How to Overcome Writer’s Block as a Freelance Writer
If you’ve been writing for any length of time then you’re likely familiar with the dreaded condition known as writer’s block.
You know how it goes. You have an amazing idea for a blog post or story, but when you sit down to write, absolutely nothing happens. You end up finding yourself staring at a blank Google doc for two hours.
If you write as a hobby then indulging in an occasional bout of writer’s block isn’t really a big deal. But as a freelance writer, you have ZERO time for writer’s block.
Because let’s face it, if you don’t write, you’re not going to get paid. And sadly, clients will not accept writer’s block as a good excuse for missing deadlines.
Fortunately, this article is going to outline some strategies to help you kick writer’s block to the curb. That way, you can get into a good writing flow and keep the client payments coming as well.
How to Overcome Writer’s Block
I’ve been writing professionally for over three and a half years and in that time, I’ve developed some strategies that work well for me. Here are six ways you can overcome writer’s block:
1. Don’t check your email until noon
I have noticed there is a direct correlation between how productive I am and how early in the day I check my email.
And I’ve noticed that every single time I check my email before I start working, I’m much less productive.
That’s why my rule is to never check my email before noon during a work week.
I write my two hardest pieces first thing in the morning, and then I’ll check and respond to emails when I take a break to eat lunch.
2. Stick to a writing routine
I have found that everything becomes easier once you turn it into a routine, including writing. For instance, if you write from 9 AM to 12 PM every single day, it’s going to become a habit and you’ll just do it without thinking about it.
Whereas if you work more sporadically and can never stick to any kind of schedule, writing will likely be more of a struggle for you. But I get that sticking to a routine can be hard to do if you have a full-time job or little kids.
The most important thing is to pick a writing routine that is realistic and that you can stick with consistently. Don’t tell yourself that you’ll write every day from 10 AM to 4 PM if that’s not realistic for your goals or lifestyle.
3. Stop being a perfectionist
Look, I get it -- you’re an artist. But you’re also a freelance writer who’s working on a deadline and has bills to pay. So you just don’t have room for perfectionism when it comes to your writing.
I’ve noticed that most new writers are terrified that a client will dislike their writing. So they spend an inordinate amount of time on each article and then wonder why they’re always stressed and barely making any money.
Here’s the truth -- eventually, you will have a client who dislikes your writing. And it’s not a reflection of your writing, it’s about that client and their individual preferences.
Get your client work to the point where you know you’ve done your best, turn it in, and move on to the next assignment.
4. Get rid of the clutter in your workspace
Hopefully, you have an office you can work in, or at least a designated work area in your home. And my advice is to keep that area as clean and clutter-free as possible.
If you’re surrounded by clutter, it’s going to make it much harder for you to focus during the workday. And this includes more than just your physical surroundings -- don’t let yourself turn into that person who has 15,000 unread emails!
5. Don’t neglect your health
When I first started freelancing in 2016, I did not prioritize my health. I sat at my desk eight hours a day, never worked out, and ate way too much sugar and processed foods.
At the time, I really got into listening to podcasts. And I remember listening to one episode in particular where the host said that you’ll never be as successful as you want to be if you neglect your health.
That hit home big time! Over the years, I’ve increasingly begun to prioritize sleep, healthy eating habits, exercise, and just taking time to unplug. And during that time, my income has skyrocketed and I actually work fewer hours.
6. Put a little pressure on yourself
If you struggle with writer’s block pretty frequently, then you may benefit from a little added external pressure.
I’ll give you a little example of what I mean by this.
In 2017, I worked with a marketing agency whose primary client base was eye doctors.
And on the first of every month, I would send them 24 new blog posts about topics related to eye care.
Glaucoma. Macular degeneration. Eye care for children. Anything you can imagine an ophthalmologist might blog about, I’ve written about it.
The last week of the month, I would compile a list of topics and start writing those blog posts so they would be ready come the 1st. The sheer size of the job was overwhelming in itself, but the hardest part was always getting started and figuring out what to write about.
But you know what? I never once struggled with writer’s block during the year I wrote for that client. And it’s because I knew that I had 24 articles that my client was expecting in seven days!
I’ve noticed that many new writers are worried about whether or not they’ll be able to handle all of their assignments. For that reason, they choose to take on less work so they’ll know they have time to finish all of it.
In my opinion, that’s the wrong strategy. Whether you have two assignments or 10, your brain is going to figure out a way to get all of that work done.
So I recommend pushing yourself and taking on a little more work than you’re comfortable with. It may make you feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s going to help you figure out how to overcome writer’s block and become a more efficient writer.
The Bottom Line
And finally, I just want to say that I believe writer’s block is ultimately a choice. Of course there are going to be days when the writing comes easier than others. But decide right now that you’re going to refuse to indulge in writer’s block or other time wasting behaviors.
If you need additional tips about freelance writing and how to get started, you definitely need to download the Freelance Writer’s Starter Guide. This completely free 35-page guide will show you how to begin finding more clients and building your freelance writing business.