How to Overcome Writer's Block for Marketing Pros

Ever spent hours just staring at a blank page, clueless about where to start? Have you tried crafting the perfect sentence, only to delete and rewrite it over and over again? Or maybe, instead of continuing your writing, you've given up and lost yourself in endless scrolling on social media?

If any of this sounds familiar, it's likely that you've come face-to-face with the pesky phenomenon known as writer's block.

Writer's block is when you hit a wall in your writing process. It's a creative slump that makes it tough to focus on the task at hand and churn out new ideas. Whether you are typing away on a computer screen or simply writing with a pen and paper, writer's block can strike at any time.

Writer's block is something many writers struggle with. From English majors in college to professional writers that write poetry for a living, almost all writers have experienced a creative block at some point in their lives. Many famous writers have even written about the hard time they have with writer's block.

What causes writer’s block

To truly overcome writer's block, we must first understand its causes.

Writer's block is usually the result of a variety of factors, and often, it's a blend of several. While some of these factors may be tied to specific circumstances, others can be psychological in nature.

The most common causes of writer's block include:

• Fear and anxiety: Sometimes, you may feel a critical voice disturbing you as you write. The fear of criticism, rejection, or failure can hinder your creative process, making it difficult to start or continue writing.
• Perfectionism: Striving for the "perfect" paper, novel, or project can lead to constant rewriting and second-guessing, making you feel stuck. In this case, what matters is getting your ideas down on the page.
• Lack of inspiration: Without fresh ideas or perspectives, writing can become a daunting task.
• Poor physical condition: If you're not well-rested, nourished, or if you're physically stressed, it can be difficult to find the right words.
• Mental fatigue: Mental exhaustion can make it challenging to think clearly or creatively. It's hard to start writing when your brain feels drained or foggy.
• Lack of motivation: Writing requires drive and enthusiasm. When motivation dips, it can feel like an uphill battle to write even a single sentence.
• External distractions: Most writers struggle to deal with external distractions. Noise, interruptions, or an unsuitable work environment can disrupt your focus and take away your inspiration.
• Pressure: Have you ever written under a time limit? Deadlines, high stakes, or the expectation to produce a certain quantity of work can all add to the stress of writing.

How does writer’s block affect marketers?

Writer's block can negatively impact marketers in many ways. When you feel stuck in your creative process, you will experience:

• Decreased productivity
• Reduced creativity
• Lower content quality
• Increased stress and burnout

8 techniques for overcoming writer’s block

To help you get back to your writing project and overcome writer's block, here’s what you can do.

Free writing

Ignore your self doubt and try writing without concern for grammar and structure. Just get your best ideas down on the page. This can help unblock your thoughts and stimulate creative thinking. You can even try some writing exercises to get you going.

Change your environment

Maybe your environment is the problem. A new environment can offer a fresh perspective and spark inspiration. Whether it's a coffee shop, park, or a different room, a change of scenery might just do the trick.

Eliminate distractions

Distractions can be detrimental when it comes to producing your best writing. Minimizing external disturbances allows you to focus better on your writing. This might mean turning off your phone, closing unnecessary browser tabs, or finding a quiet place to work.

Take regular breaks

A short break can make all the difference. Breaks give your brain a chance to rest and replenish. Short walks, meditation, or simply relaxing can refresh your mind and combat mental fatigue.

Talk it out

A second opinion can help you recalibrate. Discuss your ideas with someone. They can provide fresh insights, ask questions, and help you see your work with fresh eyes.

Write at your best time

Identify when you're most productive or creative—morning, afternoon, or night—and dedicate this time to writing. You can even come up with a writing schedule.

Set small, achievable goals

Don't overwhelm yourself. Instead of aiming to complete a large project all at once, break it down into manageable chunks. Meeting these smaller goals can boost your confidence and motivation.

Tools to beat writer’s block

Sometimes, you need a little extra help when overcoming writer's block. A writing tool can help when you are feeling stuck.

Writing applications

Writing applications can help you organize and structure your work, making the writing process more manageable. Give one of these tools a try:

• Scrivener: This writing application is built specifically for long projects. It offers a feature for creating outlines and keeping notes, allowing you to visually organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Ulysses: This is a distraction-free writing app that focuses on a clean and simple writing environment. It also offers a range of organizational features, allowing you to structure your ideas effectively.
• Microsoft Word and Google Docs: These widely used word processing tools offer commenting and reviewing features that can be helpful for receiving feedback or bouncing ideas around with others. Furthermore, Google Docs has the advantage of cloud storage, which allows you to switch devices or locations easily.

Distraction blockers

Eliminating distractions from your environment can make writing that much easier. See if any of these distraction blocking applications help you stay on track:

• Focus@Will: This app plays scientifically-optimized music to increase your focus and productivity. Listening to this type of music can help create a soothing environment that encourages creativity and keeps you engaged with your writing task. -Forest: Forest encourages you to stay focused on your tasks by planting virtual trees. The tree grows while you work on your task without using your phone, but if you exit the app to do something else, the tree dies. This creates a sense of accountability that can motivate you to stay focused on your writing.
• Cold Turkey: This tool lets you block websites, apps, or even your entire computer for a specified period. By eliminating online distractions, you're forced to focus solely on writing, which can help you break through the barrier of writer's block.

AI writing assistants

Lastly, as AI technology becomes better and better, AI writing tools can serve as a great starting point for your writing or help you polish your work to make it more effective and engaging.

• ChatGPT: ChatGPT can help generate ideas, provide writing prompts, or even draft content. If you're stuck, you can ask ChatGPT for suggestions or to help elaborate on a topic.
• Hemingway: The Hemingway app is an AI-powered writing tool that focuses on making your writing clear and engaging. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, adverbs, and other potential issues. When you're stuck, Hemingway can provide immediate feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Mailchimp’s Content Optimizer: Mailchimp's Content Optimizer is an AI tool created especially for marketers. It measures your email content against millions of high-achieving campaigns within your industry, providing data-driven recommendations to enhance your performance.

Find inspiration and unleash your creativity

Writing can be difficult from time to time, especially when you are wrestling with writer's block. However, there are many ways to combat this feeling of being stuck.

From simply taking a break with a long walk to eliminating all distractions and getting help from a friend, there are many ways to rekindle your creativity. Moreover, a variety of innovative writing tools are available today, aimed at making writing more fun and easy.

If you're looking for a bit more help with your writing or finding the right content to put your business on the map, Mailchimp's marketing platform presents an array of features designed to streamline the writing process, whether you’re writing an email or doing other forms of copywriting. Give our Content Studio a go, or try out our Subject Line Helper for your email marketing—it's all here to help you out.