It’s one of the many obstacles that keep us from writing, but how do you slay the beast? Here are a few knockout ways to take writer’s block down a notch and take control of your writing.

It’s our bane. It’s our nemesis. It’s a stopper of words and a crusher of dreams. It’s one of the many obstacles that keeps us from writing, and it feeds on discouragement and distraction. No, it’s not a comic book supervillain. It’s writer’s block.

It is an ever-present sneak, lurking in every distraction and responsibility. It sucks out motivation, stomps on inspiration, and does everything it can to keep us from writing. So how do we defeat writer’s block? It’s simple, but not easy.

You have to find your chisel.

A chisel is a set of personal tools you can use to knock down or wear down writer’s block to your advantage. Everyone’s chisel is different, but there are a few pitfalls we need to smash like the Hulk before we can be successful in our search. Every writer has their archnemesis. Do you find yourself battling any of the following?

I can’t write without inspiration!

Most writers live for this hyper-focused, clarity-filled state of mind when the words fly from our brain and splat onto the page in near-perfect form. Because it’s an emotional high, inspiration is amazing and can help us crank out the written word at lightning speed.

But it isn’t reliable.

If you’ve been writing for any length of time, you know this. Writer’s block can often wedge itself into a lack of inspiration, and then months—or years—can go by before you find a chisel to fight it. This happened to me when I decided to write my first novel. I waited for inspiration to “strike” and only wrote six chapters of a first draft in seven years. The suit of inspiration isn’t what makes you a hero—I mean, writer. Don’t allow it to be your only defense against writer’s block.

Someone criticized my work. I must be a terrible writer.

Every artist experiences the crushing hammer of self-doubt. Every beta reader who turns up their nose at something in our story, every bad review, can make us forget the reasons we started writing in the first place. No writer appeals to one hundred percent of their readers. Focus on writing what you want to say, and you will be more worthy than ever to lift your chisel and defeat writer’s block.

I have no time to write now—maybe tomorrow.

When I was a kid, in my family “maybe tomorrow” meant “never.” Pushing our writing aside for something more urgent is like Superman hugging kryptonite. The longer you do it, the worse off you will be. Commit to your craft, and you will have a far better chance of finding your chisel.

1.  Identify the Causes of Your Writer’s Block.

Writer’s block most often attacks me when I overload my schedule, fail to make time to write, or when I put to pen ideas for stories that are beyond my current skill level as a writer.

Pay attention to what makes your ideas stop flowing. Do you have trouble writing compelling dialogue? Do you get stuck when trying to add description that doesn’t disrupt the flow of your narrative? Determine what drives your story, and find what drives you.

Examine how often you write. The best way to defeat writer’s block is to write regularly. If you’re a busy person (who isn’t?), set a reasonable, measurable goal—like fifty to three hundred words per day or four hours per week.

Acknowledge your skill level. If you are a new writer, practice first with simple plotlines and casts of characters to avoid creating a story whose complexity digs you into the hole of writer’s block. Once you are confident with the basics, sprinkle in more elements. Find another element you can add to your story to deepen it and flesh it out.

2.  Discover What Fixes Your Writer’s Block.

Once you identify the cracks where writer’s block can seep into your work, develop a plan to fill in those cracks. It’s a two-step process: research, then write.

Research

In the research stage, you are generating ideas for tools to use against writer’s block. You’ve already identified your trouble spots, so now is the time to find solutions. Research is often a necessary component of overcoming writer’s block. But make sure you don’t spiral into a research black hole. There is only so much googling you can do before it loses its benefits (or worse, becomes a distraction). Gather only what information you need, and then move on to the next step.

If it is difficult writing meaningful dialogue, read up on how to use it effectively. If you are struggling with portraying a character’s situation, find a way to relate to them emotionally, whether that means traveling or (yikes!) talking to people who have had similar experiences. If there is something wrong with your main character’s journey, research how to create a solid character arc. Make a list of the things you want to try.

If you are still at a loss, get a second opinion from your writing partner or group. A team of writers can be more effective against the evil of writer’s block. Pick some of their suggestions, and choose a few to begin.

Write

My approach to writing is similar to my approach to life: Do it until you feel like doing it, and then do it some more. Once you have chosen two or three tools from your research, practice writing! If something isn’t working, mark it off your list and pick up a different one. It was using this process that I discovered my most useful chisel component. With almost everything I’ve ever written, this tool has been the core of my strategy to overcoming writer’s block.

Write “around” your block. Skip ahead a few chapters to that scene you are dying to write. Go back and find a plot hole in what you’ve already written, and add another pivotal scene. Take a step away from the plot entirely, and write a scene with your main character (or a supporting character) in another time or place. You may not use all of this material, but it will help you get to know your story better and help you work out your block.

Some tools will work for you, and others won’t. Don’t give up. Keep trying different things until you have a good kit. You will learn and grow in your writing as you build your chisel.

3.  Sharpen Your Chisel

Remember that the more you write, the better a writer you will become. Once you’ve identified your problems and found your tools, you have built your chisel! But with every new project and every new block, your chisel gets duller.

When I really get stuck, and nothing will help, I pull out my chisel sharpener. I set a goal to write something fun for at least ten minutes every day until a set date. Setting aside time to write what I like gives me some oomph to tackle what I don’t, and this often weakens my writer’s block enough to shake loose. Your chisel sharpener may look different. You may need to trade out several components to keep your chisel fresh and your mind motivated. Do what works, and always be vigilant!

Every good writer needs to recalibrate their technique as they grow in their skill and their career. Repeat these steps each time you are beaten down by writer’s block. Equipped with your chisel, writer’s block won’t stand a chance.