After working my butt off for 6 long years, I was finally able to quit my day job to focus on my new career – my dream career – as a writer. Now I earn a living by writing full time. But I couldn't have done it without the help of a few nootropics. That's what this post is all about: the best nootropics for writing.

Whether you're looking for something to snap you out of the writer's block you've been experiencing or just something to give you a little more mental energy, the nootropics on this list can all help you write. While they won't make you a better writer, they can definitely help you to be a more productive one.

The Best Nootropics For Writing

All of the nootropics on this list are things that I've tried personally and have worked well for me. Some of them, I've only tried a handful of times. Others, I've used regularly. But all of them seem to work well and help me to be more productive. Will they work for you? The only way to know is to try them yourself.

Now, when I say that these are the best nootropics for writing, what exactly does that mean? It doesn't mean they'll magically improve the quality of your writing. That's something you have to work on yourself. It means they'll help you optimize how your brain is functioning, allowing you to write faster and be more productive.

Every day, I keep track of how many words I write (Well, I don't, but my word processor keeps track automatically). On days that I use any of the individual nootropics or nootropic stacks we're going to discuss, my word count increases dramatically. So, for me there's no question about their effectiveness: I have proof.

By increasing focus, improving memory, and improving brain function overall, these nootropics allow me to get more words on the page. Well, maybe not on the page – on the screen. So, let's get to the list of the best nootropics for writing. The first three are individual nootropics and the last two are simple nootropic stacks.

1. Modafinil

If you're a regular reader of this website, it should come as no surprise that modafinil is at the top of this list. It's one of the most-commonly-used nootropics around the world today. There are tons of studies to support modafinil's safety and effectiveness. For most people, it simply works.

Modafinil is classified as a eugeroic or wakefulness-promoting substance. For me, it definitely increases alertness and focus. I find it helps me to stay on task and get more done. My word-count totals are always higher on days that I use modafinil. Here are some of the nootropic benefits that are commonly reported from it:

• Increased focus
• Increased attention
• Improved mood
• Increased alertness/wakefulness
• Improved memory
• Increased motivation
• Increased productivity

I've never noticed much improvement in my mood with modafinil. But all the other benefits that users often report, I have noticed. Modafinil doesn't make me feel overstimulated, but it does make me feel more alert, focused, and attentive. And it definitely increases my productivity, whether it's writing or something else. You can learn more here: Modafinil – A Powerful and Popular Nootropic.

And I should also mention armodafinil. I was going to include it in this list but, since it's so similar to modafinil, I'll just briefly discuss it here. Armodafinil is a newer, slightly more potent version of modafinil. I find its effects to be almost identical. The only differences are that a slightly-lower dosage is needed and the effects last a little bit longer. You can learn about modafinil's stronger little sister here: Armodafinil For Cognitive Enhancement.

2. Kratom

This plant usually isn't thought of as a nootropic. However, I'm including kratom in this list because lots of people find that it can have a nootropic effect. And as you may have guessed, I'm one of those people. Kratom definitely helps me to write – there's no question about it.

In low doses, kratom can be mildly stimulating. In higher doses, users often find it to be sedating. Kratom is a plant that has been used in different parts of the world for centuries. It has a long list of potential benefits and lots of research is being done to study its effects. Here are some of the nootropic benefits that kratom can have:

• Improved mood
• Increased energy
• Increased motivation
• Reduced anxiety
• Reduced fatigue
• Increased productivity

I can honestly say that I've experienced all of those nootropic benefits from kratom. It just makes me feel more energetic and words seem to flow much easier. And kratom can also have a number of non-nootropic benefits including things like pain relief, immune system support, and more.

It should be noted that, for most people, kratom should not be taken every day. If you're like me and use kratom for its nootropic benefits, it should only be used a few times a week at most. When taken daily, users can develop a tolerance to kratom. But when taken only occasionally, kratom can be great for writing, other creative tasks, and overall productivity. You can learn more here: The Nootropic Benefits of Kratom.

3. Mucuna Pruriens

Like kratom, this is another plant that has been used medicinally all over the world for centuries. Mucuna pruriens – or simply mucuna for short – is a natural source of L-dopa (levodopa). This is an amino acid that the body uses to make the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Dopamine is known to play a role in attention, motivation, mood, pleasure, anxiety, and more. Taking mucuna can increase dopamine levels in the brain. So it's no surprise that its potential benefits include things like increased motivation, improved mood, and decreased anxiety. Here are some of the nootropic benefits that mucuna users have reported:

• Increased attention
• Improved mood
• Increased motivation
• Reduced anxiety
• Increased sense of well-being

It's been a few years since the last time I used mucuna but, when I did, I experienced all of the above. However, most of those effects were mild – noticeable but mild. Some people who have used mucuna report powerful cognition-enhancing effects while others report none at all. The only way to know if it will work for you is to try it yourself.

Unlike both modafinil and kratom which work after the very first dose, mucuna often takes time to become effective. It can take a couple weeks of daily dosing to really notice mucuna's nootropic benefits. So if you decide to try it and don't notice any effects right away, be patient. You can learn more here: Mucuna Pruriens For Anxiety, Motivation, and Mood.

4. Caffeine and L-Theanine

Unlike the individual nootropics listed above, this is a nootropic stack. Stacking simply means taking more than one nootropic at a time. By combining two-or-more substances, a greater nootropic effect can be reached than by taking them individually. And that's definitely the case with this simple and effective nootropic stack.

Caffeine and L-theanine is my go-to nootropic stack for writing. There's no question about it: this stack works. We all know that caffeine can increase alertness, improve mood, and more. But when taken with L-theanine, caffeine becomes even more effective.

L-theanine is a non-essential amino acid naturally found in green tea. It has a calming effect but isn't sedating. When taken with caffeine, L-theanine can eliminate some of its negative effects like increased anxiety, jitters, and the dreaded crash a few hours after consumption. Here are some of the nootropic benefits that L-theanine and caffeine users have reported:

• Increased focus
• Reduced fatigue and tiredness
• Improved memory and concentration
• Increased alertness/wakefulness
• Increased energy
• Promotes a state of calm focus
• Increased productivity

I've experienced all of these benefits and many other users have, too. While not everyone responds to this simple nootropic stack, most people seem to. Caffeine's already the most popular nootropic in the world, used far more frequently than any other substance. Obviously, it works. And by taking L-theanine with it, you can get into a calm, focused, and productive mindset.

Like I said, this is my go-to when I need a boost. It's simple, safe, and effective for most people. I always get more words written on days that I take caffeine and L-theanine. It makes the words just flow out of me easier. You can learn more about this simple stack here: L-Theanine and Caffeine – The Perfect Combo.

5. Phenylpiracetam, Aniracetam, & CDP-Choline

This stack is a little more complicated than the one above. It includes two racetams and a choline source. The racetams are chemically-similar substances, many of which have nootropic properties. In fact, the first nootropic ever created, piracetam, is a member of the racetam family. Phenylpiracetam and aniracetam are both popular nootropics by themselves, but have a synergistic effect when taken together.

CDP-choline, the third ingredient in this cognition-boosting formula, is a choline source. The body uses choline to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is known to play a role in memory, learning, attention, and more. While CDP-choline can have a nootropic effect on its own, it works even better when stacked with one-or-more racetams.

I've used this stack a handful of times in the past and it delivers a modest-but-noticeable increase in focus and motivation, and a reduction in anxiety. Aniracetam is the anxiety reducer. It's known for increasing focus while decreasing anxiety. Phenylpiracetam can further increase focus. And I find that I'm more motivated when I take phenylpiracetam. Here are some of the nootropic benefits of this stack that users have reported:

• Increased focus
• Improved memory
• Improved mood
• Increased motivation
• Reduced anxiety
• Improved learning
• Increased productivity

I've experimented with a number of racetam-choline stacks and this is one of my favorites. Some users like to stack as many as 4 or 5 racetams with a choline source, but I usually stick to 2 or 3 at most. Here are a few other popular racetam-choline combinations that I find to be on par with the phenylpiracetam, aniracetam, and CDP-choline stack:

• Phenylpiracetam, fasoracetam, CDP-choline
• Piracetam, oxiracetam, aniracetam, alpha-GPC
• Phenylpiracetam, aniracetam, alpha-GPC

Alpha-GPC is another choline source similar to CDP-choline. Since many of the racetams affect the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, taking a choline source with them can increase their effectiveness. All of these racetam-choline stacks improve my writing output to more-or-less the same degree. But if I had to pick just one, it would be the phenylpiracetam, aniracetam, and CDP-choline stack. You can learn about some other nootropic stacks here: 5 Common Nootropic Stacks.

Conclusion

Some people love to write. Others hate it. Me? I both love and hate writing. It can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, I've got a number of nootropics to help cut down on that frustration so I can get more words on the page.

Whether you're a college student, a professional writer, or just someone who likes to write, the nootropics above can all help you to be more productive. I've certainly benefited from them. While they won't automatically make you a better writer, they can help you to think clearer and get more words written. And that's what will make you a better writer – writing more.

As always, you should consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any drugs, supplements, exercise programs, or behavioral routines. This is especially true if you're currently on any prescription medications. Unfortunately, most doctors aren't taught about nootropics or nutrition, so you may have to educate yours a bit. Though all the nootropics on our list have been extensively studied and seem to be very safe for most people, it's always a good idea to consult a licensed medical professional, especially if you're on meds.

Have you used any of the nootropics on our list for writing? How about any other nootropics for writing? Please leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom. And if you haven't already, please sign up for the Nootropics Zone newsletter below to learn about dozens of brain-boosting substances.

[This article was originally published on March 19, 2021. Updated March 21, 2025.]