Top 7 Quick Tips to Crush Writer’s Block (in San Miguel de Allende)

We’ve all been there. The blinking cursor. The empty page. That creeping dread that maybe you’ve forgotten how to write entirely.

Writer’s block doesn’t care where you are, but lucky for you, you’re in San Miguel de Allende. Here, even screenwriting ruts feel a little more cinematic. Whether you’re stuck halfway through Act Two or second-guessing your opening scene, the cobblestone streets, rooftop vistas, and magical charm of San Miguel might be exactly what your screenplay needs to breathe again.

These seven quick tips are designed to get you unstuck—and maybe even help you fall back in love with your script.

1. Take a Walk (Seriously, That’s It)

This might sound like a cliché, but it works. Walking—especially without your phone—lets your subconscious churn on story problems in the background. Here in San Miguel, you’ve got the perfect backdrop: stroll past the pink spires of La Parroquia, meander through the Jardin as mariachis warm up, or challenge yourself with El Chorro and reward yourself with the vista and perchance an AHA moment. Bonus points if you ditch your headphones and let the bells, birds, and bakery smells stir something new in you.

Why it works: Your body moves, your mind follows.

2. Do a Brain Dump: Escape the Act 2 Trap

Act 2 is where most writers stall. The stakes sag, the conflict muddies, and suddenly the story stops moving. One way out? Dump every possible solution onto the page—no matter how absurd, off-tone, or totally wrong it seems. Grab a notebook, sit beneath the jacarandas in Parque Juárez, and just unload. Write 20 wild directions your script could take. Even the worst idea might unlock the right one.

Why it works: Impossibility creates freedom.

3. Talk It Out (To Anyone—or No One)

Explain your story problem out loud. To a friend, a cat, or even a cappuccino at Lavanda Café. Sometimes the act of verbalizing your plot problems is enough to untangle them. You might hear your own logic gaps—or spark a solution mid-sentence while talking to yourself on Calle Aldama. (Don’t worry. You won’t be the only one doing it.)

Why it works: Speaking forces clarity.

4. Write Out of Order: Skip to the Good Stuff

If you’re bored or blocked, stop forcing the next scene. Jump ahead. Write the emotional climax, the twist, the betrayal, the explosion—whatever excites you. It’s your story. Nobody said you have to write it linearly. And hey, if the scene you're excited about takes place in a rooftop bar with a sunset view like the one at Quince, why not lean into that too?

Why it works: Momentum builds motivation.

5. Steal a Structure

Borrow the framework of a movie you love. Lay your characters and story arcs over its bones to see what fits—and what doesn’t. No, this isn’t plagiarism. It’s structural scaffolding. Eventually, you’ll strip it away and replace it with your own architecture. Like many of the colonial homes here, your story might be inspired by older bones—but it’ll become uniquely yours.

Why it works: Models give shape to chaos.

6. Lower the Bar: One Scene, One Sentence

When the pressure is too much, make the goal laughably small. Write one sentence of the scene you’re dreading. That’s it. You’re allowed to stop after that. (Spoiler: you probably won’t.) Sit at a courtyard café, scribble just one line, and call it progress. You’ll often find the next line shows up before your coffee does.

Why it works: A win is a win—and momentum matters more than perfection.

7. Storm Yourself with “What Ifs”

Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write down as many “What if?” questions about your story as you can. No self-editing. No logic. No judgment. Just fire them out. What if your hero is secretly the villain? What if the whole thing is set underwater? What if the cat talks? Insane is good here. Find a spot with a view—maybe a rooftop terrace in Colonia Guadiana—and let the absurdity flow.

Why it works: Creativity thrives on chaos.

Final Thoughts: Writer’s Block Is a Signal, Not a Sentence

It’s not failure. It’s feedback. Writer’s block usually means one of three things: you’re tired, your story needs a shakeup, or your expectations are strangling your process. These tips aren’t magic. But they are movement—and movement beats stagnation every time.

And here in San Miguel de Allende, inspiration’s never too far away. It might be in a street corner mariachi tune, a splash of color on a mercado wall, or a quiet moment of clarity on your favorite bench in Parque Juárez.

Got a favorite trick for unsticking your creativity? Drop it in the comments or let me know what’s worked for you. And if you want a deeper dive into any of these strategies, stay tuned—we'll be unpacking each one in its own dedicated post over the next few weeks.

You’ve got this. Now go take that walk.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Flett