Whether you’re writing the next best-selling fantasy novel or content for a digital marketing strategy, writers of all industries face the same recurring nemesis: writer’s block.
It can happen to us all, usually at the most inconvenient of times, so there’s no shame in it!
The thing is, when you’re adhering to a specific schedule of deadlines within a carefully crafted marketing campaign, you can’t afford to get stuck on a blank page. And the truth is, you don’t have to. Writer’s block can be a struggle, sure, but there are ways to work around it, so that you don’t completely derail the deadline you need the content by.
Instead of waiting for the elusive divine inspiration to bless you, take a moment and read our 5 tips that can help you overcome writer’s block.
Expand upon your ideas during ideation
You know what else can be a struggle? Ideation. But when it’s successful, it’s an incredibly productive process full of ideas (which you are later tasked with executing). Expanding upon the ideas when you come up with them can help you down the line.
Make notes, create guidelines, and include all the information you possibly can about what exactly the idea entails, and how you envision it. This will help when you’re in the process of creating the content, as you’ll have a far more detailed picture to fill in. (As opposed to working completely from scratch, attempting to figure out what exactly you were thinking when you first came up with it). It’s harder to get writer’s block when you know exactly what the end result is supposed to look like.
Create a content outline
If you don’t already have a content outline created, this is your first step. Organising the idea into a structure you can understand and visualise will help give you a starting point, as well as direction. This takes away a lot of the stress of ‘figuring out’ what to write, giving you room to simply… well, write!
Procrastinate your perfectionism, not the writing
A lot of the time, people that aim for perfection are far more likely to get writer’s block. Why? Because they get scared it won’t be good. But writing is a process. It’s not supposed to look perfect straight away. That’s why editing and proofing exist!
A poorly written page is better than a blank page, as it gives you something to work with. Read that again.
If you’re really blocked, start by writing down words related to the topic, and sentences containing some of the information you want to include. Loosen up your writing skills (and your mind), and slowly build up until you find yourself writing freely. Writing down the first few words can be the hardest part, so taking away the pressure of them having to be good can be the answer!
Chase the high of change
Writer’s block is in your head. You can get out of it by changing your mindset, and one of the easiest ways to do so is by physically changing your environment or approach. (Basically, you want to trick the brain into thinking something has changed, so it lifts the barrier on your writing ability.)
Try moving to a different room or location, or adjusting your position. Maybe add some other physical actions, such as getting a drink, or changing your clothes, or even putting on some background music.
There are many tools that can help too. For example, apps with timers that trick your brain into having a more immediate deadline, or playlists designed to enhance focus and concentration. Find something that works for you!
Find your own inspiration
For some, writer’s block is an excellent excuse to sit and do nothing. “Oh sorry, I’m just not inspired, maybe later”… But news flash, inspiration won’t just drop on your head. (No, you’re not Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, that’s not how this works. In fact, that’s just a myth).
So instead, when you have writer’s block, get up (metaphorically) and find your own inspiration.
Read things similar to what you’re aiming to create, ask people for help, brainstorm, do some writing exercises… Set yourself up for success, rather than waiting for writer’s block to magically disappear.
To sum things up, writer’s block can be a pain in the…butt.
However, it’s not all-powerful. You can get back in the flow by expanding upon the ideas during ideation, and by creating an outline that you can follow. You can also get back in the flow by cutting yourself some slack and not expecting your content to be perfect right away, and by switching up your environment or approach if needed. And if all else fails, you can hunt down some inspiration by taking a proactive stance against writer’s block, and getting your writing done like a pro!
Read another of our articles on the It Works Media blog for more tips and insights. Alternatively, if you want to find out how we can help you with your marketing strategy, contact us today.