The Antidote for Writer's Block

Being productive is about getting things done. However, in today’s fast-paced world, it often feels like productivity is measured by how quickly we can complete a task.

I’ve never been that guy, though. I do things at my own pace. Time doesn’t concern me. When running was my thing, I didn’t care about speed. I focused on those 5 km, not on finishing under 30 minutes.

Recently, by chance, I stumbled onto a method that transformed my writing. If you care more about producing quality work than hitting arbitrary deadlines, this approach might change everything for you.

What it is

The method is fairly simple: dictate out loud while you type — as if you’re talking to someone.

But if it was just that, I wouldn’t be writing this.

The goal isn’t word count or speed — it’s entering a state of flow.

And for this to actually work, there are a few principles you should adhere to:

1. Let dictation set the pace

2. Type only as fast as you speak

3. Ignore the clock and the word count

Follow these, and you’ll actually need to set a timer to stop yourself from writing too long.

Why It Works

Speaking captures something typing doesn’t: your thinking voice.

When you dictate, you’re not translating thoughts into words — you’re using the words that naturally emerge as you think. The result is more instinctive, more emotional, more authentic.

It also anchors the process in the physical world — if you struggle when thinking gets too abstract, the physical act of speaking grounds you in the moment.

I learned that writing doesn’t have to live purely in the realm of ideas. The sound of your voice will help you find the rhythm you need.

Finding Your Pace

It’s paramount for you to understand not to rush the dictation.

At first, when I noticed what I was doing, it was an exhilarating feeling. I was like water — the fluidity was unmatched. The moment was also perfect, so it might’ve worked out as good as it gets.

But you can’t live in that perfect state every time you sit down to write.

The pace will vary. Sometimes your thoughts come quickly; sometimes they don’t. That’s fine. The dictation adapts to wherever you are that day.

What matters is that proper dictation produces raw material worth keeping — a rough draft you can actually work with. You’re panning for gold, not sifting through endless silt.

This is what free writing should be: unforced, authentic, and coherent.

A Matter Of Perception

We’ve already established that this method does not concern itself with time. But I didn’t notice that from the get-go.

Writing in a not-so-perfect place, even making use of dictation, I felt myself gradually falling into the same old trap: mindless typing disguised as progress. The kind you don’t want to turn into a habit, because you’re putting the cart before the horse.

Our fingers don’t hold the ideas, our heads do, and our voices are the spokesperson of the mind.

That’s why you should only type as fast as you speak. Dictation might as well be like light traveling through the universe — we can chase it, but never catch it. And since that’s impossible, I say: to hell with time and speed.

Please, take your time with it. You can even stop typing altogether if you’re not dictating — if you’re just thinking about the last sentence or how to proceed.

This misconception hit me like a sugar crash, but Jordan Peterson’s advice — use writing to sort out your thoughts — was the guardrail that kept me on track.

Finding Your Voice

Honestly, I never thought I’d achieve the deep focus I’m able to reach in other activities — the kind that makes you lose track of time.

This isn’t about turning you into a better writer all around. I still need to learn a lot about how to structure an article and how to reach readers.

It’s about creating a strong foundation to become a real writer if that’s what you desire.

Everything starts with the first draft. This is the backbone of every article.

That first draft is nonnegotiable!

Because it changes everything for the better when you have this amalgamation of coherent thoughts that’s 100% yours.

That’s how you find your truest voice.