We all experience periods when writing is harder than usual or when we simply cannot write anything that would be good enough. In an academic career, this problem begins with graduate school but then can surface even later -- always in the most inopportune moment. In my own experience, I use five easy techniques that help me get back into my writing routine. Plus the sixth is that once you are no longer a student, you are generally very busy with teaching, family and other commitments so when you finally have a moment to catch up with your research, you do not usually have time to around thinking about what you should write. You just need to get some writing done, and this lack of time is a powerful incentive.