Every writer has been there—staring at a blinking cursor on a page, straining to find the words. Sometimes writing feels like a breeze, as if you’re simply riding the wave of your thoughts, and words pour out onto the page almost effortlessly. But other times, it seems like no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to find the words.

Here are some ideas to help inspire and get yourself out of that writing slump.

Turn off your inner perfectionist

It can be tempting to try to edit yourself as you write, but any time you’re writing something new, it’s important to just get your thoughts and ideas down on paper first. You can always go back and find that perfect word later; don’t get stuck on it. It’s not going to be perfect the first time around, and that’s okay! First drafts are always messy. Give yourself grace. Don’t compare yourself to others and especially not to the writing of published authors whose work has gone through multiple rounds of editing and polishing.

Rediscover your inspiration

Go back and read your first chapter or synopsis. What made you excited to write your current project in the first place? Much like a hook might work for a reader, sometimes you can hook yourself back into your own idea and rediscover what inspired you to write.

Read

There’s nothing quite like reading to help exercise your imagination. Even if what you read has nothing to do with your current writing project, books take us to faraway places, different perspectives, and varied experiences that we might not otherwise encounter. And as a writer, reading can also help you grow your skills.

Seek community

Talk out your ideas and struggles with a writing friend. Brainstorming with others can do wonders to help flesh out ideas and discover new inspiration. You might also seek out interviews with your favorite authors or listen to podcasts about writing and books. Hearing about how other writers got through their own writing struggles, or listening to someone talk about their own passion can sometimes help serve as a reminder about how fun it is to write. (NaNoWriMo even has Pep Talks on their website.)

Press pause

Sometimes you just need a breather. Try taking a break from your current project and write something new, even if it is completely different from your current project or things you normally write. Write a short story or poem. Look up writing prompts. Try freewriting—set a timer and just keep writing until it goes off. Don’t worry about form or style or even grammar; just write.

Keep a writing journal

As you go through your day, write down ideas that come to you. This can be a physical notebook or even the notes app on your phone. No matter how random your ideas may seem at the time, it can be helpful to go back and look through them, or even use them as writing prompts later on. You never know what might help inspiration strike.

You might also use a writing journal to capture scenes and feelings from your everyday life. Did something happen that made you excited, upset, anxious, moved…? Write it out. Even if you don’t use this content later, it might help you find inspiration in unexpected ways, as well as help maintain a writing habit. Not everything we write needs to become published content. Sometimes it’s just for yourself.

Take a break

If you really feel in a rut, don’t be afraid to take a break from writing entirely and have a mental health day. Go on a walk. Do something to care for yourself. Or even work on other things that might be on your to do list. It’s okay to just not write for a while, and hopefully afterwards, you can come back with a renewed sense of inspiration and vigor.