Somerset Maugham, a British playwright, said, “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
It happens to all of us: you’re flowing through all of your content, and then – it just stops. You’re stuck; you’ve gotten out all your thoughts, but you still need 200 more words to finish your blog.
So what do you do now? Before I start spewing off tips, I think it would be helpful to describe different ways writer’s block comes about. Here are the three most common types of writers block:
- You ran out of ideas: This is literally when you have a blank page that you keep staring at but no thoughts come to mind. I believe this is the most common type of writer’s block.
- You have too many ideas: It’s always great when you’re excited about a new blog or piece of content that you write so much, but in the end, none of it makes sense.
- You’ve exhausted your creative energy: It happens to the best of us. According to Hubspot, our mind is just like a muscle, if you push it too much it can give out.
Now that we’ve described the different types of writers block here are some ways you can overcome it.
Take your time
When I know I have a blog or content due, I like to give myself plenty of time to write it. Start a few days before to give yourself plenty of time to look over your work and track your progress. If you’re spending too much time writing, there will come a time when your body and your mind need a break. This gives you plenty of time to evolve your topic over a few days. Sometimes focusing on an unrelated task will inspire a that perfect concluding paragraph.
Keep Writing
Sometimes the power of persistence can get around most writer’s block issues. Keep writing, even if it has nothing to do with your topic; it will at least get your brain to think more creatively. Sometimes you just have to get some words out on the page without worrying how it sounds. Once you’ve written a few sentences or a paragraph, go back to your main topic. Writer’s Digest suggests allowing yourself to write badly in the early drafts. They say if you stop to judge, edit, delete, and rewrite, you will be spending all of your time playing reader or critic, not being a writer.
Ask a friend
When you’re stuck writing your content, especially for the same subject, it’s easy to run out of ideas. Get some advice from a co-worker; let them read what you have and let them give you suggestions. Even if the person isn’t familiar with your topic, they might give you an outsider’s perspective on what you’re writing. If you have too many ideas, this is can be a great way to make sure that your writing makes sense to the average person.
Restrategize
It might be a good idea to look back over your strategy for that particular topic. Maybe you’re missing something that you planned on covering in your writing that will give your work new life. It might also give you another angle that you haven’t thought of before.
Writing is hard, even for the most experienced authors. We often want our writing to be perfect, but we must remember each piece of prose is unique to the author and should be celebrated as such. Remember that you’re writing to a community you created, so keep it conversational and converse with them like you would in person.
There is a significant difference between professional and amateur writers; both experience writer’s block, but one pushes through it and the other becomes paralyzed. If you take these tips into account, you’ll be sure to get over the hump.