Writer’s block is when you stare at an empty screen with the blinking cursor for hours. Dozens of ideas flit through your head but you can’t seem to put words to paper.
You’re dismissing every idea, or veto-ing it. Because it’s not creative enough, or there is not enough to write about or because it wouldn’t appeal to an audience.
All fine reasons for not writing an article. But all excuses.
So, why not just write? Even if it’s bad. Even if the idea doesn’t stick. Even if no one will read it.
Especially then.
Most of our writers’ block comes from what our mind pre-meditates as a judgment from others. Or so we think.
But how can there be a judgment when there is no work to judge it upon?
You know what they say: “Any PR is good PR”. But if you don’t put out any PR in the world then how can you get good PR?
Some articles suggest writing, without a goal in mind. But this is aimless and doesn’t yield good results.
Ever seen those Submission Guidelines that say “no journal entry-esque articles, please?” Yeah. Just writing without a general theme or topic makes it very easy to spiral off and talk about multiple un-connected threads. And even when it’s finished, it becomes another discouraging article that you wrote that proves why you shouldn’t have written something in the first place. Because there was no guiding principle or over-arching theme (i.e. a title) so the article seems scrambled and different parts seem out of place or displaced. Like that one paragraph belongs in a different article altogether.
Others suggest procrastinating.
It’s not just a productivity-killing tactic anymore. It’s an approach. Wait until the last minute of a set deadline (because without a deadline, you may never write another article again). Then, write like crazy. Use all the ideas, theories, and critiques that you ruminated in throughout the set time and then write it all down.
Don’t edit yet.
Save it for later. Just get something down on the page for now. Keep typing or writing until you think you’ve wrapped up what you wanted to say and you’ve nailed the main idea home for your reader. Add your tags and your header photo.
Hey, looks like your writer’s block is gone.
