The Fix: Forget the rules for now. Write like no one’s watching. You can edit later, but first, let your ideas flow freely.
- Anger: Frustration from Being Overlooked
Juma spent weeks crafting the perfect poem. He poured his heart into it, excited to share it online. But when he posted it, there were no likes, no comments—just silence. He felt invisible and thought, “Why do I even bother?”
Frustration turned to anger, and he stopped writing altogether.
The Fix: Write because it brings you joy, not just for applause. Even if no one reacts, your words still have value.
- Anxiety: Fear of Not Being Good Enough
Sophia was thrilled when her teacher asked her to write for the school magazine. But the excitement quickly turned to panic. “What if it’s not good enough?” she thought. She rewrote her first sentence so many times that she never got past it. Fear of failure froze her creativity.
The Fix: Remind yourself it’s okay to write a messy first draft. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist.
- Comparison: Feeling You Don’t Measure Up
Ben is a new blogger with a lot of great ideas. But every time he reads other blogs, he feels like his work isn’t as good. “Why bother?” he thinks, deleting draft after draft. Comparing himself to others steals his confidence and stops him from even trying.
The Fix: Focus on your voice. No one else can tell your story the way you can, and that’s what makes your writing special.
How to Beat Writer’s Block
Now that you know what’s holding you back, here are some easy ways to get those creative juices flowing again:
-
Take a Break: Step away for a bit and do something unrelated, like taking a walk or organizing your desk. Sometimes, your best ideas come when you’re not trying so hard.
-
Start Anywhere: If the beginning feels too hard, skip ahead. Write a scene, paragraph, or even just a sentence that feels easier. Momentum matters more than order.
-
Freewrite: Set a timer for 10 minutes and write without stopping—don’t worry about grammar or structure. You might surprise yourself with what you come up with.
-
Create a Deadline: Give yourself a time limit to finish, even if it’s just a rough draft. Deadlines create focus.
-
Visualize Your Ideas: Use sticky notes, a diagram, or a notebook to map out your thoughts. Seeing it on paper can help you connect the dots.
-
Change Your Perspective: Pretend you’re the reader and go through your work like it’s someone else’s. This can help you spot where you’ve gone off track.
