Does this sound familiar to you: you are sitting frustratedly in front of the computer, your boss has asked you to finish the blog article by tomorrow morning and you still got no clue what to write? You just can’t seem to think of anything?
The deadline is approaching and your pulse starts racing at the thought of how you will get it all done by tomorrow …
NO MORE! As authors and writers we know them all: the writer’s block. But contrary to the prevailing opinion, one must not always wait patiently until inspiration arrives. What you should do instead is…
“Speed Writing”
To be honest: I just made up that name. But it sounds quite attractive, doesn’t it? 🙂
Speed Writing is about writing as much as possible in the shortest possible time. Instead of creating new pressure because of the high content demand, it follows the simple principle of
“Quantity brings Quality”.”
The truth is that not everything that you are going to write will be high-quality content. But that does not matter! Because average, relevant content is already good.
Let me specify: it is better to have acceptable content that can be optimized than having no content and expecting to jot down everything perfectly the first time.
Or as one of my mentors likes to say:
“Better to start imperfectly than to hesitate perfectly.”
How To Overcome Writer’s Block
Here’s how it works:
The next time you’re writing an article or text, just sit in front of the computer and write down everything you’re thinking.
EVERYTHING that is going through your head! Yes everything! Just jot it down, and even if it is associated with a little swearing. At least you are already typing, and the writer’s block is already over, right? 🙂
From experience, I can tell you what a wonderful and powerful way this is to get into great writing flow. And after 2-3 paragraphs, as a rule, concrete, usable content on the current topic is already produced.
There are two rules that must be followed though:
- Do not look at the screen while typing.
If you do this, you will just put yourself off your stride and start judging your content. It is best if you focus on a point to the right or left behind the screen (depending on the side of your dominant hand).Researchers in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) believe to have determined that if we move our eyes to the right side up, this is the best way to develop new, creative ideas, especially pictures.Even though this hasn’t been clearly proven by science – for me it performs miracles and helps to overcome even stubborn types of writer’s block. - No “Return” button, no correction!
Do we agree that writing and proofreading texts are two different processes? Good! Then why do you usually do both of them at the same time?Here’s what I mean by that: whenever you press the Return-key on the keyboard, you switch from writing to correction mode.Even if you just want to delete 1-2 superfluous characters, you are already starting to multitask – and thus completely killingthe writing flow. The myth of multitasking has long been disproven by research. And yes, I know what you’re thinking now! But even women would be better advised to stay with single tasking.
That is why the first rule works so well. If you do not look at the screen while typing, you are also less likely to correct possible typing errors.
However, you probably already recognize your typo while you are typing it. Attention! Just keep on tapping and resist the urge to correct it right away! For correcting it will prevent you from overcoming your writer’s block. Admittedly, this is not easy in the beginning, and requires practice, but with patience and practice, you can do it well!
As always: editing comes at the end
Maybe you’re wondering how this help you to finish a published post? Do not worry – editing always comes at the end. First of all the whole content has to be produced, only then it can be brought into shape.
If there is one thing that I could observe in 9 years as a language and learning trainer for high school students, then it is whether someone was in writing flow or not. And the body language speaks volumes here.
Those who are inspired to write look up into the air, at the wall – something as clear as possible – while taking notes, in order to sort the inner ideas and write them down promptly.
Those on the other hand, which are not in writing flow, look at the blank page desparately, impatiently while the inner critic becomes louder and louder “How come you still can’t think of anything?” (2nd person!) or identify directly with the despair (notice 1st person here…) “What am I supposed to write?”
There’s one more big writing killer of course – which is particularly instilled in high school: the envisaged number of words. Too many pupils begin reviewing their texts every other sentence anew to see if they have “fiiinally!!” reached the necessary number of words.
These habits are adapted by most of us, of course, also as adults – the writer’s block is literally pre-programmed.
1-2 revision rounds and finito
Back to your article. Whatever you put down on paper first: you should consider it as a raw text. It’s all there, but maybe not quite in shape…YET! It’s a diamond in the making, waiting to become that perfect piece of crisp content.
The 1st revision round is used for proofreading, restructuring and possibly also for shortening. They bring the whole into a clearer form with a central theme. What is most important? What is less important but also important? What conclusions can be drawn? What else should be done?
Questions like these help to give the text a clear structure. Are you satisfied with the design so far, it means again: pause before you start a second round of revision.
Round 2
The second round is for final proofreading and also provides the opportunity to check whether all the stated information is correct and complete.
If you are writing for blogs, check again the keyword density and increase it if necessary.
If you got the chance, let a colleague perform an external proofread / test read it. Then you’re all set – your text is ready for publication. Congratulations on your new, fresh unique content that will work for you :).
So keep in mind…
Just write it down, no matter what you are going through. Catch the inner voice on paper.
Type what the keyboard gives, and do not look at the screen. Write as long as your fingers are sore, until you have solved the problem internally.
Overcome the urge to correct and you’ll soon have more creative, expressive copy and texts in half the time!
