Quick Tip for Writer's Block
So, the other day I sat down to work on the first posts for my blogs. Again. And sat staring at the white screen. Again.
As I was sitting there, frozen with writer's block (which I have struggled with for years), I realized that I had just spent 20-30 minutes writing really long, passionate responses to posts in a couple of my favorite Facebook groups. One of those groups is full of online entrepreneurs, many of whom are super successful. I got great feedback on my posts, and so I thought about what allowed me to write easily when I was on Facebook.
Why can I write hundreds of words in a few minutes on social media, but get so locked up trying to write a blog post?
For me, there are two issues. Maybe these resonate with you.
1.) Confidence. Giving opinions on social media about things that I'm passionate about is easy. I'm just giving opinions in a post that will eventually drop off into the abyss and rarely be read again. I know I feel the pressure to be excellent when I'm writing blog posts. I've read SO many trainings on starting blogs that talked about "Epic Content!" that it starts to feel like an ideal you can never reach!
2.) Formality. When I had my first website, I learned to write authoritative, keyword-focused content pages. Much like the writing I did for school, it was more formal. The web has evolved since then and is much more conversational. I still have trouble making this switch.
So, today I decided to draft my next three blog posts in Facebook.
Surrounded my the familiar template of the "status update" box, I had a much easier time getting words out! Of course, I didn't publish it as a status update, I copied and pasted to NotePad to be finished later. But I was able to write three drafts in about 30 minutes, which is record speed for blog writing for me!
I'm also doing a month-long challenge on Becoming a Better Writer with one of my mentors, who supports her family with internet earnings. She has several niche blogs and sells PLR, and regularly churns out 40+ pages of content... per DAY. I'd be thrilled with 3-5 pages per day! That would be fantastic!!
Let me know if this tip works for you. Do you have any tips that help get you through writer's block?
Recent Comments
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Hi, Kim. Congrats on discovering a method of writing that works for you :-)
I also struggled with confidence when it came to writing. That, and my shyness. I'd been a silent observer for quite some time.
I find it helps to write my content out by hand as well as in notepad.
And I find that the more educated I become in a subject, the easier it is to write.
I wish you much success in your writing and in your online business.
Marsha
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Hi Ki, I don't do much Facebook at all. But I think perhaps you feel more relaxed and "natural" when you are writing on Facebook. A blog is daunting as it seems so much more formal. Writing as you (informal) when appropriate, may be the solution and get the words flowing. So yes, I agree with you that blog writing can/is daunting at times.