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#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Overcome Writer’s Block with Ann Gynn

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Overcome Writer’s Block with Ann Gynn

by | Oct 9, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

As content creators, sometimes we fall victim to the dreaded writer’s block.

It’s frustrating. And it’s stressful. It’s the last thing anyone wants to deal with, especially with a deadline looming in the near future!

If you want to learn how you can overcome writer’s block, you’re in the right place. This #ContentWritingChat recap covers how to determine if you’re really dealing with writer’s block, how to confront it head on, and what to do if it keeps happening to you.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Overcome Writer’s Block with Ann Gynn

Our guest host for this month’s chat is Ann Gynn. She’s an Editorial Consultant for our friends over at Content Marketing Institute. Ann wrote a post for their blog all about beating writer’s block, so we knew we had to have her guest host and share some tips with us. So, let’s dive into the recap!

Q1: What does writer’s block really mean?

Before we dive into the helpful tips, we need to get to the bottom of what writer’s block really is. Here are some of the responses we received from our chat participants:

Ann views writer’s block in two different ways, short-term and long-term. In the short-term, she feels it’s struggling to articulate what you’re trying to say. But in the long-term, she says it’s a mindset of those who generally find writing problematic.

Lexie also views writer’s block in a couple of different ways. On one hand, it could be feeling unsure of what to write, but sometimes it’s struggling to put your thoughts into a written piece that makes sense.

Katie believes writer’s block is all in your mindset. Sometimes you’re just not in the mood to write, maybe you’re tired or other thoughts are consuming your mind.

And sometimes you just might have too much going on in your head that it’s hard to get it all out onto paper or on the screen.

Q2: How do you know if it’s writer’s block or a problem with your preparation (i.e. research, interviews, etc.)?

Sometimes you might not be dealing with writer’s block. It could be a different problem holding you back! Here’s how to get to the root cause:

Ann’s advice is to review your notes and see if you have all the information necessary to create a great piece. If not, you’ll have to go back to the prep stage. She also finds it helpful to write a simple outline of your article to get started.

Lexie agrees that creating an outline is helpful. If you can create an outline, odds are it’s just writer’s block and not issues with your prep. However, if creating the outline is a struggle, it’s time to do more research.

Q3: How can you overcome writer’s block?

Now, let’s get into the really good stuff. Here’s some advice on how you can overcome writer’s block the next time it creeps up:

These tips that Ann shared are great, especially reiterating Michelle’s advice on snacking on some chocolate!

Another awesome tip that Ann shared was to break down your article into smaller tasks and assign deadlines for each. For example, blocking off time in your calendar for writing the introduction and then tackling the body later.

If you can, step away from the screen. Sometimes you just need to take a break because you never know when inspiration may strike.

Karly suggests turning on a Spotify playlist. While she goes for classical, you might want something upbeat that you can dance to. Whatever works best! She also recommends trying the Pomodoro technique to just start writing, even if it isn’t your best work. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Get the words onto paper (or the screen) and edit later.

Lisa turns to music as well when she needs to overcome writer’s block. Always a winning idea!

The next time an idea comes up, spend 5-10 minutes jotting down your ideas like Michelle suggests. That should be really helpful when it comes time to create the full article.

And remember that everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for you, so try a variety of things to see what helps you shake writer’s block.

Q4: How can you confront writer’s block when you can’t leave your desk?

While many choose to get away from the desk and take a break, sometimes you just can’t do that. Here’s what you can do if you’re struggling with writer’s block, but are chained to the desk:

Ann suggests getting away from the screen and doing something else on your to-do list. She even likes to play Scrabble Go on her phone, which is certainly a welcome distraction.

This would be a great opportunity to just get out a journal and start writing something else. Record details of your day, maybe write a gratitude list, anything. Just give it a go!

Q5: What happens when you overcome writer’s block, only to have it again later in the same piece?

There’s nothing worse than having writer’s block rear its ugly head yet again! This advice should help you out if it keeps happening:

Revisit your goals. Ann says to determine what you’re trying to accomplish and revise your plans as needed.

If you just can’t seem to overcome writer’s block, it may be worthwhile to just call it quits for the day. Walk away from the piece and come back to it the next day.

Karly suggests going for a walk outside or tackling something else on your to-do list.

Q6: What if I’m experiencing writer’s block with every assignment/task I tackle?

There might be something you can do differently if you find that you’re prone to experiencing writer’s block. Check out these suggestions:

Ask yourself if you truly enjoy writing or if some other thoughts are holding you back from being a great writer. Be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling.

Is the problem due to a lack of motivation? Or is it a lack of preparation or focus? Figure out what the root cause of your writer’s block is so you can address it head on.

It’s also wise to ask yourself if writing is something you truly want to do before continue to push forward.

It could just be a case of burnout and it might be time to take a break.

Q7: Are there steps I can take to prevent writer’s block in the first place?

These tips will really come in handy the next time you sit down to write. Jot down your favorites to put them to use!

Ann’s advice of creating a writing process you can replicate each time is great!

Make sure you do your research. When you have all the necessary information for your article beforehand, it’ll be easier to write.

Karly suggests paying attention to what helps you feel productive and do those things before you start writing.

And finally, figure out when you’re most productive and make that your dedicated time for research and writing.

Join us for the next #ContentWritingChat! It takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central. Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the latest.

Copywriting Fixes: How to Beat Writer’s Block and Churn Out Decent Copy

Copywriting Fixes: How to Beat Writer’s Block and Churn Out Decent Copy

by | Aug 15, 2017 | Copywriting

As a copywriter, I wheel and deal with words.

Every word I write is worth something: money in the bank, bills paid on time, food in my fridge.

Needless to say, when your words are your currency, you have to be able to produce.

Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple. There are all kinds of scenarios that threaten my writing.

Sometimes my dog sits at the foot of my chair and stares up at me for minutes at a time. Her eyes get big and sad.

Eventually, she sits up on her hind legs and reaches out one little paw, giving me a gentle pat on the leg. “Hey, remember me?” she seems to say. “I depend on you for survival.”

cutedog

At this point, I can only sigh deeply and try to understand what she wants. Usually, this is her not-so-subtle way of asking for a bathroom break.

My dog is the least of my worries, though. There are other barriers to writing.

The worst of them seems beyond my control.

Writer’s block.

This anxiety-inducing state is not only dreaded but unavoidable.

Seconds, then minutes, tick by as I sit motionless, staring at a blank page and a blinking cursor. These two portents of doom taunt me.

This is the point where I have to act, or I’ll never get out alive.

So, what should a copywriter do in the face of this self-created melodrama? Writer’s block can be a hard thing to beat. If you’re still with me, I’ll show you my strategy.

how to beat writer's block

A Copywriter’s Guide to Winning Against Writer’s Block

Writer’s block can be a copywriter’s nemesis. It doesn’t want you to write a word, and it certainly doesn’t want you to get in a groove.

Here’s how to fight back.

1. Focus – No, for Real

I know if I have writer’s block, my mind is elsewhere. If it’s the same for you, I suggest sitting back and discovering where your mind has gone (or when).

Then, yank on it and rein it in.

Put your phone away. No, don’t put it in your pocket or set it within arm’s reach. Get up, go into the next room, and literally hide it from yourself. You’ll thank me when you don’t have notifications pinging at you every 20 seconds.

Next, close every extraneous browser window/tab you have open. Just say no unless it’s essential to your process. For instance, I like to leave a tab open for an online thesaurus. It’s useful for cases of overused adjectives (“great,” “beautiful,” and “excellent” are common culprits).

Once you have eliminated distractions, center yourself. Meditate on the topic you’re writing about. If your mind wanders off again, pull it back, and be firm with yourself.

2. Do You Need Mood Music?

Once your distractions are gone, you may feel antsy. Sometimes, the silence amplifies writer’s block. It becomes a solid, menacing entity versus a metaphor for brain fog.

In these cases, I recommend background music.

Example (purchased from MelodyLoops):

This infographic from WebpageFX gives you an idea why:

music-and-productivity-1

I’m talking about the kind of music that gets your brain quietly but steadily moving, like a running brook. You don’t want waterfalls – unless you prefer that mind environment. If that’s you, by all means.

For me, a quiet, steady, musical movement equals production in an equal measure. Like the music, the words drop at a constant beat and keep coming. It’s not just like a brook, it’s like a faucet turned on to a continual drip.

I require instrumental music. Not angry, dramatic symphonies or complicated melodies, but simple arrangements. A piano, a violin. Clear notes at a moderate pace.

For you, this might be totally wrong. I recommend searching your favorite music app until you land on something that sets your perfect writing mood.

If this sounds incredibly fussy, believe me, I know. However, if your currency is words, you’ll understand.

3. Light the Wick

Here’s another scenario: What if you don’t need music? What if you only need ideas?

Chances are, if you’re a copywriter, you had a topic handed to you. Whether you find it inspiring, the client needs 1,500 words expounding on it.

If you look at the topic and feel dead inside, you probably need a therapist. If you look at it and feel blah, you need to light the wick.

How?

Strike the match. Start by skimming everything you can find on the web about that subject. Read every article, blog, and website you can with the time you have. If applicable, look at pictures, too. Get inside the topic and swim around.

Reading is one the best ways, I find, to get inspired and find your footing. Once you have a better idea of where you are, you can discover an angle to explore.

If you can, make that angle as interesting to you as possible. Not only will it be more fun to write, that interest will bleed into your tone.

Let’s face it: We all know when a writer is bored to death. To combat that bored tone from boring your readers, get in there and find the interesting side.

Writer's creativity

Comic by Grant Snider

4. Resort to the Dying Arts

So, what if silence isn’t bothering you? What if distractions aren’t an issue? What if you have ideas, but the writer’s block is still there?

If you’re blank, you need my last-resort strategy. It requires three steps:

  1. Get out a notebook.
  2. Grab your favorite pen.
  3. Write – in cursive.

I’m not talking about the modern scrawl you use to sign checks and jot grocery lists. I’m talking about formal, cursive handwriting.

Yes, the type they don’t want to teach in schools anymore. The kind you practiced during painstaking sessions of loops and swirls in second grade. That one.

When all else fails, this causes my brain to light up in a new way. I start thinking differently than when I’m typing. Sometimes, I’ll even jot down a whole introduction to my article in cursive. Then I switch back to the keyboard to keep going.

It works like a charm. Try it out and see what happens.

The Number One Writer’s Block Tip? Just Do It

When all the tricks and cursive writing in the world don’t help, there’s one last-ditch cure left.

Just do it.

Nike trademarked this phrase for a reason. It’s motivating.

Sit down and do it. Don’t overthink it. Just write.

writer's block

Image via QuoteHD

Meanwhile, writer’s block has retreated to a dark corner. It’s rubbing its hands together and whispering, “Until we meet again…”

You’re not worried, though.

You’ll be ready.

Is writer’s block plaguing your content efforts? Express Writers has a team of pro writers that consistently block crushers. Let us help.

cta great copy