Can’t find the right words? Start with the wrong ones
There’s a specific kind of frustration that comes with not being able to write, especially when you need to.
Sometimes, it’s because the ideas just aren’t there. You sit down to write a blog, a caption, anything… and all you can hear is static rumbling in your head.
Sometimes, it’s the opposite. You’ve got too many thoughts flying around and no idea where to begin. Every sentence feels like it might be the wrong one, so you don’t write at all.
Different problems. Same result: nothing gets written, and the pressure only builds.
And when writing feels like a non-negotiable part of your business (or your creativity) it’s easy to slip into a cycle of stress and self-criticism.
“Why can’t I just get on with it?”, “Why is this taking so long?”, “What if it’s not good enough?”
Let’s pause that spiral for a second.
The most effective way to move past writer’s block? Stop aiming for the right words and just write something instead.
The problem with waiting for the perfect idea
There’s a strange kind of perfectionism that creeps in when we’re trying to write for our business and our brand. We fool ourselves into believing we have to be world-class writers, or grammatically perfect with every post we make.
Whether it’s a blog, a caption, or the start of a newsletter, we don’t just want to write something. We want to write something good. Strategic. Insightful. Clever. Engaging.
And when it doesn’t come out like that straight away, we freeze. We assume that means we’ve got nothing useful to say.
Here’s a little industry secret from a content writer… the good stuff rarely shows up first. You get to it by writing your way through the crap.
Writing is where the clarity happens. Not the result of having clarity first.
Build the muscle, not the masterpiece
I find it helps to think of writing like a muscle. The more you use it, the more resilient it becomes.
But like any workout, it needs a good warm up. And if you only write when you’re feeling inspired or totally ‘on it’ that muscle stays underused, and every attempt feels harder than it needs to.
The more often you write (even if it’s messy, unpolished, or full of false starts) the more natural it becomes to get your thoughts on the page.
Remember: Bad sentences are still progress.
A paragraph that goes nowhere is still a step closer to one that goes exactly to the place you wanted it to. You’re building rhythm and momentum, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
What to do when you’re stuck (or swimming in too many ideas)
Whether you’re drawing a blank or overwhelmed by 14 (thousand) half-formed ideas, the fix is the same: Stop trying to write the right thing. Just write something.
Here are a few ways to start:
Free-write for five minutes: No backspacing, no second-guessing. Just go with the first thing that comes to your head and let it go in whatever direction your instinct tells you.
Write the ‘wrong’ version: Ramble. Be sarcastic. Be dramatic. Start with what you don’t want to say and let it lead you somewhere unexpected.
List what you know: Don’t start with a polished introduction. Start with bullet points, rants, or half-formed thoughts.
Say it out loud: If you were explaining this to a friend, what would you say? Record it, transcribe it, then shape it into something useful.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s about creating a starting block.
The right words usually show up in the final draft
Have you ever heard that saying about lost items, “It’s always in the last place you look”?
Writing is very similar - the right words will always be in the last draft you write. The irony of writing is that you often have to get it wrong before you get it right.
You can spend hours planning the perfect line in your head - but it’s only once you’ve started writing (and rewriting, and editing) that it clicks into place.
So if you’re stuck, stop waiting for the polished version to arrive fully formed. Give yourself permission to be clumsy, inconsistent, even a little cringe. Because that’s where the good stuff usually starts.
Want a space to work through the mess with other creative minds?
Join my creative community - a place where messy drafts, half-baked ideas, and frustrated scribbles are all welcome. Because the goal isn’t to be perfect. It’s to keep showing up.
Learn more about the community and how to get involved here.
