I have been writing non-stop based on the research being done by me on numerous topics in the past. I didn’t even take a moment to remark my 61 posts on the blog. I knew I was due with marketing and my research mostly drifted in that direction. Little did I know, that the pause will not just result in a drop in my users but also my writing abilities.
Enter Writer’s block
I first came across this term, “Writer’s Block” in my last company where the guy sitting next to me was also a Blogger. I used to read his blogs and was amazed to see the detail put in by him in explaining the story setup. It was a treat to read and I eventually imagined the characters from his perspective. But, then there was a sudden pause and he told me that he was going through the Writer’s block phase.
As I was not a blogger myself then, it didn’t bother me that much. I remember sipping tea and listening to him struggling with the content planning. However, he took his legit break and resumed writing by unloading some baggage that posed as a distraction. And things started moving swiftly in the right direction.
How I dealt with Writer’s block?
- I searched for the root cause – Being a curious spirit, there are multiple topics that your brain is evaluating subconsciously. I knew the block is getting bigger each day but I had no clue how to bounce back. It was then I realized that the inception of marketing has put a halt on my writing. I started thinking about how my known set of friends will respond. I completely ignored the comments received as appreciation. It was the fear of failure that stood between me and my passion for writing.
- Was I sticking to the schedule? – Procrastination led me to yet another maze where I started believing my research needed more time than writing and I was not ready to write. However, I was wrong. I started reading how others overcame their block and this blog helped me a great deal. I decided to embrace the challenge with all my love and acceptance. I kept the ray of hope alive that I will know when it is time to write and resume.
- Lack of Concentration – It took me some time to realize that I was taking longer to write because I was too distracted. Distraction in my case came in the form of notifications, social media pings and emails. I kept my phone on silent mode and resumed writing. It helped me study more efficiently and I could write more smoothly. I started to very clearly see what was pulling me back after I came across this blog by Jerry Jenkins.
- “Just Write” – My friend suggested me to keep writing. He said Aditee, you can write under your “Personal” capacity. Write about what you feel and even what all you do in a day. I pretty much can write about anything in my style here in no time. So, bouncing back with this piece made sense.
- Timed writing and making short notes – You cannot sit and write one blog for three days at a stretch. In this ever-growing competitive market of content, you can never risk your ideas getting away in someone else’s blog. I have started making notes and ensuring a quick write up summarizing my point of views on a topic. These ideas can hit you anywhere. Better, make a quick note on your phone and refer it before you start your blog.
- Reworking on your past content – When I am not writing, I am reading. Reading my older blogs and trying to draw a path for my next blogs. The admin panel of my blog is always opened in one of the
tab . I make sure I am actively taking care of comments and publishing them on the same day. The key is to stay in touch with your passion. Make time to say “Hi” to it daily. - Taking long walks – I clear my head by going out for long walks. I made sure I spent at least one-hour walking. Listening to my music which many times just has low and high beat combinations. I love EDM so lyrics take a back seat. I listened to songs which prepare me mentally to face things as they are.
My motivation to write comes from your comments and I am happy to read your comments using Google translate even if it is not in the english language. Keep letting me know what you think about this piece.
Lelia
March 18, 2019 at 8:07 pm
I located your website from Google as well as I have to say it was a terrific find. Many thanks!