You ever sit down to write and suddenly forget how to think?

Like, all day, your brain’s been running at a hundred miles an hour—ideas popping up when you’re in the shower, when you’re driving, when you’re trying to fall asleep.

But the second you actually sit down to put words on the page?

Nothing.

Just static.

Like your mind pulled the emergency brake the moment you needed it to cooperate.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Starting is the hardest part. Not just in writing, but in everything.

And it’s not because we don’t have ideas. It’s because we’re carrying too much noise.

Expectations. Doubt. Perfectionism.

So let’s talk about how to push past it.

Stop Trying to “Clear Your Mind”

The biggest mistake people make?

Thinking they need a clear mind before they can write.

You don’t.

You need a focused mind. And those are two very different things.

A clear mind is silent. Empty. Peaceful.

That’s great for meditation. Not so much for writing.

Writing needs something to work with. A mess of thoughts, feelings, half-formed ideas. The good, the bad, the chaotic.

The goal isn’t to erase the noise—it’s to sift through it. Find the thread worth pulling. Follow it.

So instead of trying to “quiet” your thoughts, do this instead:

Write through the chaos.

Messy. Unfiltered. Just get the words out.

Because clarity doesn’t come before writing—it comes from writing.

Give Yourself Permission to Suck (At First)

You know what kills creativity faster than anything?

Perfectionism.

That voice in your head that says:

• This isn’t good enough.
• No one will care about this.
• You’re wasting your time.

That voice is a liar. And if you listen to it, you’ll never get past the first sentence.

The truth is, your first 10–15 minutes of writing will probably suck.

That’s normal.

It’s like warming up before a workout. The first few reps feel awkward, slow, heavy. Then, somewhere in the middle, you find your rhythm.

Writing is the same.

The first few sentences will feel clunky. Your ideas won’t flow. You’ll question everything.

Push through it.

The good stuff comes after you get the bad stuff out of the way.

Start Ugly, Fix It Later

I used to stare at a blank screen for way too long, waiting for the perfect way to start.

Spoiler: That never works.

Perfectionism is just procrastination in a fancy outfit.

Now?

I start ugly.

I don’t care if my first sentence is garbage. I don’t care if it doesn’t make sense. I just start.

Something. Anything.

Because once you have something on the page, you can work with it. You can reshape it. Rewrite it. Find the real beginning.

But if you sit there waiting for perfection before you even start?

You’ll never start at all.

Trick Your Brain Into Starting

Sometimes, the hardest part is just convincing yourself to sit down and begin.

Here are a few ways I trick myself into writing when I don’t feel like it:

The Two-Minute Rule: Tell yourself you’ll write for two minutes. That’s it. Just two. No pressure. Most of the time, once you start, you’ll keep going.

Talk It Out: If typing feels impossible, speak your thoughts out loud and record them. Then transcribe.

Write Like Nobody’s Watching: Pretend no one will ever read what you’re writing. That takes off the pressure and helps you be real.

Set a Timer: Give yourself 10 minutes to write as much as you can. No editing. No backspacing. Just get the words out.

Writing is momentum-based. The hardest part is getting the ball rolling. But once it’s moving? It’s a lot easier to keep going.

Find Your Writing Ritual

Some people need silence. Some need music. Some need coffee, a certain chair, a specific time of day.

Your brain responds to patterns. If you create a ritual around writing, your brain starts recognizing: Oh, it’s time to do this thing now.

For me, my writing ritual looks something like this:

• I go to the same spot—usually the old junkyard or my room.
• I put on a playlist that’s just instrumental music or rain sounds.
• I free-write absolute nonsense for a few minutes just to get words flowing.
• Then, I dive into whatever I actually want to write.

That routine tells my brain: It’s time to focus.

Find what works for you. Experiment.

And once you find it? Stick to it.

Final Thoughts: Just Start. Even If It Sucks.

At the end of the day, writing isn’t about having the perfect setup or waiting for inspiration to strike.

It’s about showing up.

Even when it’s messy.
Even when you don’t feel like it.
Even when the first 15 minutes are just you rambling nonsense.

Because eventually, the words come.

But only if you start.

So stop overthinking it. Stop waiting for the perfect moment.

Just start.

You’ll be surprised what comes out.

—J