Becoming a Freelance Writer: Writer’s Block or a Bad Creative Day?

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In an alternate, perfect universe, becoming a freelance writer would automatically entitle you to a sense of wisdom and creativity every time you sat down in front of your laptop. The words and inspiration would simply flow from the universe into your fingers, with one beautiful paragraph of prose following another.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way.

To be sure, I’m hampered by writer’s block a lot less often than I used to be. In fact, I almost never have trouble finding words when I write. What I do struggle with, occasionally, is the motivation and mental power to sit down and write in the first place.

Over the years, I’ve developed a system for dealing with each of these. For me, the particular solution depends a lot on the problem.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

There is a lot of mysticism and psychology around writer’s block, but to me it essentially comes down to one thing – you’re ready to write, but either don’t know what to write or are afraid to get started. The answer, then, isn’t usually in finding inspiration but setting good habits.

Like I said, I almost never have writer’s block, but that’s because I follow a few guidelines in my professional life:

First, I write something almost every day, and usually during the same hours. When that time rolls around, my brain just naturally clicks into writing mode because it’s what I normally do.

I make a habit of outlining drafts and projects beforehand and setting up the appropriate files on my computer. That way, every project is already “started” when I sit down to write. All I have to do is keep going, which is much easier than beginning with a blank page.

And finally, when I feel stuck I move on to something different (like a different project, or a different part of the project I’m working on). I just don’t allow myself to stare at the screen without doing anything for very long. That action inspires other action, and sooner or later I know what I need to write in the unfilled space.

Dealing with a Bad Creative Day

Having said that I don’t experience writer’s block much anymore, I want to be careful to point out that there are days when I just don’t feel up to it – even after all these years, I’m a human and not a machine. Even though I love my job, I get sick of writing every once in a while (as anyone would), and find my motivation waning.

This is an entirely different set of problems. I could write, but I just don’t want to. It might be because I didn’t get enough sleep, that I’m excited to do something else (like play a video game or go outside), or that I’m burnt out from working on something difficult.

When I feel like I just don’t have anything in the tank, I usually take some combination of the following steps:

First, I figure out whether there’s anything I have to write for the day. If there’s something that’s on deadline, or close, I’ll suck it up and finish it because finding a little motivation now is a lot easier than finding new clients later.

Sometimes, I’ll try writing something even though I don’t feel like it. Probably once or twice a month I wake up and feel like I don’t have anything creatively. But, I sit down at my desk and start writing because it’s time, and before I know it I’ve kicked out ten really good pages. This goes back to habits, but the point is to remember that the way you feel now isn’t necessarily the way you’ll feel a few minutes from now. Sometimes, you really can “write through it.”

I’ll try switching projects. Just because I can’t seem to get anything going on one project doesn’t mean I can’t finish another. It’s better to knock out a blog post, or book chapter, than it is nothing at all, and moving on to a new source of inspiration can be the best course of action sometimes.

Once in a while I just give up and take a mental health day. One of the things I love most about freelancing is having the ability to be my own boss. So, if I don’t feel up to working and don’t absolutely have to, sometimes I just take the day off to do something else. Often, a small but unexpected break can be the perfect antidote for a lull in energy. And besides, what’s the point of being self-employed if you can’t give yourself a mini vacation now and then?

If you become a professional writer, I guarantee you’ll struggle with both of these issues at least occasionally. It’s what you do about them that will determine your mood and professional success, though, so feel free to follow my tips to help you get through a tough day. Or, if you come up with something different or better, be sure to share your ideas with the rest of us!

Check out my ebook: Should You Become a Freelance Writer? Available on Amazon Now!