Overcoming Writer's Block
Creativity Is Making Small Choices
When struggling to work through a creative dilemma, it's best to think of your work in small pieces that create a larger whole. Author Perttu Pölönen explains how creativity is a collection of small choices from an abundance of options.
My Writer Success Story Began With Getting Over Myself
Debut author Christina Wyman discusses how getting out of her own way led to her authorial success.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Researching Too Much
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake is researching too much.
Productive Procrastination for Writers
Procrastination is a plague for every writer ... but can you make it work for you? Here, New York Times and international bestselling author Lisa Unger explains.
5 Ways Hiking Made Me a Better Freelance Writer
Freelance writing sometimes feels like embarking on a grueling mountain hike in scorching weather when you haven’t exercised in years and have a wonky left knee and lower back issues. Let Alison Hill give you tips for success.
5 Tips to Work Through Procrastination
Have you caught yourself doing anything other than sitting down to write? Procrastination and writer's block happen to every writer. Let author Clare Whitfield give you tips on how to overcome and get back to writing.
Writing for the Time Impoverished: How to Structure Your Writing to Make Sure You Finish Your Novel
What separates professional writers from amateurs? Author Matthew Harffy has the answer, and tips for ensuring that you make your publication dreams a reality.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Allowing Self-Doubt to Guide You
In this article, WD editor Moriah Richard explains how writers succumb to doubt and what steps you can take to avoid self-sabotage.
Flat on My Back and Writing in My Head: On Writing My Book After a Stroke (and Believing I Was Sherlock Holmes)
Author Timothy Miller explains how his novel came together as he was recovering from a major medical incident—and how dedication to a story can make miracles happen.
The Writer, The Inner Critic, & The Slacker
Author and writing professor Alexander Weinstein explains the three parts of a writer's psyche, how they can work against the writer, and how to utilize them for success.
On Writing to Give Grief Meaning and Write Out of Challenging Situations
Author Lily Dulan explains why writers have to be willing to go to difficult places inside themselves for their writing to make a positive impact on ourselves, others, and the world.
Vintage WD: What Is Literary Talent?
This 1925 Writer's Digest article considers the necessity for a love of the craft of writing as a factor in whether writers are successful.
The Cold Open: Facing the Blank Page
It’s any writer’s greatest fear: Facing the blank page with no ideas to get started. William Kenower shares how to get into the right mindset to begin writing and find your muse.
25 Ways to Start a Story
Because getting started is sometimes the hardest part of any project, here are 25 ways to start a story that writers can use to prompt their next tale.
10 Scientifically Proven Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
Beat writer's block with these 10 tips, supported by scientific studies, from Estelle Erasmus's article from the September 2019 issue of Writer's Digest.
Re-Thinking Writer's Block
Offering a different perspective on Writer's Block, Will Dowd suggests re-thinking it as an illness. Can writers become stronger after overcoming it?
The Secret to Overcoming Writer’s Block: Meditation
How does meditation help overcome writers' block? A writer and meditation teacher explores the science behind it all.
Embracing the Blank Page: Why All Writing is an Act of Courage
From writing sketch comedy to novels to telling true stories from his own life, William Kenower has found that all writing takes courage. Learn more about how to gather the courage to turn nothing into something.
9 Weird Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
To beat writer's block, a typical problem among writers, let’s tackle it with atypical solutions. Nine of them, because, well, nine is an atypical number.
Writing Exercise: Judge a Book By its Cover
Everyone knows the old adage that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. However, imagining what a book might be about based on what you see on the cover can be a useful writing exercise.
The Science of Story Ideas: How to Awaken Your Brain's Creative Superpowers
The brain is not only designed to think, it loves to think—and here are seven writing superpowers you already have under your thinking cap.
How the Grinch Beat Writer's Block: 4 Lessons from Dr. Seuss' Classic Christmas Story
Whether December is your favorite month or you’re a Grinch about it, looking back at holiday classics can give you some new ideas about your own story. Here are four inspiring story ideas that writers can take from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
10 Creative Ways to Beat Writer's Block Fast
These 10 exercises will help you take a fresh look at your work-in-progress and beat writer's block in no time by giving you a mental break.
Immersive Idea Generation: Going on a Story Field Trip
NaNoWriMo's Grant Faulkner shares a great technique for adding a ring of authenticity to your story—an imaginative scavenger hunt to gather details, sensory information, and character insights.