Struggling to get words on the page? You’re not alone – writer’s block affects many writers at some point in their writing journey.

The most important thing is to not give up, not to wallow and definitely not to keep avoiding the page. Take some form of action and keep moving forward. Here are ten tips to help you push past writer’s block and get those words flowing again.

Establish a writing habit

Try to sit down to write every day, even if it’s just for ten minutes. Setting aside a specific time is helpful to establishing your routine, though it may not be feasible for everyone. The most important thing is maintaining a daily writing practice, as this will exercise your writing muscle and make it easier to get started whenever you sit down to write. You may not be working on your main project every day – instead you might be using prompts or freewriting as detailed in later steps. Whatever it is, keep the momentum going, and try not to judge yourself.

Change your scenery

Sometimes a change of scene can work wonders in reinvigorating your creativity. Mix things up by writing in a café, or if this isn’t doable then a different room or area of your home. Many writers also find indulging in other art forms to be beneficial for finding inspiration. Take yourself on an artist’s date by going to an art exhibition, a play or a gig. Other forms of creative work can give us the creative inspiration needed to ignite our own projects.

Use prompts

Writing prompts can be useful in helping you to get started. Think of them as a warm-up exercise. They can also help you to stop overthinking and unlock your creativity by letting go of perfectionism. If you’ve stalled with your main project, a quick writing prompt about something totally unrelated can free you up to just write again.

Create a ritual

Writing rituals can be useful to signal to your brain that it’s time to focus and write. Create your own unique ritual – it might include setting up a comfortable writing space, making a cup of your favourite tea, lighting a candle or using a specific notebook and pen. Whatever it is, make it inviting – a ‘writing shrine’ that you look forward to spending time in.

Freewrite without judgment

Sit at your computer, or grab a pen and paper, and just write. Don’t overthink – write down anything that comes into your head. Allow yourself to make free associations and keep going without judgment. Maybe you’ll do this exercise in the morning like Morning Pages (a concept from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way), or at any time of the day when you feel stuck. While the goal isn’t to produce usable material, you might find that you get some kernels or sparks of inspiration out of your pages. But that’s not the aim – the aim is to overcome the fear of the blank page and free yourself from the perfectionism that often causes writer’s block.

Try the Pomodoro technique

If you’re really struggling to focus, the Pomodoro technique or similar can be useful. Set a timer for 25 minutes and write for that time. Don’t allow yourself to do anything else – no phone or social media, just write. When the timer goes off, take a short break of five minutes, then repeat. You might like to combine this with the freewriting suggested in the previous tip. This technique can be useful in helping to get yourself into a rhythm by breaking down time into manageable chunks. You could use one of the many available apps to do this exercise, or simply a timer.

Read for inspiration

If you really can’t write, read. Read books that you want to read, rather than those you think you should. You might find it helpful to copy out passages that you like into your notebook. Deconstruct them: what works, and what doesn’t work? Are there similar approaches you might use in your own work? And even if you’re not actively analyzing the elements of craft in these books, you’ll still absorb them through the very act of reading, which will help when you return to your own work.

Go for a walk

Many writers swear by the creative benefits of taking a walk. Make sure to leave any distractions at home and walk without earphones, leaving you alone with your thoughts. The very act of walking can help you to clear your mind, allow it to wander and untangle aspects of your story. Bring a small notebook with you so you can write down anything that might come to mind, if you like.

Skip to another section

If you’ve hit a wall with a particular section of your story, try working on another part instead – a scene that excites you, preferably. You can go back and finish the previous section later, and in the meantime it’ll percolate in the back of your mind while you carry on with the rest of the story. When you do come back to it, you may have the perspective needed to overcome whatever was blocking you before.

Eliminate distractions

Distractions are often listed as one of the biggest obstacles to creativity. Removing them can help you to find the space needed for your creativity to flourish. Most often this means the internet. Try using a website blocker, putting your phone on airplane mode, or even turning off the WiFi entirely during your writing time. And if the lure is just too much for you, use pen and paper and put your devices in another room.