I recently listened to a podcast with Seth Godin and he explained that writer’s block is simply the fear of writing poor content. He had mentioned that he had learned this while working with Isaac Asimov, who used to write for hours at a time and then mine the best content from the session. Little did I realize that a mere few hours after listening to the podcast, I’d struggle to find something to write about.
Writing seems easy, but can actually be very difficult. So sure enough, when I sat down tonight to write a blog post, I struggled to get started. I looked at my site stats and various sites that analyze my traffic for ideas, but nothing jumped out at me. So I sat back in my chair, and thought about how much I can’t stand writer’s block, and then bam – there’s my topic.
We’re all different, and what works for me may not work for you. However, there are always things we can learn from each other. So here are my 10 tips:
Start a free write. Simple sit down at your computer or with pen and paper and write. Write whatever is on your mind, describe what you see around you, write about your day. The point is to just start writing.
Write a product review. Find something you’ve used recently, preferably something you really like (or really dislike), and share the pros, cons, and some tips to get the most out of it.
Write about someone you know. Share a memory, a lesson, or other takeaway from your relationship with that person.
Write about a dream. Not a goal, but an actual dream that you’ve had while sleeping. We often have dreams (or nightmares) that stick around in our heads for years. The setting, a person, or an event from the dream might be the perfect start for your next novel.
Write about an activity that you’re good it. Maybe it’s sports, making pizza, or juggling. Pretend someone is interviewing you and share your best advice.
Write about a trip. It could be your most recent or most memorable. Describe it in great detail – touch upon all five senses.
Write about something you want. If you have a vision board, pick something from there and go into great detail about what it is, why you want it, and how you’ll get it.
Write about a color. It can even be a shade of a color such as royal blue or lime green. What does the color make you think of? How would you feel if you lived in a house, or had a room, painted that color?
Write about an article of clothing that you own. What do you love it about it? How does it make it you feel when you wear it? What’s your favorite memory in which you were wearing it?
Write about a song. Describe the song in detail – it’s tempo, style, etc…. Why do you like/dislike it?
So next time you need something to write about, try one of the above starting points. If you’ve had success with any of these, I’d love for you to leave a comment below with the details. Happy writing!
I recently listened to a podcast with Seth Godin and he explained that writer’s block is simply the fear of writing poor content. He had mentioned that he had learned this while working with Isaac Asimov, who used to write for hours at a time and then mine the best content from the session. Little did I realize that a mere few hours after listening to the podcast, I’d struggle to find something to write about.
Writing seems easy, but can actually be very difficult. So sure enough, when I sat down tonight to write a blog post, I struggled to get started. I looked at my site stats and various sites that analyze my traffic for ideas, but nothing jumped out at me. So I sat back in my chair, and thought about how much I can’t stand writer’s block, and then bam – there’s my topic.
We’re all different, and what works for me may not work for you. However, there are always things we can learn from each other. So here are my 10 tips:
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