In the last few weeks I have had a number of clients share their frustration with writer's block. Interestingly enough, I found myself in a similar slump this past summer!
So, let’s talk about it a bit and see if we can’t kick it in the butt with these 4 strategies.
1 – Come Clean About Your Writer's Block
Normally, creating content is something that is amazingly easy for me. I'm one of the lucky ones. Everywhere I turn, my brain turns that experience into a blog post, podcast or video idea. That is a good thing, considering my clients find me through my content distribution systems. Until recently…
This past summer I was in denial about my block. I kept thinking “well, today's not the day, but I'll be inspired tomorrow.” It took Amazon contacting me to help me realize how much time had really elapsed since I had written. Since my blog is on their Kindle subscription service, I had committed to writing consistently. They reminded me that I wasn't. It had been a month!
2 – Understand The Causes of Your Writer's Block
There are a number of reasons that you might get stuck. Understanding the true reason for your block can help you figure out how to get un-stuck.
Here are some my clients or I have experienced:
- Not emotionally attached to your topics anymore – you're bored or out of alignment.
- Don't have good writing systems in place.
- You don’t have good idea capture systems in place.
- New ideas are dried up.
- Have so much going on you don't have time to write.
- Forgotten self-care in your life and your brain is suffering fog as a result.
- You need a break!
3 – Find Support and Inspiration
Go to Your Resources
There are a number of ways to get inspired, but my favorite is to go to a couple of my go-to blogging people and check out their blog.
Denise Wakeman recently wrote this post 7 Tips to Prepare for Virtual Blog Writing Day
Michelle Shaeffer shared this awesome info graphic 22 Ways to Get Past Writer’s Block and Create Something Awesome
Both of these fabulous women have various programs, both free and paid, that will help you be a blogging dynamo. Every time I go to their sites, I get ideas that help me get rolling.
Go to Your Social Networks or Email
Often when I'm wondering what to write about, I look at the questions that my readers have asked me on social media or in my email. You might be amazed at the gems that you have sitting right in your sent folder!
LinkedIN has a section called LinkedIN Answers where people ask questions on a myriad of topics. Quora is a social site that is dedicated to Q&A. Using these sites is a great way to showcase your knowledge, but it is also a great way to research what people are currently asking in your area of expertise and get blog post ideas.
Go to Your Writing File
You have one of these right? If not, create one today. It can be a physical or electronic file. Store article ideas, samples of posts you like that you might want to share, etc.
4 – Start Writing
The important idea here is to just start writing, something.
The “Just Type” Method
I know this sounds too simplistic, but I have found that most of the time, just the act of typing has a releasing effect for me. I have been known to open my blog editor and begin typing “I have no clue what to write about today, but I'm typing anyway ……” etc. In a few minutes, my rambling turns into something pretty good.
The “Structure It Out” Method
Some people work better with a more structured approach of identifying a topic, writing an outline and then filling in the blanks. There are many fabulous templates that you can find by googling Blog Post Templates that can help you get a structure to your writing.
SEE Your Reader
Get really clear on who you are specifically writing to, what problem you want to help them solve and what action you’d like them to take as a result of reading your post. I have one client that takes this quite literally. She will define her reader and then go and find an image on the internet that represents that person. As she is writing, she looks at the picture and the words come flowing out.
The “Batch” Method
Batching your posts is a totally different way to write. It allows you to gain leverage by having you stick in a certain thinking mode for numerous posts/articles before moving to the next activity. Here are the steps:
- Brainstorm your ideas – nothing is too silly,
- Look through your ideas and list the viable topics,
- Pick the topics you want to write today,
- Draft a juicey title for each one,
- Outline each one,
- Research for each one,
- Pick out Images for each one,
- Write,
- Schedule for publication.
What Do You Do?
Your thoughts are always appreciated and please share this on Facebook! I know that you'll help another reader looking for inspiration for their blog or other writing project.
To your “writing free and easy” success!
Until we talk again,
Live Fully — Love Openly — Laugh Often — Leverage Your Brilliance — Connect Authentically — Get Your Message Out — Serve with Impact — Prosper Everyday
Stephanie LH Calahan says
I found a cool info graphic from Denise Wakeman on the anatomy of a perfect blog post: http://www.buildabetterblog.com/2012/08/anatomy-of-a-perfect-blog-post-infographic.html
What resources or tips do you have on fighting and winning against writer’s block? I’d love your help! 🙂
Alys Milner says
I keep a writing file called Blog inspiration and stuff it with articles, magazine pages, catalog products, etc. It helps a lot when I’m feeling dry. I also like the “just write” approach. Sometimes really good things come from that place.
Great article, Stephanie.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Hi Alys – Thanks for sharing what works for you.
Elizabeth Cottrell says
Great tips, Stephanie — you’ve given some very practical and implementable tricks for braking the block.
My biggest struggle is not usually having writer’s block but rather being so fragmented and having so many ideas that I don’t make myself settle down and focus enough to get something written.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Hi Elizabeth –
I resemble that statement! Seriously, though, it can be easy to have so many ideas that you get lost in them! I find that when I have multiple ideas, I start various drafts in my blogging tool and save them. Usually, one of the drafts will “get wings” and gratefully a post will get completed.
What do you do when that happens?
Jeanette Chaplin says
I’m with you, Elizabeth. My brain is so overwhelmed with writing ideas that I often don’t know where to begin.
I’ve read that creating an Editorial Calendar can be a good way of focusing your efforts. I haven’t made one yet, but it’s right at the top of my to-do list (if I can find it among all those slips of paper with writing ideas).
Thanks for all the good pointers, Stephanie.
Stephanie LH Calahan says
Hi Jeanette – Thanks for stopping by. Here is a video from Michelle talking about how to create an editorial calender. It is a little under 10 minutes long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qPjWM-ogcs&feature=player_embedded
Debra Jason says
What to write about when you don’t know what to write about? Here are 8 helpful ideas to help charge your batteries. http://www.writedirection.com/write-about-what
Hope this helps! ~Debra