Overcoming writer’s block requires addressing underlying fears and shifting your mindset. But real progress comes from taking deliberate actions that turn your intentions into reality.
That’s where the 3x3 strategy comes in — 3 actions per week for 3 months. This approach focuses on small, consistent steps that build momentum over time without overwhelming you.
To illustrate how this works, let me share the story of one of my clients.
Grace wanted to write a novel.
She was struggling to go from having no writing routine — and no plan — to writing every day.
She’d set an intention, choose a start date, block out 7 slots on her calendar… And then she’d manage a few days in a row before dropping off, feeling discouraged, and finding it hard to start again.
She wasn’t getting anywhere.
She was trying to move too quickly from 0.
After some exploratory questions and a few rounds of visualizations, we discovered her underlying fears were “doing it wrong,” wasting her time, and failing (again) to make actual progress writing a book.
I suggested she try the 3x3 strategy, with flexible actions she could take at her own pace. The actions could be anything — with no set schedule, session length, or word count — so long as they related to her writing project.
Because she didn’t have a clear plan for her novel, we came up with specific actions that would help her build a strong foundation.
Grace started with researching comparable titles in her genre, identifying core themes and tropes, reading audience reviews and compiling lists of elements readers loved, identifying obligatory scenes and conventions, summarizing story structure, and brainstorming ideas that corresponded with her research.
All actions any author might take.
Writing isn’t just generating words.
She felt less pressure, she consistently found time for her actions, and, some weeks, she overshot her goals.
These small wins built her confidence and energized her to keep going.
During a week where 3 actions were all she could manage, she didn’t beat herself up about it — she was making real progress.
Also, certain days of the week and times of day emerged as ideal for working on her book — great for discovering a realistic routine.
With her newfound momentum, Grace tackled actionable steps like crafting a synopsis, developing character worksheets, outlining the story, and drafting sample scenes.
By building a clear structure and preparing material to work from, she’s setting the stage to transition smoothly into writing three times a week — and maybe even more consistently.
What’s one small, concrete action you can take TODAY to move your writing project forward?
Don’t overthink it.
It could be as simple as:
Outlining one scene
Writing for 15 minutes
Brainstorming a list of new ideas
Reading a few pages of a comparable title
Then, introduce the 3x3 strategy to build on that small action.
Choose 3 writing-related actions you can do each week for the next 3 months.
Anything counts, as long as it moves your project forward!
Make time to write with the 3x3 strategy.
Let me help you craft your personalized plan.
Slade
For more strategies on overcoming writer’s block and developing a sustainable writing practice, subscribe to The Writer’s Reboot.