Archive for writer’s block
Five Ways to Deal With Writer’s Block For Your Blog or Newsletter
Posted by: | CommentsSome days I sit down to my computer and the words just flow. I know exactly what I want to say and my fingers can barely keep up with my ideas. Other days … nothing. There is nothing in my head; I can’t think of a thing to say.
Having written a blog almost daily for ten months now, I’ve learned some tricks to help me through. Here they are:
1. Whenever you leave a detailed comment on someone’s blog, reply to a question on LinkedIn or answer and email question, save what you’ve written in a Word document.
If you are giving information, clarifying a point or offering an opinion, this can usually be expanded into a longer article. Keep all these comments in an easily located place. You might even save all the comments in one file if you wish, deleting them as you use them.
2. On days when you’re feeling creative, brainstorm some topics to write on future dates. I write them on a file card posted to my bulletin board next to my desk and I keep a notebook in my purse for when ideas strike when I’m not at home.
3. When you read someone else’s newsletter or blog and you feel they’ve missed something or you disagree, save the article or the link. At a later date you can write your additions or rebuttal. An added bonus to this method, the writer of the original article may choose to leave a comment or create a link to your post.
4. Stick post-it notes on pages in books where there is an interesting quote or new piece of information (you are always reading books in your industry, right?). Refer to the quote and offer your opinion about what the author has to say.
5. Pick a common problem your readers have and create a list article about how to solve it (guess what kind of day I’m having). Not only is this an easy article to write, list articles are often the most read blog posts – particularly if there are enough keywords in the title.
Andrea J. Stenberg
Having Trouble Creating Content For Your Blog or Newsletter? Change the scenery
Posted by: | CommentsYesterday morning I was sitting in my home office after getting my son off to the bus. My cat, Nemo, was rolling around in front of the computer while I checked my email (he likes a morning cuddle before he gets down to some serious napping for the day).
I read my email, read some blogs, played a game of solitaire Hearts. Generally, I was wasting time. I had lots of writing to do – a blog post, a new e-book, and my ezine. But I just couldn’t get started.
In an unusual move for me, I packed up my trusty laptop, grabbed a notebook and headed off to my favorite coffee shop. Other than the distraction of Nemo, my home office is wonderfully suited for work. I have a full-sized keyboard and mouse for my laptop, high speed internet access, every business book I could possibly need. It is quiet, well-lit with natural light and the beverages are free.
The coffee shop, on the other hand, is not. It’s a busy place, with lots of caffeine junkies coming in to get their morning fix. There’s tons of seating for people to catch up on gossip or to have meetings. There is a steady stream of interesting people walking by the floor to ceiling windows. Funky jazz is playing on the speakers. And the beverages are decidedly NOT free. It’s a very busy place.
I walked to the shop – a leisurely 20 minute stroll in the sunshine – ordered my coffee and muffin and set up my laptop. Words started pouring out of me. Great stuff – if I do say so myself – and quick. Work that would normally sweat out of me in about two hours took 30 minutes. Ideas flowed. It was great. It was magic. Why had I never done this before?
So, the next time you’re stuck, try packing up your laptop and finding a change of scenery. What have you got to lose? You’re not getting anything done anyway. Maybe the new locale will be just what you brain needs to jumpstart your creativity.
Andrea J. Stenberg
When you have these lack of motivation moments, what gets you out of your funk? Leave a comment and share what works for you.
Ten Ways To Get Ideas For Your Blog or Newsletter
Posted by: | CommentsAs a writer I write daily blog posts, weekly newsletters plus comments on other blogs and social networking sites. And that’s just for my own business. Never mind the writing I do for clients – newsletters, websites, articles and more.
With all this writing I need to do in any given week, it’s not surprising that occasionally, even as a professional writer, I get writers’ block. I sit down and don’t know what to write.
But because I’m a professional writer, I don’t have the luxury of letting writer’s block stop me. I don’t have any other tasks to do for my business – until someone figures out a way to make a living from Solitaire.
So today I’m going to share some tricks of the trade; things I – and other writers – do to keep the ideas flowing.
1. Use Questions From Customers
Keep track of questions you get from clients and prospects about your industry. If one person is asking you, odds are there are many more who are wondering the same thing. Write an article answering the question.
2. Read other blogs and newsletters in your industry
No, you don’t want to copy what they write – that’s plagiarism. But you can summarize another article – with a link to the original. Even better, you can add your own perspective on the subject.
3. Read books and magazines in your industry
An interesting fact my spark your interest and you can start an article with it. Or you can write a review of the book, letting readers know if it’s worth their time.
4. Use a quotation
I have a copy of Forbes Book of Business Quotations
5. Use LinkedIn Answers
LinkedIn Answers is a great way to get ideas for articles. You can see what other people are asking and use those subjects as topics. Or you can plan ahead and ask a question of your own and use the responses you get in your article.
6. Interview an expert
Interview an expert in your industry and then write about it. If you’re lucky, you’ll get several article ideas from one interview.
7. Use current events
Look at current events and try to connect your industry to them. For example, a public relations expert could use the protests over the Olympic Torch Relay to talk about how to manage negative publicity. A business coach could use the Ottawa Senators failure in the playoffs to lead into a talk about team building.
8. Use Google Alerts
Set up Google Alerts for important keywords in your industry. Check your most recent Alerts for ideas. Often just the headlines of what’s on the internet will spark an idea.
9. Do a case study
Write a case study of a success you had with a client. Focus on the problem your client had and how things changed for them after you solved this problem.
10. Create a list
Create a list of ways to do something your audience needs to know. A list like this one is quick and easy to write. The number of items on the list depends on how much information you have.
Summary
If every time you sit down to write you run into writer’s block, consider carrying a notebook where you can jot down ideas as they occur. Then the next time you need to write for your blog or newsletter, you just need to pick one from the list.
Andrea J. Stenberg
