6 Tips for Writer’s Block
Writer’s block is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity. ~ Wikipedia
What do you do when the inspiration or creativity just isn’t there? One thing I can’t do is sit at a blank computer screen or a blank sheet of paper waiting. . . I’m constantly conceiving, writing and rewriting in my head, so I only sit down at my computer to “give birth”, so to speak. Of course, it doesn’t work this way for everyone, so here are a few of my post-stimulus-tips that may help get your creative juices going:
Read, Read, Read
The web, the news, magazines and books are full of interesting stories and blogging ideas. Who, What, When, Where are important, but I like to look at things from the “Why” prospective. Like why is the government spending nearly 42 million dollars to inform Americans that our stimulus check is almost in the mail! They could have blogged that information and saved a few million.
Why Eliot Spitzer? See that’s a blog post right there!
Personal Experience
While I don’t share everything about myself, I do publish some of my personal experiences on my blog. Do you have a personal experience that you can share as a learning experience for someone else? Share it! Do you have a tech, blogging, financial, cleaning or cooking tip that might be useful to someone else? Publish it. Want to vent about your neighbors, the cashier at Wal-Mart. Blog it!
Listen
You can learn so much just by being quiet. If you take public transportation, eavesdrop! Perhaps someone is talking loud on their cell phone, you have a right to listen in! Listen to your co-workers conversations at lunch time. Stand next to a parent and find out what really goes on at the PTA. Listen to talk radio, I love it!
Old School
Talk to an elderly person. They are full of stories that never make the newspapers or history books. You can get a first hand experience on what life was like back then, compare it to how it is now and what you think it may be like in the future. Were they involved in some important event in history? Be a reporter, talk to them and post the interview on your blog.
Give Your Post A Name
Give your post a name even if you don’t know what to write, yet. If you give it a title, you can write around your subject later. Maybe I do things backwards, but if I give my post a name first, this helps me to stay focused and encourages writing. I have a post title in my head right now, I don’t have the text yet, but the more I focus on the title, the more I write in my head. I build on my thoughts until I’m ready to type it out.
Humor
Did a funny thing happen to you on the way to the Opera? Share it! Look at things from a humorous viewpoint. I read blogs that are informative, well presented, but lack personality. You don’t have to be a comedian, but occasionally add a little humor in your posts, it may help you relax. Of course, if you’re talking about a serious subject, then leave it out. Just remember: A day without laughter is called a coma. No offense to anyone in a coma or who has been in a coma that might be reading this…
Look at me giving blogging tips. Watch one day I wake up and find my blog in the back of my closet. While there is nothing new under the sun, there are plenty of posts out there just waiting to be born. Do you have any suggestions for overcoming writer’s block?
Happy blogging,
on March 12, 2008 at 1:59 am
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haha I try to avoid writer’s block like the plague. It can still happen but I’ve made a big habit of writing down headline ideas, topics, quotes, feelings – anything that inspires me somewhere. Sometimes the ideas pour in, other times it takes a conversation or a memory.. or even flipping through a magazine to get the juices flowing.
I really like your list of tips. I can attest to the usefulness- like personal experiences? No one knows your story better than you and its your own to tell.
Yeah Natural, look at you giving blogging tips!
Alright now!
JEMi @ InMyHeels’s last blog post..Overcoming Self Sabotage
on March 12, 2008 at 3:54 am
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I think all these tips are more than useful.
My suggestion? Rant. There is always something or someone that pissed you off, write about it. Anger gets the juices flowing and next thing you know, you might have written something you want to share with others.
Jillian’s last blog post..What Would You Do If Darkseid Stole Your Car?
on March 12, 2008 at 9:25 am
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that’s interesting JEMi, that you try hard to avoid it by writing stuff down, making notes. i do write phrases down when something has to be written in those exact words. i keep a note pad and pen next to my bed. sometimes i roll over and will jot something down in the dark.
jillian, i agree. there’s plenty to rant about, just crack open a newspaper. mayhem and foolishness!
on March 12, 2008 at 10:00 am
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The “Read, Read, Read” tip is the most effective one of all in cases of writer’s block, in my opinion. There is so much going on in the world that you’re sure to come across something that grabs your attention and pulls out an opinion from you.
For those folks who follow politics at all, here’s a tip: Jack Cafferty of CNN has already thought of today’s blog topic for you. Go to http://www.cnn.com/caffertyfile and look at his “Question of the Day”. It’s widely popular on CNN so it’s guaranteed to strike a chord with your readers.
I use it from time to time on my “News” blog, and I always give credit where credit is due: “Today on the Cafferty File he asked Americans…”
Michael Beck’s last blog post..Wal-Mart Customers: Linux ain’t our bag
on March 12, 2008 at 12:44 pm
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Thanks Michael, I checked out that link too. I remember Jack when he used to anchor with Sue Simmons on NBC.
The world is full of stuff to blog about…look at it from all angles and get writing.
on March 12, 2008 at 6:21 pm
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This is great! I am suffering from writer’s block as I type this. I’ve been getting some great advice and I can just add these tips to the collection.
Mimi’s last blog post..I’m Sorry
on March 12, 2008 at 10:48 pm
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Great Mimi, glad you found these tips helpful. Reading really helps a lot.
on March 13, 2008 at 10:00 am
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I try to keep notes on topics I want to explore (you know, the stuff that pops in your head when you have a dozen other priorities to attend to first).
If there’s nothing solid, I go running without my Ipod. It’s good for brain flow; I do a lot of writing in my head when my feet are moving!
heather dugan’s last blog post..Hitting the “Pause” Button… (Blizzard 2008)
on March 13, 2008 at 5:13 pm
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You actually got me out of my writers block a while ago, remember?. There are things out there that trigger us to write, my only problem is I come out looking like so angry person most of the time since anger triggers my writing. I have to find happy things to write about. So don’t mistake my absence for writers block, I’ll be waiting for something happy to come along.
Tondy’s last blog post..Missy Mislead!
on March 14, 2008 at 2:21 am
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Hi Natural,
This is a great list. I wish I had more time to read, as that always inspires me. I do jot down notes all the time, and sometimes even get out of bed and start a draft post. My creativity seems to kick in late at night.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..How To Get and/or Add A Gravatar To Your Post Comments
on March 14, 2008 at 4:05 pm
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Tondy, glad you are back to writing….I enjoy your firey posts. Happy things? Write about 10 things that make you happy, turn it into a meme, tag some folks and let the good times roll.
Barbara, glad you enjoyed, I have another one coming oh uh…soon, this time 10 tips. Hope you can come back and add to the list.
on July 25, 2008 at 7:42 pm
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I used to have block all the time and then I decided to start writing in a way that I didn’t care about the outcome (of course I edit) and when I did that for a while it just started to flow for me. Now what used to take me 1/2 a day to do can take me as little as 15 minutes. It doesn’t have to be perfect it has to get done…
on July 26, 2008 at 6:45 am
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Hi Matt, I understand what you mean about not caring about the outcome. I do have a blog like that where I speak freely and I don’t worry either, liberating. That’s true, it doesn’t have to be perfect…. Thanks for stopping by, will check you out later.