Why does nobody talk about the 'ask me anything' trick for getting past writer's block?

I was stuck on a project outline for 3 days, so I just typed 'ask me anything about this topic' at the top and started answering my own questions. Has anyone else found a simple prompt that actually breaks a mental logjam?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_west1mo ago

Read somewhere that just writing "what am I trying to say?" at the top can work the same way. Forces you to get the core idea out first.

sarah5311mo ago

Yeah, that trick works because it forces you into a teaching mindset. You stop worrying about being perfect and just explain the thing like you would to a friend. I'll sometimes open a blank doc and just start typing "Okay, so what is this actually about?" and argue with myself until it makes sense. It cuts through all the overthinking.

olivia_harris191mo ago

Totally agree, it's like tricking your brain into being useful. I do something similar by recording a quick voice memo pretending to explain it to my mom. Hearing it out loud shows me where my own logic falls apart.