The gap between how much we want to write and how much we actually write can make the Grand Canyon look like a crack in the sidewalk. One of the primary culprits is writer's block. Check out our in-depth guide to writer's block and keep reading for 7 tips to beat it!

Tip 1: Eliminate Distractions

Take a moment to list out all the distractions that are keeping you from writing, and then eliminate them. At the top of your list should be your phone. We're all carrying around hyper-advanced distraction machines filled with apps that are designed to make us look at them as much as possible. If you can, I'd suggest going beyond silencing your phone and turning off notifications. Instead, leave your phone in another room so you can't easily pick it up.

Tip 2: Set A Routine

It's easier to start writing if you signal to your brain and body that it's time to write. Try setting a regular writing time in whatever environment works for you. For some people writing in a public place like a coffee shop is unthinkable, but for others like me the energy and peer pressure are helpful. (I always imagine people are looking at my screen judging me if I'm on social media or YouTube.)

If you want to join a community of screenwriters who meet weekly to write, RSVP for the next Write With Us! It's free and everyone is invited.

Tip 3: Freewrite

If you're struggling to write your scenes or your outline, open up a fresh document and just write about whatever it is you're trying to do. No one is ever going to see this, so don't worry about formatting or spelling. The point of this exercise is to get your wheels spinning. One approach I use is to talk to myself on the page in the third person. I actually start with something like "Okay, so what are we doing here? I think we should..." (I'm serious. It looks weird, but it's very effective.)

Arc Studio's built-in notes app is really handy for this since it's easy to reference your freewriting side-by-side with your script.

Tip 4: Vomit Drafts

One cause of writer's block is a debilitating fear of writing something bad. This is especially potent in early drafts when we start writing a scene and it is bad. Seeing that you just wrote something bad can drain you of all your motivation to move forward. Why would you want to keep writing bad stuff?? This is where vomit drafts come in handy. The point of a vomit draft is to get something, anything down on paper without worrying if it's good or not. When you expect it to be bad, the reality of it being bad doesn't have the same horror. Then once you have something to work with you can revise the script until it's great.

Tip 5: Start Where You Want (Not the Beginning)

You don't have to start at the beginning of your script. Sometimes that can be the hardest part since you're picturing how many pages you're going to have to fill. Instead try writing whatever scene you're most excited about or have the best handle on. Once you have some writing on the page the other pages aren't as hard to fill in.

Tip 6: Take Regular, Scheduled Breaks

I've become a big believer in timed writing sprints. The task of writing doesn't seem as onerous when you know you have a break coming up. This helps your mind differentiate between writing time and resting time. The problems arise when the two are jumbled together. This is why we built sprint timers and word countdown sprints into Arc Studio:

Tip 7: Give Your Brain Something Else To Do

If you're stuck on a particular problem in your script, the best strategy can sometimes be to give your mind something else to focus on. The trick is to give it a task it can almost do on autopilot, like taking a shower, exercising, playing music, sketching, or building Legos. This can take the pressure off and let your brain work on the problem in the background.

A word of warning here , don't do anything that requires your full attention like watching a video or scrolling social media. (Social media is designed to keep your brain entertained by the feed! That's death to creativity.)