Tony Tips Tuesdays™: Overcoming Writer’s Block

Every writer—no matter how seasoned or celebrated—has come face-to-face with the frustrating fog of writer’s block. It doesn’t care if you’ve written ten books or ten pages. It can strike when the ideas are flowing fast or when you're riding high after a creative breakthrough. And when it hits, it can feel like your gift has dried up. But here's the truth, writer to writer:

📌 Tony Tip: Writer’s block is not a permanent condition. It’s a moment to pause, pivot, and push through.

Today’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ is all about helping you conquer the silence, regain your momentum, and unlock the words that have been trapped inside you.

Let’s dive in.

1. Understand What Writer’s Block Really Is

Writer’s block isn’t laziness. It’s not proof that you’re not a “real writer.” In fact, the very struggle proves the opposite—you care deeply about getting it right.

Writer’s block can stem from:

• Fear of failure or judgment

  
  

• Perfectionism and self-editing mid-draft

  
  

• Burnout and exhaustion

  
  

• Lack of inspiration or clarity

  
  

• Emotional overwhelm or real-life stress

📌 Tony Tip: Identify the source of the block before you try to push through it. What you resist persists—what you confront, you can conquer.

2. Silence the Inner Critic

That voice telling you your writing isn’t good enough? That your story isn’t original? That you’ve run out of talent?

It’s lying.

The inner critic is often a manifestation of fear: fear of not being good enough, fear of rejection, fear of wasting time. But it doesn’t have to hold the pen.

🛑 Write messy.

🛑 Write ugly.

🛑 Write anyway.

📌 Tony Tip: Silence your inner critic by giving yourself permission to write a bad first draft. Great writing starts with brave writing.

3. Change Your Environment

Sometimes your mind is blocked because your surroundings have gone stale.

Try these simple shifts:

• Write in a different room

  
  

• Head to a coffee shop or library

  
  

• Use pen and paper instead of typing

  
  

• Sit outside under natural light

Changing your space can awaken new senses and shake loose trapped ideas.

📌 Tony Tip: Creativity feeds on novelty. A new setting can unlock a new sentence.

4. Write Through It—Don’t Wait It Out

Waiting for inspiration to return might keep you stuck longer. The real breakthrough often comes by writing through the block, even if what you're writing feels stiff or stale.

Set a timer for 15–30 minutes and commit to writing anything:

• A scene you’re excited about

  
  

• A letter to your character

  
  

• A journal entry from your protagonist’s POV

  
  

• A list of “What If” plot possibilities

📌 Tony Tip: Writer’s block loses its power when you pick up the pen and refuse to put it down.

5. Revisit Why You Started

Writer’s block can make you forget your "why."

• Why did this story matter to you?

  
  

• What message do you want to share?

  
  

• What emotion are you trying to capture?

  
  

• What version of yourself are you honoring through this work?

Read your old notes. Revisit your story’s purpose. Go back to the spark that ignited your first page.

📌 Tony Tip: When the writing gets hard, let your “why” write for you.

6. Fill Your Creative Well

If you're feeling empty, it may be time to refill. Creativity doesn’t always come from forcing output—it comes from intentional input.

Take a few days to:

• Read books outside your genre

  
  

• Watch a powerful film

  
  

• Listen to music that moves you

  
  

• View inspiring art or photography

  
  

• Walk in nature

  
  

• Pray, meditate, or reflect

📌 Tony Tip: Your creativity is a well. Fill it often, draw from it wisely.

7. Create a Routine to Signal ‘Writing Time’

Routines can rewire your brain to focus. By creating a routine around writing time, you train your mind to show up.

Try:

• Making tea or coffee before every session

  
  

• Lighting a candle

  
  

• Playing instrumental music

  
  

• Reading a poem aloud

  
  

• Saying a prayer for clarity and flow

📌 Tony Tip: Rituals create rhythm. And rhythm fuels the writer’s flow.

8. Use Prompts to Jumpstart Momentum

Sometimes, you need a little help to get started. Use a writing prompt to spark a scene, emotion, or moment.

Here are a few to try:

• “She stood at the edge, knowing what she had to do…”

  
  

• “They hadn’t spoken in years, but today changed everything.”

  
  

• “What if the truth was more dangerous than the lie?”

  
  

• “Describe your main character’s bedroom and what it says about them.”

📌 Tony Tip: Prompts unlock possibilities. One line could start a masterpiece.

9. Set Smaller, Achievable Goals

Writer’s block often gets worse when we pressure ourselves to write entire chapters or perfect scenes. Instead, focus on small wins:

• Write 100 words

  
  

• Complete one conversation

  
  

• Describe a single image in your head

  
  

• Name three character motivations

Momentum builds as you celebrate small victories.

📌 Tony Tip: Small steps lead to big breakthroughs. Keep climbing.

10. Talk to Another Writer

There’s nothing more powerful than community. If you’re stuck, chances are someone else has been exactly where you are.

Reach out to:

• A writer friend

  
  

• A mentor

  
  

• An online writing group

  
  

• A critique partner

Sometimes just talking about your struggle unlocks the solution.

📌 Tony Tip: You were never meant to write alone. Let community fuel your creativity.

11. Write Out of Order

Don’t force yourself to write linearly. If a scene later in the story is calling to you, write it now. If dialogue is clear but the setting is fuzzy, write the dialogue anyway.

Writing out of order keeps the fire alive.

📌 Tony Tip: Your story isn’t a prison. Set yourself free, one scene at a time.

12. Pray or Speak Life Over Your Gift

Sometimes, the block isn’t creative—it’s spiritual. When you're called to write something meaningful, expect resistance.

Speak affirmations over your gift:

• “God gave me this story.”

  
  

• “My words matter.”

  
  

• “This block will break.”

  
  

• “I am a vessel. Let the story flow through me.”

📌 Tony Tip: Prayer turns pressure into peace. Speak life and watch the words rise.

13. Let Go of the Myth of Perfection

One of the most dangerous lies we believe is this: “If it’s not perfect, it’s not worth writing.”

Perfection is the enemy of progress. Let your first draft be raw. Let it be flawed. Let it exist.

You can’t edit a blank page, but you can transform a messy one.

📌 Tony Tip: Done is better than perfect. Messy pages are proof of courage.

14. Take a Break—Without Guilt

Sometimes, you really do need to step away. But here’s the key: do it without shame.

Rest. Reflect. Regroup.

Just be sure to schedule your return. Take a few days, but commit to showing back up on a specific date and time.

📌 Tony Tip: Rest isn’t quitting. It’s preparation for your next surge of brilliance.

15. Rewrite the Block as a Plot Twist

Here’s a radical idea: what if the writer’s block isn’t a setback but a plot twist in your own journey?

What if this pause is:

• Revealing a better storyline?

  
  

• Forcing you to deepen your characters?

  
  

• Helping you learn how to show up through resistance?

📌 Tony Tip: You’re not stuck—you’re being sharpened. Let the block become your breakthrough.

✍🏾 Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This, Writer.

Writer’s block is not the end of your story. It’s just a page—one that you will turn, one that will teach you, one that will eventually be behind you.

You were born to create. You were chosen to write this story. And the words are still inside you, waiting to rise again.

So today, light the candle. Open the notebook. Start the timer. Write the next sentence. Then the next. And let the story flow.

🖊️ Want More Writing Wisdom?

If this post reignited your fire, I invite you to explore my original novel series, S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™. It’s faith-filled, action-packed, and full of unforgettable characters who fight through their own battles and blocks.

💥 Grab your autographed copies directly from me at:👉🏾 www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

📌 Tony Tip: The best way to beat writer’s block is to write what only you can write.