Bright Ideas # 34 – Banish Writer’s Block

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

You know that awful, frozen feeling of being unable to come up with a single worthwhile thing to say?

Or sitting there, staring at a blank page or screen as a clock tics away in the background (because of course, the worst writer’s block always hits when you have a deadline)?

Or writing and erasing until you give up and storm off in frustration?

If so, you are not alone.

And if not, just wait. Your time is coming.

Because just about every one who writes will eventually have a bout with writer’s block. Even some of the world’s greatest writers have battled this paralyzing curse.

And if you own business, or do sales or marketing, eventually you are going to have to write something.

Luckily there are plenty of tricks you can use to get your writing juices flowing. And it’s a good thing. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to continue writing effectively, week after week.

So, without further ado, here are my seven favorite tricks for banishing writer’s block.

1) Peace and Quiet
These days, we’re all programmed to be constantly accessible by email, cell phone, IM and more. But the reality is, no matter what line of work you are in most things can wait for at least 30 minutes. And if you really want to get your writing done, you need uninterrupted time to focus.

So put the Do Not Disturb sign on your door and turn off your cell phone. And don’t even think about checking your email (I promise you’ll survive :-) ).

2) Create Discipline
Don’t just say you are going to “write today”. That makes it far too easy to put off in favor of filing or raking leaves. Instead schedule a specific time to do it.

Then, go one step farther and set a specific amount of time that you will write without stopping…say thirty minutes or an hour. Some folks find it helps to set an alarm. That way you are less tempted to constantly watch the clock.

3) Reward Yourself
Whenever you are having trouble focusing, try setting a reward for yourself like “When I finish the first draft, I’ll go out to lunch.” Or, “I’ll edit this one more time, then go for a walk.”

That way, you are motivated to get a certain amount of work done before taking a break. And, you get positive reinforcement for your accomplishments.

4) Get Away From It All
Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to spark fresh creative juices. Try going to a coffee shop, local park or library to get a new outlook. I’ve even found that just moving to the stand-up workstation in my office, sitting on the couch or lounging in my backyard can do the trick.

5) Investigate
A little library or Internet research can be just the thing to jump-start the writing process. Be sure to jot down anything you come across that seems interesting. Fun factoids and memorable quotes can give you inspiration, and also spice up your writing.

6) Get It Together
Your high school English teacher was right about one thing: outlines work. But if creating an outline sounds about as enticing as a root canal, you can get the same results by making a few short lists.

First, write down the key points or ideas you want to discuss. Then note any specific information that must be included (price, directions, contact info, guarantees, etc.). Now add to that any facts or quotes you might want to include.

By the time you finish, whatever you’re working in will be half-written already. Then all you have to do is connect the dots.

7) The Big Brain Dump
One of the best tricks, and one I use every time I put fingertips to keyboard, is the big brain dump. Instead of trying to get the words just right, write down everything and anything you can think of until you completely run out of ideas.

Ignore spelling and grammar mistakes. And don’t worry about any of it being any good. Just write something. Anything. In fact, give yourself permission for the first round to be total junk. Then you won’t feel the pressure of perfection.

And buried in all the junk are sure to be a few pearls, or at least diamonds in the rough. So now you can go back and start editing. Remember, the beauty of writing—especially on a computer—is that you can edit your work quickly and easily.

So silence your inner critic. Quit struggling with the first sentence. And just write.

©2002-2006 Success Stream. All Rights Reserved. www.success-stream.com

Do you have a marketing, advertising or writing question you’d like to have answered? Email me and you might see the answer in a future edition of Bright Ideas.
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