Break Through Your Blocks with Will.Power

You’re cruising along, words flowing like high-octane on your latest work, when suddenly your keyboard falls silent. It feels as if your creative fuel tank has run dry. Your cursor blinks, waiting. But you can’t write a single word. What gives?

Writer’s block is a hot topic in our world. Some writers say it’s potent enough to stop them in their tracks for hours, days or even months. Others maintain that the term “writer’s block” is an excuse for actual laziness, procrastination or lack of motivation.

In our recent poll, 17% of respondents said they felt writer’s block is an excuse, while 83% said that it was a real threat to productivity, with many sharing their own wheel-spinning experiences.

Is writer’s block a real obstacle or just an excuse?

It's a real obstacle: 83%

It's an excuse: 17%

I’ll stick my neck out here, and suggest that “writer’s block” is a myth. There’s no rain cloud following you wherever you go, putting an imaginary damper on your words. The only one standing in your way is you.

I think a lot of debate stems from different definitions of “writer’s block.” Many people conceive of it as a total cessation of progress: a period in which we, in essence, stop being writers. And if you think of writing as only a verb, you might be right. (But that's a conversation for another time!) What I think most of us mean to acknowledge is that obstacles, or blocks, in your writing process are unavoidable.

The inevitability of challenges in your writing is precisely why we created Will.Power. Sometimes you just need a helping hand to get going again, or start in the first place.

Obstacles may seem insurmountable, but they’re not. The best way to overcome them is to diagnose the exact type of block you’re dealing with and identify a specific solution, so you can get on with it already!

Embrace a world of possibility by being observant and mindful of your surroundings.

Block #1: I have zero motivation.

Solution: Motivation is elusive. It can be there one day and gone the next. We all have our moments when we are just not feeling it. When too many of these days occur in a row, however, you don't have to give in.

By signing up for Will.Power, you tap into consistent motivation, for consistent writing. Personalized weekly emails check in with your progress, and provide specific recommendations to keep you on track. Not only will you feel energized to write today, but you'll feel excited about the future of your craft.

Block #2: I don’t know what to write about.

Solution: For most of us, the question of how to start a short story or novel is a tough one. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike. Dan Poynter, author of over 130 books, once said, “If you wait for inspiration to write you're not a writer, you're a waiter.” Instead of twiddling your thumbs, embrace a world of possibility by being observant and mindful of the world around you. Always jot down anything that interests you.

If you’re more inclined to stay indoors (no judgement!), you can also spark your imagination with our Story Spinner. Once you have a lightbulb moment, move forward with whichever story element intrigues you most, whether that's your characters, plot, conflict, theme or world.

Block #3: I have so many ideas, it’s overwhelming.

Solution: Use Will.Power to make a to-do list. When your mind feels pulled in a thousand different directions, it can be debilitating. Overcome this paralysis by organizing all your ideas in a prioritized list. Pursue the first one, cross it off, and move onto the next. One step at a time.

Look at the bright side: having a hundred ideas is a heck of a lot better than having none. Don't let any of them go to waste.

“The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
— Mark Twain

Block #4: I wrote myself into a corner.

Solution: Hey, it happens to the best of us. Even if you’re a planner, it’s difficult to plan out every detail of your story in advance so all the stars align throughout. Try retracing your steps, thinking about what led to this point.

Ever heard of the butterfly effect? Even a slight change can completely alter the path of your characters and breathe new life into your narrative. Your notes section of Will.Power is a great place to let your imagination run wild, so you can get unstuck.

Don’t underestimate your creativity either. Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another opens..." So be on the lookout for that open door, escape hatch, wormhole, or whatever else you can think of to open your story back up again.

Block #5: I’m unsure where to take my story next.

Solution: Has flying by the seat of your pants left you in the middle of nowhere? Read through and map out your existing ideas, identifying the inciting incident, rising action, climax and falling action, depending on how far you’ve gotten.

If you haven't filled out a Plot Hill template, which you can find in our Inspiration Engine, now is the time! Then start thinking about the next plot element, until you get to the resolution. If you’re really feeling stuck, throw in a surprise, such as a flash forward or a bombshell secret revealed, that shakes up the entire story and gets things moving again.

I haven’t had writer’s block. I think it’s because my process involves writing very badly.”
— Jennifer Egan

Block #6: I can’t stop worrying about what others will think.

Solution: As writers, it’s important to keep our audience in mind. However, thinking too much about your end result, your work being read, in the initial creative stages can be stifling, like clipping your wings. When you’re working on a first draft, write like no one is watching—and as if no one is going to read it.

Everyone has to start somewhere, so don’t judge your initial writing too harshly. A big part of overcoming writer’s block is pushing past perfectionism and saving all that self-critique for the revision phase.

It often helps to write such worries down, so you can clear your mind. Your Will.Power journal is there for you to vent about any part of your writing process, whether amazing or amazingly frustrating.

Next time you get stuck, use this guide to diagnose your problem and figure out a solution. Those pesky blocks won’t stand a chance!

TO DO SCRATCHPAD PRIVATE JOURNAL TRACKING Update Assessment

CLICK A TAB TO USE WILL.POWER

TO DO LIST:
Add tasks to your sortable list, then revel in checking them off.

SCRATCHPAD:
Cache your gems as they fall in this always accessible place.

PRIVATE JOURNAL:
Reflect on your process — good, bad and ugly — in your dated diary.

TRACKING:
Measure your progress with key writing metrics, automatically,

ADD DO

Show Dones

ADD ENTRY

Metric:

Words

Minutes

ADD

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Break Through Your Blocks with Will.Power

“Writer’s block is just another name for fear.” ― Jacob Nordby

Is writer’s block a real obstacle or just an excuse?

Embrace a world of possibility by being observant and mindful of your surroundings.

“The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” — Mark Twain

I haven’t had writer’s block. I think it’s because my process involves writing very badly.” — Jennifer Egan

“Writer’s block is just another name for fear.”
― Jacob Nordby

“The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
— Mark Twain

I haven’t had writer’s block. I think it’s because my process involves writing very badly.”
— Jennifer Egan