Content marketing is blossoming as an industry and as a strategic toolkit for businesses of all sizes and individuals of all professional stripes.
That means that more people are writing and publishing their work than ever before.
And that means that more people are encountering the confounding emotional state of “writer’s block” than ever before. We’re here to share that we feel your pain.
Writer’s block is a tough obstacle to surmount. Every blank page holds the promise of viral content, brand elevation, and conversion optimization! If only it were so simple!
This guide is your blueprint for transforming insidious writer’s block into a catalyst for groundbreaking blog posts that captivate and convert.
What Is Writer’s Block?
We’ll just say it: There’s no such thing as “writer’s block.”
Yes, we used the term in our headline, and you’ll see it throughout this piece, but that’s only because we know so many writers are searching for help for this problem!
The concept of writer’s block is the nemesis of content creation, manifesting as a perplexing blend of idea paralysis and creative stagnation. It’s the white noise that drowns out innovation, rooted in the psychological trenches of fear and perfectionism. Sounds terrifying!
Recognizing its mechanisms is your first move in a strategic play to reclaim your creative prowess.
Writers on Writers’ Block
Seth Godin: “People with writer’s block don’t have a problem typing. They have a problem living with bad writing, imperfect writing, writing that might expose something that they fear. The best way to address this isn’t to wait to be perfect. Because if you wait, you’ll never get there.”
Neil Gaiman: “Go do something else. Chop wood. Go for a walk. Go for a run. Go for a swim. Go garden. Go play with small children. Go explore kittens. Go feed the chickens. Go do whatever it is that you can do. 2, come back pretending you have never read it before– the old pretend you’ve never read it before technique. Start at the beginning, and read it through. Very, very often, once you do that, where the story should be becomes obvious.”
Toni Morrison: “I disavow that term[, writer’s block]. There are times when you don’t know what you’re doing or when you don’t have access to the language or the event. So if you’re sensitive, you can’t do it. When I wrote Beloved, I thought about it for three years. I started writing the manuscript after thinking about it, and getting to know the people and getting over the fear of entering that arena, and it took me three more years to write it. But those other three years I was still at work, though I hadn’t put a word down.”
Jhumpa Lahiri: “I think ‘writer’s block’ is a natural part of the creative process for almost all writers. There are times when one is bursting with ideas and inspiration and all the necessary components—time, focus, etc.—are in place. But there are other times when one or more of those elements is missing and writing is more difficult as a result. I have written for long enough to accept these patterns, and to understand that the blocks are temporary, that eventually, if one sticks to a schedule and tries to write on a regular basis, something will eventually come. I think a lot of what people refer to as ‘writer’s block’ is the period during which ideas gestate in the mind, when a story grows but isn’t necessarily being written in sentences on the page. But it’s all necessary, in the end. If I am feeling stuck or uninspired, I usually take a break and read. That always gets me going again.”
All right, so what’s the move here?
Strategies for Overcoming Writer’s Block
Setting the Foundation
Prime your environment for productivity.
A sanctuary of focus, free from the cacophony of distractions, coupled with a rigorously maintained writing schedule, conditions your brain for creativity.
When you’re in the place where you do your creative work, you will do your creative work.
Freewriting and Brainstorming
Consider the art of the “freewrite.”
Deploy freewriting as your secret weapon: Set a timer, and let your thoughts cascade unfettered onto the page. This tactical diversion disarms your inner critic, uncovering the raw material for innovative ideas.
Supplement this work with strategic brainstorming, perhaps using simple lists to dissect your topic from every conceivable angle, guaranteeing a treasure trove of content ideas. Bullet points can be a very refreshing tool for mapping your way into a creative project.
Break Down the Writing Process
Divide and conquer your writer’s block by chipping the writing task into digestible segments.
Outline first to construct a skeletal framework, then march toward your content milestones. What are you really trying to say? What are the important steps to get to that message?
This approach not only demystifies the task at hand but also secures a smooth transition from ideation to publication, ensuring a consistent cadence of high-quality content.
Seek Inspiration
Fuel your creativity with a diverse diet of stimuli, but take care not to go overboard with an information tsunami! Consider your favorite blogs and their helpful industry insights to electrify your own narrative prowess.
Venture beyond the written word—let music, art, and the natural world invigorate your creative senses, infusing your content with unparalleled depth and dynamism. For instance, would some late-’60s Miles Davis take your work in an enlightening new direction? Try it out!
Overcome Perfectionism
Banish the specter of perfectionism with the liberating principle of the “first draft freedom” or “shitty first draft.” This is harder than it sounds…
Grant yourself the latitude to create without constraint, understanding that refinement is a journey taken in subsequent revisions. This mindset shift unleashes your creative flow, setting the stage for iterative perfection.
Leveraging Feedback and Support
Feedback is your crucible for content refinement. Use it to your creative advantage.
Forge alliances with peers, mentors, or writing collectives to subject your work to the fires of constructive criticism–even the negative feedback!
This external lens can illuminate unseen weaknesses and inspire transformative enhancements, elevating your blog to a beacon of engagement and insight. Moreover, a robust support network propels you through periods of doubt, ensuring relentless forward momentum in your content journey.
Employing Digital Tools and Resources
Arm yourself with an arsenal of digital tools designed to streamline the creative process. Leverage cutting-edge apps for organization, precision grammar tools for flawless copy, and strategic content planning software for tactical alignment. Hey, even AI has a place here as an organizational tool!
These digital platforms may augment your content and provide new ways of looking at a project that’s delivered you to the anxiety-inducing headache of writer’s block.
Which leads us to…
Writer’s Block Never Really Goes Away!
Navigating the labyrinth of writer’s block and creative challenges requires resilience, strategy, and a touch of audacity.
By mastering these techniques and fostering an environment of creativity, you can transform every blank page into a potential masterpiece that achieves your most ambitious marketing goals. Embrace this refined approach with confidence, and lead your content to the forefront of innovation and success.
Through this enhanced lens, marketing professionals are equipped to transcend the barriers of writer’s block, crafting content that is not only smarter and savvier but irresistibly engaging—content that doesn’t just speak to the audience but enchants them, fostering unparalleled brand loyalty and driving measurable results.
Photo by Ryan Snaadt