On any given week, I write somewhere from 20-50 articles for our blog and the blog's we manage for our marketing clients. So I am no stranger to writer's block! Sometimes I find myself finding any excuse to not have to write an article right that minute because I can't figure out what to say.
So I've developed quite a set of tricks to help myself cure writer's block and get those articles out on time.
Start with some "thought-vomit"
Some people refer to this process as brainstorming or free writing, but to me, those feel too "elegant" to describe what I do. I sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil and I literally just spew out everything that's in my head.
Sometimes I'm stuck looking for a topic to write about, while other times I have a topic and need to fill it in. Either way, this process helps me get the tangle of stuff going through my head out and into one place where I can see it, review, and make it make sense.
When you're doing this, say goodbye to grammar, punctuation, spelling, and even lines on the paper. This is not a neat process - it's the tangled web of your mind's thoughts yanked free, and it's not supposed to be pretty.
I tend to prefer paper without lines on it for this process. When I have lines, my inner OCD self comes out and wants to conform to the lines and I find myself distracted by trying to stay neat.
If you have a topic, then just work through the topic and put down any and everything that comes to mind, no matter how silly. If you're looking for a topic, then start mentally walking through the past couple of weeks. Think about what questions customers have asked you.
What emails have you received that made you just shake your head and summon your inner-most polite self to reply to. What big problem did you solve for a customer lately.
Basically - walk through every interaction with another human being you've had related to your business over the past several weeks and jot down anything that stands out, no matter how trivial. Some of the best articles come from these interactions.
If you're struggling with this one still - check out our article about Realistic Sources for Blogging Inspiration: http://blog.synergysquad.com/realistic-sources-for-blogging-inspiration-that-actually-work
Talk it out with yourself or anyone willing to lend an ear
This follows the same process as thought-vomit. The goal is to let your mind be free and get your inner thoughts out of your head and into a more tangible space. Talking out loud is one really great way to do this. If you don't have another person around - don't be afraid to talk to yourself, a pet, a stuffed animal, or even a pet rock.
Sometimes you really do know best what to write and you just need to get it out and work through it yourself. Other times you might actually need someone else to bounce it off of and get feedback, so don't be afraid to hit up a friend or family member to find a listener.
Grab a cup of your favorite coffee
I don't know why, but the stale pot of coffee doesn't work for me when it comes to writing. We invested in a Keurig for the office and it's the best decision we've ever made I think.
At any given time, I have a choice of about 20 different flavors of coffee to choose from. The caffeine bump plus the feeling of comfort that comes from sipping on a cup of Cake Boss raspberry truffle coffee helps me get in the zone.
Crank up some music
This is my go-to for any time I need to zone in and get some serious writing done. I cue up my Spotify playlist that is filled with happy, upbeat music and act like an idiot. If you've ever been by the office, one of the first things you'll notice is that I don't sit in an office chair. I use an exercise ball for a chair.
So I crank up the music, and bounce, twirl, roll, and in general probably look ridiculous. However, that little bit of exercise while I work gets my mood elevated, wakes me up, and just makes me feel good while I'm jamming.
Combine it all however you want
Most of the time, you'll see me doing a combination of any of these to get the juices flowing and unleash some creativity. I sit down with a fresh cup of coffee, turn up the music, jot down some thought-vomit, and crank out a new article in about 30 minutes that's thought through, fun to read, and educational.
