Ever sit down to write something, and suddenly your mind is as blank as the page before you?

What happened to all those great ideas you had while walking around, or doing something else the other day?

I don’t know why it happens, but it happens to me much too often.

Here are three quick tips to get you started.

1. Capture stream of consciousness.

My take on free writing is to get up, and go start doing something else. Watch the mental chatter and thoughts come rushing back in. When your mind is flowing again, even if it has nothing to do with your original topic, sit down, and start writing whatever you’re thinking. You’ll notice that once you get a “hook” into your thoughts, and words are flowing onto the page again, it is a lot easier to steer them than staring at a blank page.

2. Make a small habit of writing.

Sometimes, the pressure of the blank page comes from being something you do everyone once in a while. The longer the interval, the more unfamiliar it feels. And the more you feel pressure to make it something special. If you make a tiny habit out of writing, say for 5 minutes each day, just to jot down whatever is on your mind, it will be easier for this to be a “starter” moment for you when you actually need to write for a bit longer. Additionally, there will be less pressure to make your writing something special on the first go. It almost never is, and that is perfectly fine! (That’s why editing is a separate process).

3. Try a different medium.

With the advent of voice activated and voice recognition software, it is easier than ever before to just talk out your thoughts. If the blank page proves daunting, pretend (or don’t pretend) you are having a conversation with a friend. Perhaps there may even be an AI-powered chatbot out there to help you prompt your thoughts and writing process. Either way, a conversation and the spoken word may be the best and most natural way to get your thoughts flowing on paper.