Despite 10 years in the field, I suffer from writer’s block more often than I’d like to acknowledge.

When I was younger, I usually got the bug to write when I was feeling emotionally distraught—breakups, arguments with my mom, moments of self-doubt, and low self-esteem—you know, that kind of thing. It’s when I felt my worst that I wrote my best. Now that I’m older and kind of always feeling low, it’s a tool that’s become much less reliable.

The difference between then and now is that, while those hardships were challenging, they also had the biggest presence. Today, there is always something bigger at stake. If I’m not grieving the loss of my parents, I’m concerned about how I’m going to pay my bills. If I’m financially secure that week, I then start wondering why my cat suddenly has a decreased appetite. It’s the “If it’s not this thing, it’s another” reality. That’s just how adulthood is. The more responsibilities, the more that could go wrong.

But as a writer, both by trade and hobby, I’m not always in the mood to write about those things. Sure, I could share with you the stress that comes with being two months behind on a credit card bill. However, without offering concrete advice to avoid it, there isn’t much point in writing it. And I don’t have tips for becoming more financially stable (outside of don’t spend more than you earn). So what, then, do I write about? How do I get started when I’m all out of ideas? I guess in today’s blog, I’m answering just that.

10 Tips For Writing When You Have No Idea What to Write About

Here are my top 10 tips for overcoming writer’s block and how they’ve helped—and continue to help me.

1. Use ChatGPT to Develop a Prompt

Full disclaimer: that’s what I did here.

While I’m not a proponent for ChatGPT (I think it’s taking away opportunities for copywriters nationwide), it can be a useful tool in developing ideas when you’re stuck in overthinking mode. I usually have ChatGPT spit out 20-30 blog topic ideas until I find one that resonates with me.

2. Read Old Articles

Whether they’re published articles or digital journal entries that never made it past the screen, reading old work gets the creative juices flowing. It’s nice to reflect on my growth as a writer—and usually, it inspires me to write about the same topic with a fresh perspective.

3. Write How You’re Feeling

Sometimes, just jotting down how you’re feeling at the moment can be the seed for a full-fledged blog post or article down the line. Are you feeling confident? Excited? Happy? What’s prompting that mood? Are you feeling disconnected? Overwhelmed? Put it down in words.

This exercise will help you develop ideas and free up some mental bandwidth. Think of it as a vent session, but with yourself.

4. Write for the Sake of It, Not Because You Want to Publish It

One of the biggest mistakes I continue to make is writing with publication in mind. While that may work for other writers, it usually stifles my creativity. Remember, if you’re feeling blocked, putting parameters on it will only make the writing process worse. Write first. Edit later.

5. Writing a Letter to a Loved One

And yes—that can even include yourself! Especially when I’m feeling down, writing a letter to myself proves incredibly cathartic. This type of writing is deeply personal, so I don’t have to worry about it coming off as professional or carrying a certain tone. I get to be brutally honest with myself and engage vulnerability.

In many cases, this vulnerability gives me a few topic ideas—some of which have been published here, including Why Saturdays Are the Worst and Contemplating Pregnancy.

6. Writing as Someone Else

It’s going to sound weird, but sometimes, when I’m struggling to write as myself, assuming someone else’s identity helps break me out of my shell. For some reason, this has included writing about me but from the perspective of my future child.

Doing so helps me gain a new perspective on myself when I’m being a little too judgmental. This doesn’t have to be from the angle of your child, though. I’m interested in trying it from all sorts of perspectives, including relatives and friends.

7. Reflecting on a Favorite Trip

When all else fails, I’ll spend a few moments reflecting on an old trip my husband and I took. Sometimes, reflecting on the experience as a whole gives me insight into what I can write about next. For example, reflecting on my trip to Portland allowed me to craft three individual blogs about the Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland Saturday Market, and Pattie’s Homeplate Cafe Fountain and Gifts (may this bizarre eatery rest in Portland peace).

8. Write on Paper

Sometimes, a blinking cursor on a blank page is too intimidating. For when that happens, I switch to paper. Maybe I’m showing my age, but writing on paper forces me to write concisely. I get right to the heart of the matter. Then, when I get tired of writing by hand but still feel inspired, I switch over to the computer.

9. Change My Location

In the same vein as switching to paper, I also switch up where I choose to write. Your environment says a lot about how you’re able to focus—and I won’t lie, sometimes my office gets a little too dark and a little too cluttered to really keep me motivated.

It’s simple, but moving to the kitchen (that gets more natural light) rejuvenates me enough to at least write something. It doesn’t matter if I finish, either. It’s about overcoming the hump.

10. Take the Day

Maybe it’s bad advice, but if I really can’t write that day, I don’t force it. We all get burnt out now and again, and when it really feels impossible, I grant myself the grace of starting again tomorrow. In many cases, my disappointment in not being able to write the previous day inspires me to journal the following. The inspiration grows from there.

My therapist gave me great advice: Treat a bad mental health day like a sick day. If you’re sick with the flu, you’re not angry at yourself for not getting work done. You realize your body needs to rest. Well, the same is true for poor mental health. Even though writer’s block may not always be a derritive of poor mental health, it shows that your brain is not working as efficiently as it usually does. So take a sick day and give it a rest. I promise the inspiration to write will come back. You just may have burnt yourself out.

I’m still learning a lot about how I need to write. I used to do it daily, but then somewhere along the line, inspiration was lost. I’m trying to get it back. These tips usually help me, so I figured I’d share if they can help you, too.

Do you struggle with writer’s block? Do you have another method of overcoming it that is not mentioned here? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading!