Five Strategies to Overcome Writer’s Block

Although I’ve written about how to get started on grant narrative, sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation for any part of your projects. Call it writer’s block, the summer doldrums or ennui… regardless, it boils down to having trouble concentrating on your task at hand. Here are some ways that I fight against this feeling.

Strategy #1: Set a timer

I use a timer quite frequently, especially if I find myself getting lost in a task (like: I look up and realize I’ve spent an hour formatting a budget). I’ll select a piece of the project I need to accomplish, set a timer on my phone or in my browser, and race against the clock to get it done. Some people swear by the Pomodoro technique, which involves structuring your entire day to create urgency.

Strategy #2: Make it a game

If you’re struggling with a narrative prompt, pretend you’re ChatGPT and write the prompt response as if you were an alien from Mars. Or actually plug the narrative prompt into ChatGPT and see what sort of outlandish characters you can think of (Snow White? Your neighbor’s dog?).

Say you’re in the midst of funder research and feel like you’re hitting a dead end with every prospect. It’s starting to feel like you might never find another grant prospect ever again. Try making a list of every corporation in your city – without opening your browser or a map.

The bottom line here is: take your problem and think creatively! Mary Poppins knew the trick here.

Strategy #3: Listen to what your body and brain need

If you’re like me, you get into the zone and forget to pay attention to your body’s basic signals. The problem you’re having focusing probably means your body just needs a break. Take a walk, do some yoga, stretch at your desk, etc. Oh, and when was the last time you had any water? Have you eaten today?

Also, I find that sometimes my brain is ready for certain types of projects at certain times. My “budget brain” is different from my “narrative writing brain,” which is still different from my “proofreading brain.” Often, my proofreading brain shows up first thing in the morning when I’m fresh, and I might need a good chunk of time in the afternoon for my narrative writing brain. Take a moment to think about what your brain is geared up for now. Is there a different project phase you could turn to instead of the one you’re fighting with?

Strategy #4: Change your working position or location

This ties to the tip above, but I find that sometimes I just need to change working positions. In my RV, I switch between working at my dinette, at a standing desk in the kitchen, or in the bedroom. Or maybe I hang outside if the pollen or mosquitos aren’t out to get me.

Strategy #5: Give in to daydreaming

If you’ve read Norton Juster’s beloved children’s book The Phantom Tollbooth, you might remember The Doldrums. The people who live in The Doldrums are boring folks who have ended up there because they didn’t pay attention. To leave, you have to daydream!

Some of the suggestions I’ve given above actually force you to daydream rather than getting hung up on the part of the project that’s making you bang your head against the wall.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I tried all of the above in a recent week when I was struggling to focus, and nothing really seemed to help–even caffeine! I find I often hit these blocks after I’ve gone through a really intense period of grant deadlines, and it’s probably just my body telling me to slow down a bit.

Do you have a tried and true formula for jumpstarting your work day when your work battery has died? I’d love to hear from you!

Cover photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash