It happens to even the most prolific wordsmith, the most tenacious talkers; sometimes the words just don’t come. That feeling of being speechless, of having writer’s block is incredibly frustrating. On my desk I have a series of little toys. I have a bright red and white mushroom, a little Japanese plant pet thing, Play-doh, a Darth Vader head stress ball, and Smurfette among scattered sticky notes with scribbled blasts of inspiration. Everything around my workspace is set to foster creativity. Yet sometimes it just ain’t happening. That doesn’t stop the fact that work needs to be done right? So here are a few ways to fight word block and harness inspiration.
Get up and walk around
This works so often and so quickly that I now pull out a pad and pen and set them on my desk before I get up to walk away. Something about a change of scenery or letting your mind work on the idea in your subconscious while you do something else causes the ideas to come rushing forward. Maybe it’s the mere act of getting the blood pumping, who knows.
Freewriting
This is a technique you might have learned in English class but it helps. Just start writing. Anything. Really. Just start out with this sentence “I am writing on this stupid blank piece of paper because I have no other ideas but I need to get a post done because my readers are waiting on another pearl of wisdom from me and what happens if they don’t get it they will be sad and their day will be less awesome …” Seriously go on from there. Write silly, don’t worry about punctuation or paragraphs or keeping to a single idea, by the middle to the end of the page your writing should start forming a solid idea for a blog post.
Visit some inspirational sites
There are bloggers I love because something in their writing, site design or energy inspires me. Lots of times these aren’t even bloggers in my niche. When I am having a hard time with a post, I’ll take a break and read some of these sites and then come back to my post a little refreshed.
Peruse your swipe file
What you don’t have one? You most definitely should have a swipe file. It should contain all the wondrous, amazing things you see on the Internet so that you can use those ideas as inspiration for your own. This file should be so bursting at the seams with creative ideas that just glancing in its very direction will leave you dripping in creative juices.
Know when to give up
Sometimes you need to recognize when you are simply trying too hard to push an idea. It may be a good idea, but maybe it’s not the right time for it. Scrap it and start from scratch on something else. You can always go back to that idea at a later date–maybe after it’s been in the swipe file mingling with the brilliance therein.
When you hit that block and the inspiration just doesn’t seem to come, keep in mind that the most successful people in the world face that same feeling from time to time. Don’t fight it. Use it as an excuse to take a break, relax and free your mind. Only a free mind can harness inspiration.
Shelly Cone is a journalist, public relations professional, and press release writer. She is also the owner of Beach Betty Public Relations, a California lifestyle design company offering press release services, media relations and collaborative marketing events to help you design your life by growing your business.