Battling the Blocks
It’s late in the evening, you’re inside your content writing office, sitting on your content writing chair and screwing your eyes in concentration at your content writing computer. As a polite reminder, your boss IMs you that the client needs his articles ASAP (translated to ‘now, if not sooner’). You look around wildly, seeking some much-needed inspiration in vain; your mind seems to be running weary circles while your eyes gaze glassily at the screen. Yes, you’ve hit the dreaded writer’s block.
Professional writing demands consistency. As a writer, your job is to regularly churn out content that is similar in terms of tone, style, quality and quantity. “Be like the tortoise, not the hare,” as some stern seniors would exhort the rookie writer. But that’s something easier said than done. At some point, the creative nectar dries up, the Eureka moments you provided your readers are dead as a dodo, and you seem to be using repetitive phrases, words and even article structures.
However, there are some tips to follow so as to salvage something out of your mind-numbing writer’s block. This is no cure-all prescription, but might come in handy during those blank ‘stare-at-the-ceiling’ moments that all writers are wont to suffer at times:
· Scribbling is something that might have earned you a slap on the wrist with a wooden scale during your rug rat days, but as a writer, it is all but encouraged. Whenever a creative thought or an innovatively carved sentence enters your mind, scribble it down and save it for later. These can prove to be your saviours during writer’s drab.
· Infuse variety in your content selection. Even an exotic travel destination like Hawaii can become a mind-sore if you write copies on it every day. Switch to that pending work for Stocks and Investments; trust me, the change will be so refreshing that you will automatically deliver a good copy.
· Use the 3-Source rule. While writing a copy, always have at least three different sources that envisage the subject from distinct angles. This gives a better picture and allows for more detail, not to mention convenience for you.
· Finally, leave that stuffy cubicle for a while! Get out of the office for a few minutes, talk to a friend, have some tea (that sharpener of a writer’s mind!), get some fresh air. It helps, especially for us erstwhile creative folks!
Good content and creative juices do not stick to a timetable; they could happen during a bathroom break or stubbornly abstain despite tedious hours of brainstorming sessions. So, don’t take any chances, chalk up your own Plan B for the next time you plunge down the writer’s block-hole!
Well, the solutions for battling the creative blocks sounds very interesting, but not many writers incorporate all these points in their writing career. But i am sure, for novice people like me, it will definitely be an eye-opener. Nice reminder for all those folks who actually lost themselves somewhere in the maze of SEO writing…!!
06 Sep 2011 at 4:25 am
i personally like to battle writers block by a 10 minute stand up comedy routine by some of the greats. really helps clear up your head.
06 Sep 2011 at 4:31 am
^^^ An excellent choice. Will keep updating the post with such suggestions
06 Sep 2011 at 4:40 am
It becomes difficult to run after these points when you hardly have any time left, but if these points are taken care of then i am sure content writing will not drop its essence due to the SEO technique.
06 Sep 2011 at 4:41 am
Another way to kill writer’s block – share ideas, discuss with co-workers, brainstorm!
Or take a short snack break – food wakes up the grey cells in the brain.
06 Sep 2011 at 4:57 am
nicely explained mikhil, every writer would agree to have gone kaput some or the other time.
06 Sep 2011 at 4:58 am
@ Sonam, see, as far as scribbling goes, it can be done at any point of time, at home, during lazy work days or even during a drinking session with friends:-) You just have to be a little regular and create a sheet of fall-back ideas, thoughts and write-ups that can save the day for you during blockages.
No need to limit this practice only to SEO writing. Works everywhere!
And trust me, a writer’s block is not some mega-boss that you face in the last level of a game, more like the annoying hobgoblin who’s supposed to warm your trigger finger during practice rounds
06 Sep 2011 at 5:00 am
@ Kritica: duly noted!
06 Sep 2011 at 5:07 am
This is very helpful in writings where keywords are not an issue, but when a writer is suppose to use a single keyword for 25 articles and even then needs another angle to use it once more, scribbling will not do dear….it really blocks your mind.
06 Sep 2011 at 7:02 am
@Sonam: I smell a personal rant…But you’re right, those kind of situations do tend to take your mind off edge. Try some variety, switch content topics as much as possible and go for the suggestions offered by the others who have commented here. That ought to ease things up a bit!
06 Sep 2011 at 7:19 am
the block is not when you stop thinking, but when that part of the brain which relates memory to present actions wants to take a nap…and an extended one. the words touch your tongue, refuse to fall out of your mouth, they crawl down the nail bed, but can seem to go beyond the finger tips- the feeling- imagine an ocean of ant-like words crawling down your neck, over your face, down your
and all you can do is-draw a blank. you don’t have to be a rushdie to have it, but what you’ve suggested Mikhil look like decent weapons to win the battle that no one asked for!
06 Sep 2011 at 9:02 am
@Shalini: Enchantingly chilly depiction of a writer’s block, Shalini! Gave me that jittery feeling !
06 Sep 2011 at 9:40 am