I Have Writer's Block

by Allen Graves

Posted: 15 years ago 23 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Just thought I'd let you all know that it can happen to anybody!

I've been writing web content for years and I like to think I'm pretty good at it...fluent, one might say.

But there are times when the faucet just runs dry!

I have tried to write just one article today...ONE! But I just can't do it. I've tried a few different niches, but nothing comes out right!

So, rather than getting frustrated and pissed off, I am going to call it a day and consider it a day well spent.

I did get a lot of other stuff done today that I needed to finish.

My suggestion for when YOUR faucet runs dry?

Stop...put it away...forget about it...move on to something else...for at least a day.

Suddenly, it will come flowing back like a dam break, so don't sweat it!

Did you have a good day today too?

Respectfully,
Allen Graves

#block #writer

Mary Gallivan 15 years ago

Hi Allen

Funny you should say that - I've had a 'motivation to work' block today :-) I just couldn't seem to get going on what I need to learn. I've done the day to day essential things so that was good but I think my brain was simply shouting at me today - 'Give me a break!' So that's what I've done.

I've been in and out of here all day and doing google searches for certain things but feel as if I should have done more.

I agree with you when you say "Stop...put it away...forget about it...move on to something else...for at least a day."

Tomorrow's a new day!

Best wishes

Mary
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ndcole78 15 years ago

Usually when this happens, it means that you're burnt out. I usually take 2-3 days off to rest my brain and refresh myself. After I've done this, I can go for weeks with no problem. If that doesn't work, mind mapping always works for me.
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JayXtreme 15 years ago

This is soooooo weird..

I was exactly the same today.. I was a little worried about it this morning.. but I went back to bed, got up again and still nothing...

SO..

I doubled my Adspend on G, and then spent the day playing lego bricks and building an advent candle at the play group with my daughter..

The day increased my profits and I feel refreshed... maybe writing less content ain't so bad after all..lol

You can see the Tweets in my Twitter timeline as I documented this lack of focus this very morning..it must have been the air pressure or something today.

Peace

Jay
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- Steven Wagenheim 15 years ago
  
  Allen, the day that happens to me...I'm putting a gun to my head.
  
  I don't think I've ever had true writer's block a day in my life. It's almost
  like my head is a non stop supply of nouns and verbs.
  
  And if I ever need even the littlest bit of help, I play the random letter game.
  
  Go here:
  
  RANDOM.ORG - True Random Number Service
  
  They have tons of random generators, including one for letters.
  
  I first pick out one for numbers and set it to generate a random number
  from 1 to 6. That's how many words will be in the title of my article.
  
  I then go to the letter generator and generate that many letters.
  
  Sometimes they make no sense (like when you get z's and x's) but
  sometimes they give me great ideas and I come up with some killer
  article titles and ideas for them.
  
  Other things I do...
  
  Listen to music
  Go for a walk and look around
  Watch TV
  Read some news stories
  Come here
  
  It's usually about 10 minutes tops before a brilliant idea springs up and
  I'm writing again.
  
  Of course when you've been writing almost non stop for 30 plus years
  it helps.
  
  A lot.
  
  Thanks
  
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Allen Graves 15 years ago

Cool tips, Steven.

I also will sometimes just get in the car and drive. I turn off the radio and burn some gasoline. I may be weird, but it works for me. LOL

AL
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Every day I check the obituaries. If I don't see my name there, then I know it's going to be a good day!
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- Elmer Hurlstone 15 years ago
  
  Al,
  
  It seems as though it's an epidemic of mild proportion. It's not affecting all regions of the country. At least not the Northeast since Steven is not suffering like a couple of us in the "sunny" South.
  
  Like most I've known for years the only way to "work through it" is to do what you can't do.
  
  Write, write and write more!
  
  Hitting my favorite forum often helps. I can come here and whine and moan a bit. This will result in one of two things-sympathy or derision.
  
  Regardless of the response I now have something to do. Write replies!
  
  The actual act of thinking and physically writing reprograms me.
  
  As I hope this reply will...
  
  Elmer
  
  Thanks
  
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Buildingfutures 15 years ago

Haha! I'm always with writers block!

But I'm so ADD that I'm usually doing something else by the time I finish trying anyways.
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SickHippie 15 years ago

I have been experiencing the writer's/motivation block today as well. It seems my brain just won't get fired up and excited. I know what is causing it (got some bad news yesterday), but I can't seem to fix it. I've tried extra coffee, taking a walk, playing games, reading a book, listening to music, all the normal things I do to break out of the slump. Nothing is working at all.

I'm glad I came in here today - I'm going to take Allen's advice and put it away for a while. Maybe while I'm at my day job tonight everything will come flooding in and I can write a bit there.

It would be nice, eh?
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J.Knight 15 years ago

Number one remedy:

Take a shower for as long as is necessary. The warm running water over your head not only helps you to relax, but it never fails to get the creative juices flowing.

Try it. Works a treat!

JK
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- KenJ 15 years ago
  
  Hey Allen
  
  I'm cooking on gas today. (That means I'm am having a good day here in the UK)
  
  Let me donate an article to you to get your creative juices flowing.
  
  PM me keywords and subject
  
  [ 2 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Elmer Hurlstone 15 years ago
  
  Not my thread and not to any significant degree my problem; notwithstanding my previous post.
  
  Although by now I shouldn't be, I'm continually amazed by the kindness and generosity of virtual strangers.
  
  Ken, even though your day is drawing rapidly to a close you're in here offering to assist a man that you probably have never met and don't know except through the movement of electrons.
  
  Your thoughtfulness and the myriad other little kindnesses shown by Warriors to each other each and every day are what makes this a fantastic community.
  
  Elmer
  
  Thanks
  
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Allen Graves 15 years ago

Hey thanks, kenj!

I was gone for awhile - went out for some Japanese Food at a place in Tampa called Wasabi. Good stuff. Elmer, if you've never been, I recommend it.

You're probably asleep by now, kenj...but thanks for the offer anyway! The people here kick ass!!

AL
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- JohnMcCabe 15 years ago
  
  Hi, Allen...
  
  What do you think of our little cold spell? Highs in the seventies feel cool after the summer we just had. (Had to slip in a little dig for the folks dealing with actual winter )
  
  Anyway, on to writer's block...
  
  I have two ways to deal with it, besides the "take a hike" approach.
  
  The first one appeals to the stubborn kid inside. I tell myself that, no matter what, I am not allowed to write an article today - es ist verboten. That smart-ass kid will likely as not pop up with an "Oh yeah? Watch me" reaction and the article gets written just for spite.
  
  The other is for times when you want to write, but the blank page gets you. I deconstruct things. Maybe it's an ad, maybe a news story. Rants are good motor-starters for me. Usually no one evers sees it, but it gets the job done. I feel better, and the juices are moving again.
  
  For anyone celebrating Thanksgiving today, have a great day!
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Kevin Riley 15 years ago
  
  It's called Thanksgiving Stupor. All that turkey --> tryptothan --> serotonin production --> sleepiness.
  
  Try the Riley cure. Kick up your feet, take cap of Jamesons bottle, fill and drain glass a number of times. When you make no sense at all, start writing sales letters.
  
  Thanks
  
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  Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan
  
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Kunle Olomofe 15 years ago

Allen,

Some posts just need to be bookmarked. Done.

Thanks will bring up this post next time I fall flat on my face, or computer screen...

Cheers,

Kunle

PS: To answer your question, I didn't have what you would call a good day today, long story! But I'm not sweating it 'cos some days will be good, and some won't be it's just simple math. I'm holding out for the next round of good days.
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WebSlicers 15 years ago

Oh my! It happens to me, too.

Most of the time, I must say. Especially when my 1-year-old son seems to be deliberately making it hard for me to write... even for my personal blogs. :rolleyes:
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- arramal 15 years ago
  
  As a Musician, writing songs, I know the feeling. I usually spend a few minutes stretching and doing breathing exercises. Paying close attention to clearing my mind. It's a quick way to thwart a mild case of writers block.
  But as you were saying sometimes you just need a day off.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  PatriciaJ 15 years ago
  
  It happens to everybody. I promised my business partner that I would review a new a new album by a heavy rock band a few weeks ago and I was completely stuck for days. Then I looked at it from a different angle and described how some of the tracks made me feel. Now the rock band are my best buddies because I did something different to the norm.
  
  Another trick that I use to get the words flowing is to review the last book that I read because my thoughts about it are there in my head.
  
  Trouble is when the words and ideas are flowing I don't have enough time to write everything that I want to.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  lisa mesa 15 years ago
  
  Write about what makes you angry.
  
  There is so much energy in anger that can be positive if you direct it into a worthwhile activity.
  
  Thanks
  
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dsmpublishing 15 years ago

im having a writers block day today. i normally write quick a few on my writers day but ive only managed 5 IM ones in 4 hours which isnt like me.

never mind ill make up for it this afternoon.
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Hardi Wijaya 15 years ago

What about trying a Q&A approach? It'll force you to 'defend' yourself by needing you to reply to irritating questions. You'll all writing resources directly from yourself instantly

I remember Joe Vitale mentioned about a software. My own copy was long gone. I don't know where to get it online. Maybe someone could help.

Hardi
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dsmpublishing 15 years ago

im taking part in a free giveaway at the moment and theres some brilliant free article software on there for you to use have a look at http://www.dsm-publishing.com/giveaway
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jedz Banned 15 years ago

Im not a writer but we have several writers in our pool who might have experienced those things. I think I need to tell them these great advises.
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Charann Miller 15 years ago

Writer's block or "Mental Constipation" happens to all of us at some point, unless ofcourse you're Steven (lucky for some).

When I get a lack inspiration or the ideas aren't flowing into my fingertips I switched gears do a 180 and work on something else and let my batteries recharge.

It is possible to try too hard and get I guess what only can be called article writing performance anxiety. The best thing to do is to not put too much pressure on yourself.

If the idea well has run a little dry, pick a great niche, print out 10 bits of information on it, articles, blog posts, etc, read them all. Then start writing what you've just read, reconstitute the information into your own words with your own voice infused into it. That's what works for me, and it's a quick way to become an expert in a new field.
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