Blocking Writer's Block

As a writer, it's key to my long term success that I be able to write well, about a variety of subjects, and to do so consistently, day after day. Sometimes it just doesn't flow easily from my fingers, and I get stuck for hours, surfing the web or staring at the screen. The following are some ways that I've found to beat writer's block, and to enable me to create quality content for web pages and blogs, every day, regardless of how inspired I may feel. Perhaps they'll be some help to you, too.

1) Develop Titles - This has been a great little cheat for me. Sometimes, when I don't feel like writing anything substantial, I can still get my brain to come up with basic subjects that would be fun to write about if I were feeling moved to write. I keep a text file consisting solely of potential article titles open on my computer at all times. Anytime an idea comes to me, I write it down on the list, which is now several hundred titles long. When I get hit with writer's block, I just visit the list, pick an article title, and force myself to do some writing on the topic. Once in a while, the result is total crap, but most of the time, once I get started, the article or post flows freely, and I'm off to the races.

2) Free Write - This is actually how the article you're looking at now got started. If you're like me, your mind is constantly aflutter with random thoughts, phrases, and ideas. When I'm really stuck for something to write, and I just can't get the juices flowing, I'll sit down and free-write, just typing out whatever comes into my head until it begins to make sense. The structure of actually writing tends to force the madness into some semblance of coherence and after a paragraph or two, I've got an article in the works. Don't be afraid of the gobbledygook in the first few sentences. You're the boss, and can edit and erase to your heart's content once it's down on paper. Want to know what the first sentence I wrote for this article was? It's alright - I'm not ashamed. My superior writing skills brought me a gem: "How to write a lot of thingy." Poetry, that's what it is.

3) Go For a Walk - I wish I had a dog. A dog is a built-in excuse to take a break, and they're great company for walks. Given that I don't have a dog, I need to work a little harder to give myself a break and allow for a stroll outside. A nice walk clears the head, the fresh air and movement stimulates blood flow - even through your addled brain - and it may help you to lay out the bones of your writing in your head.

4) Change Medium - I usually write at my computer. I sneak in a paragraph here and there during my day job, or work from my home office on the weekend or in the evening. When I've tried absolutely everything, I'll pull out a paper and pencil, and give my writer's block a friend - writer's cramp. Let me be clear - I hate writing by hand; my handwriting is atrocious, I'm slow, and it gets painful over time, but sometimes it's just the thing. Writing with a pencil and paper fires up whole different parts of your brain than typing. A similar technique that I like a lot more is using a tape recorder. I choose my subject, then try to speak about it as clearly and concisely as possible. Often, my entire writing style changes when I speak, and it can be quite freeing, as well as providing some interesting insights into my usual styling.

Using these 4 techniques, I can usually pull my head out of the sand long enough to punch out my quota every day. Once I get started, I often find that the struggle evaporates completely, and the rest of my day is a delight. The hardest step is the first one, and sometimes we all need a little push.