How to Overcome Writer's Block

If you write frequently--and even if you write only once in awhile--there are times when you're stumped for subject matter. As hard as you try, you just cannot come up with a topic for your column or article. You're like the kid at right as he tries to figure out what to write on the chalkboard. You've hit the brick wall that has bedeviled authors for centuries: writer's block.

(There is another, similar situation in which you can't bring an idea from top of mind to the keyboard. It's a form of brain lock, and I have a solution for that as well.)

What to do? Well, you could bang your head against the wall, but that would hurt a bit. And not really give you any good ideas, except on how to deal with a headache.

You could shut down your computer and walk away, but then you've allowed this perplexing phenomenon to defeat you. Writers, after all, are problem solvers. They ought to be able to solve their own problems, right? Of course. The following steps will help you come up with suggestions for your next column or article. And they don't hurt a bit.

First, keep in mind what I call the 4 Universal Themes. They are:

- Customer Service
- Increasing sales
- Decreasing costs
- Motivation/Inspiration

These themes provide the foundation for an article that you can tailor to your audience. Business people relate to all four categories. If your audience is consumers, you'll probably focus more on categories 1 and 4.

So, where do you turn for topic ideas?

1. Reflect on your experiences in life - Sounds simple and obvious, but this area is often overlooked, especially by those involved in B2B writing. What have you experienced while shopping, vacationing, taking a walk, or ordering online that you can use as the foundation for an article?

Readers hunger for stories, especially those that offer helpful suggestions or uplifting messages. Think deeply. Even the mundane can be made useful to someone else with the right kind of angle.

What if my topic has nothing to do with my business? Good question. For the most part you'll want to link the moral of your story to your business. Inspirational messages, however, have universal appeal. Used properly they can be powerful, and won't detract from your goal of educating your readers about the products/services you offer.

2. Other people's experiences - We've all attended a function during which someone recounted a challenging time in life--perhaps a life-threatening illness--but came out of it and is now on a new path in life. Weeks or months later you realize that would make a great foundation for a column or news article. Of course you didn't take good notes then. No matter. Contact the speaker anyway. He or she would be glad to retell the story.

3. Trade associations/trade journals - Tap into the information provided by your trade associations, whether via its Web site, trade journal, or newsletter. You're particularly interested in trends. Remember that your clients view you as an expert, but you can't expect to be on top of it all. Trade association folks make a living at that, and regularly post their thoughts in magazine articles, Web columns, and other formats.

4. The Web - As you know there is a nearly unlimited supply of information and ideas available via the Web. Remember to attribute properly if you use someone else's information.

Government agencies, especially at the federal level, are great resources, and are constantly issuing reports, generating new data, and otherwise providing useful information. Check out the EPA, FTC, SEC, and other agencies for ideas to use for your articles.

I'm sure there are other sources, but these will get you started. Writers are known for being resourceful. The next time you're at wit's end for a topic, try one of these sources. Writer's block, you will find, is but a temporary condition. Before you know it, you'll be typing furiously on your next column or article.
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Owner of Supreme Communications, LLC, a marketing communications firm, I have more than 20 years of experience in customer service, sales, and marketing. Please visit my blog for columns to help your business grow and prosper. You are welcome to join me on LinkedIn and Twitter. I offer more training in my YouTube videos. Do you like to travel, and help others do the same? Check out this fun and exciting opportunity.

You're coming out of a client meeting, pumped up because it went really well. You want to craft a thank you letter--indeed, you're fired up to, the meeting went so well--and can't wait to get back to your computer.

On the way back to your office (or hotel room) you begin formulating the letter in your head. It's a beauty, too, from start to finish. You kick yourself for not having a recorder, but figure what the heck; you'll be at your computer shortly.

After arriving in your office, you boot up your computer, and prepare to write this wonderful letter that's been floating on the top of your mind like a hologram. You plop down at your desk, put fingers to keyboard and....

Nothing.

You try to type. Nothing. Try again. Still nothing. The words just won't materialize on your screen. The letter is still planted in your head--you can just about reach out and grab it--but nothing happens. You simply are unable to write the letter you were almost jumping out of your shorts to compose just moments earlier.

What's going on here?

Put simply, your brain is getting in the way of a good piece of copy. Oh, it means well, but it's developed a mind of its own. And that's preventing you from completing your assignment. It's another form of writer's block.

Recall that as part of the writing process, you edit your material before sending it out. That process comes naturally now. As a result, whenever your brain sees some copy, it wants to edit or improve. You're stuck in this endless writing and editing loop. Here's what you do.

1. Start typing. Type whatever comes to mind about that topic. Could be phrases, sentences, bullet points, anything. Don't worry about grammar, order, and such. The key is to keep typing; download your brain.

2. Open a new page. Review what you've typed, looking for commonalities. Certain phrases will be related; bring those together and type them on your new page.

3. Review that sentence. As you read it you will instinctively ask yourself, "What would I say next?" Other portions of your original notes will now come into play. Bring those together to form a paragraph.

4. Sit back and read that paragraph. As you do, your brain will ask itself again, "What would I say next?" Ideas will pop in your head, which you will see in your notes. Bring those phrases and words together to form another paragraph.

5. After you have written two or three paragraphs, read them in their entirety. At this point your brain will wonder, "What would I say before?" You will now generate the opening sentences.

6. Again read what you have to fill in the missing portions. Before you know it, you will have a draft of your letter.

7. Edit and proof your piece, and send it out.

The key here is to give your brain a reference point; the initial sentence you created fulfills that need. With that on hand, you will fly through your project. You have unleashed the amazing power in your brain. But first you had to give it something concrete to work with.

Try this the next time you're having trouble writing a letter, column, or article. You'll be amazed at how quickly you type your material.
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Owner of Supreme Communications, LLC, a marketing communications firm, I have more than 20 years of experience in customer service, sales, and marketing. Please visit my blog for columns to help your business grow and prosper. You are welcome to join me on LinkedIn and Twitter. I offer additional training in my YouTube videos. Do you like to travel, and help others do the same? Check out this fun and exciting opportunity.