Many writers run into some form of writer’s block, but nonfiction and memoir writers have certain challenges to overcome writer’s block that fiction writers don’t face. Someone writing a novel can simply … make up what happens next. But memoir writers can feel constrained by what really happened, wanting to be true to reality and often trying to present information that doesn’t have a satisfying ending or clear conclusion. This can make writer’s block feel heavier and more legitimate than just “not feeling it.”

To be honest, I don’t believe in writer’s block as a mysterious condition that can strike at any time. I think there’s usually a reason for it, and if you can figure out the reason, you can come up with a solution.

You never know what you’re going to need when you’re writing. Maybe you could use some inspiration. Maybe you have a draft and don’t know what to do next. We’ve been there, and we have you covered.

Some causes of writer’s block

Writer’s block can be caused by many things. If you diagnose yours as coming from a lack of interest in a topic, not enough material for a manuscript, skills that aren’t developed enough to tackle a project, too little time to write, decide if you want to push through or set the project aside. It might be time to pivot to another project instead of pushing through on this one.

Sometimes when writing memoir, we pay a high emotional price and need some time to process the events we’re writing about and making meaning from. It’s okay to take this slow. Give yourself permission to set your memoir aside for a while until you feel ready to tackle it again. Be gentle with yourself. You want your memoir to express authenticity and raw honesty, and it can be hard to churn that out as quickly as a novel.

When writer’s block isn’t coming from legitimate emotional sources, I find that it usually comes from not knowing how to proceed in a project. You might know what comes next chronologically, but that might not be what should come next through a storytelling lens. Or maybe you can’t decide whether to include someone who’s a bit of a villain in your memoir, or how much historical detail to include, or whether your balance of showing versus telling is working. And unfortunately, when you’re writing memoir, you can’t make up that perfect ending that brings every aspect of your life to a satisfying conclusion.

How to overcome writer’s block

When you feel stuck on your memoir, go back to the heart of your message. What is your memoir about? Is it about breaking out of expectations to live an authentic life, discovering the meaning of life, trying out a different lifestyle for a period of time, overcoming specific challenges, sharing a lifetime of amusing anecdotes, documenting facts about your life for your children and grandchildren? Keeping your eye on the purpose of your memoir can help give direction when you’re not sure what comes next. Making decisions about what and how much to include in a memoir can be really tough, but your job as a memoirist is to answer those tough questions.

The tools novelists use to overcome writer’s block can also help memoir writers. When I’m spinning my wheels drafting, not quite knowing which direction to go, I often turn to an outline, even if I didn’t start with one. Outlining the major plot points of a novel can help writers see what needs to come next.

Sometimes talking it out can burst through writer’s block. Go out to dinner with a friend or partner, bring your problem to your critique group, jump on the phone with a writing buddy. Your friends might have great suggestions—but even if they don’t, something about talking through the issue often sparks your own ideas.

Some of the most common suggestions for how to overcome writer’s block include taking a break of some sort. Doing housework, going for a walk, sleeping on it, getting intense exercise, watching a TV show or movie with a similar setting or themes, reading something totally different, shaking up your location to a busy coffee shop or a quiet library, playing with a pet or kids. These brain breaks offer a chance for your subconscious to do some work—and our brains are amazing. These suggestions might sound silly, but they really do work.

One hack many writers practice is creating a ritual before they write. Maybe they make a certain kind of tea, put on a playlist, light a candle, free write on a physical pad with a pen, before they sit down to write. Their bodies associate those sensory inputs with working on a project, and when they smell that scented candle and hear the soundtrack of this project, they kick into writing mode.

As you progress as a writer, you’ll learn how to overcome writer’s block in your own ways. You’ll recognize what leads to it and how you can beat it—and you’ll start implementing some of these troubleshooting tips automatically.

Drop your tips for how to overcome writer’s block below!

If you ever find you need more help, feel free to reach out to me at Good Story Editing for feedback on your outline or draft. I firmly believe in the value of writing memoir, and I’d love to help you with yours!