Writer's block SUCKS
Especially when you feel like you have something to say but just don't know where to start.
Here's how I cured it forever and now write hundreds of pieces of content for clients all over the world every week:
Especially when you feel like you have something to say but just don't know where to start.
Here's how I cured it forever and now write hundreds of pieces of content for clients all over the world every week:
The first thing you have to remember is that no writer in the history of writing has ever published their first draft.
Most writers will rewrite their draft at least three or four times before they’re satisfied enough with it to publish, so don’t get bogged down because what you say in the first draft isn’t perfect.
It never will be.
It never will be.
Now there are a couple of different ways to deal with each kind of writer’s block.
Yes, there’s more than one.
The first being topic-oriented.
This means that not even you find the topic you’re writing about interesting.
Yes, there’s more than one.
The first being topic-oriented.
This means that not even you find the topic you’re writing about interesting.
If that’s the case, it will be almost impossible for you to get the reader interested.
If you want to write about it, you need to consume as much of it as possible until you understand it inside and out.
If you want to write about it, you need to consume as much of it as possible until you understand it inside and out.
If this is the case, then you’ll need to either pick a different topic or research the topic more until it becomes interesting to you.
Learning about something for yourself to the point you can have a conversation about it means that you have enough interest to write about it.
Learning about something for yourself to the point you can have a conversation about it means that you have enough interest to write about it.
Another kind of writer’s block is what I call a total blackout.
You can’t even bring yourself to write the opening sentence, and you’re staring at the blank page like a zombie.
You can’t even bring yourself to write the opening sentence, and you’re staring at the blank page like a zombie.
When this happens, it could be for a few different reasons depending on whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction.
We’ll start with fiction because that’s usually where most people end up stuck.
We’ll start with fiction because that’s usually where most people end up stuck.
Fiction
The key to coming up with a good fiction story is a lot like coming up with a non-fiction book in that you always start with the problem.
In this case, it’s the villain or the antagonist in your story.
The key to coming up with a good fiction story is a lot like coming up with a non-fiction book in that you always start with the problem.
In this case, it’s the villain or the antagonist in your story.
Everyone always likes to focus on the hero or protagonist, but he or she only ever does anything in your story because of what the bad guy is doing.
This means you should develop the bad guy first.
Why is he bad?
What is his ultimate goal?
This means you should develop the bad guy first.
Why is he bad?
What is his ultimate goal?
What is motivating him to blow up the world with a giant laser beam?
What effect is he having on the good guy?
What effect is he having on the good guy?
If you’re not sure where to go with a fiction story, it’s because you don’t understand the bad guy enough, whether it be an actual person or some other disastrous character, such as a virus that turns people into zombies.
Throughout your entire story, your good guy is only ever doing anything because of what the bad guy is doing, even if they haven’t met or are even aware each other exists yet.
Take Star Wars, for example. Luke has no idea who Darth Vader is.
Take Star Wars, for example. Luke has no idea who Darth Vader is.
He is aware of the Empire and doesn’t like them very much because of the way they rule the universe, but that’s about it.
Still, he lives a certain way because of the Empire.
Still, he lives a certain way because of the Empire.
Another thing about Star Wars is that, like in a book or story, the inciting event takes place right at the very beginning.
The movie starts with a princess launching some robots into space with a secret message for the resistance right before she gets captured by a dude with a cape and respiratory issues.
Everything that happens to Luke from that moment on is a direct result of the bad guy taking a princess hostage and why.
If you’re stuck on where to go with a fiction story, go back to the bad guy.
If you’re stuck on where to go with a fiction story, go back to the bad guy.
If you’re stuck at the beginning of a fiction story, always start with the bad guy.
Your story always starts with your “big bad” doing something that will get the hero involved.
Now let’s move on to non-fiction writing.
Non-fiction
Your story always starts with your “big bad” doing something that will get the hero involved.
Now let’s move on to non-fiction writing.
Non-fiction
Similar to fiction, you’re going to start with the bad guy.
In this case, it’s the big problem that your content is going to solve for your reader.
If you’re stuck with writing non-fiction, always go back to the problem.
In this case, it’s the big problem that your content is going to solve for your reader.
If you’re stuck with writing non-fiction, always go back to the problem.
Chances are, you don’t understand it enough, and you need to go back and dig into it some more.
I’ll use this thread as an example.
What’s the problem?
You have writer's block and think your a bad writer.
What are the inner workings of that problem?
I’ll use this thread as an example.
What’s the problem?
You have writer's block and think your a bad writer.
What are the inner workings of that problem?
Misconceptions about being a good writer
Not knowing how to get rid of writer’s block
Not knowing how to get rid of writer’s block
Always go back to the bad guy or problem when you get stuck.
Is there something about the problem that you haven't covered yet?
Is there another problem within the problem you’re solving?
Is there something about the problem that you haven't covered yet?
Is there another problem within the problem you’re solving?
Going deeper to the root of the problem will always give you more to write about because you are pulling back more and more layers of the solution.
Now, if none of these things are working for you and you’re still struggling with a blackout, the problem is that you’re either burned out from writing or you need to walk away from the page for a bit.
If you’re preoccupied with something in your personal life and can’t focus, you’re not going to be able to write about it.
Walk away and come back later when you get your head right.
Also, set aside a specific time and place where you will do all of your writing.
Walk away and come back later when you get your head right.
Also, set aside a specific time and place where you will do all of your writing.
Make sure that wherever that is, you’ll be free from distractions.
This is one of my biggest issues when it comes to writing because I have a family, and I work from home.
This is one of my biggest issues when it comes to writing because I have a family, and I work from home.
It doesn’t take much for me to find myself in the middle of one of my kids’ latest fights with one another or my wife reminding me that I need to pick something up from the store.
Because distractions stop me from writing more than anything else, I started setting up on my patio with my coffee in the mornings when I got back from the gym.
I turn my phone off and give myself a hard cutoff time of 7 am to get as much writing done as possible.
I turn my phone off and give myself a hard cutoff time of 7 am to get as much writing done as possible.
Giving yourself a deadline is a great way to throw some words on the page for a few reasons.
Most people are more productive when they have a deadline than without.
The limited time frame makes you focus more on the writing and less on making it perfect.
Most people are more productive when they have a deadline than without.
The limited time frame makes you focus more on the writing and less on making it perfect.
Write first.
Edit later.
When I was writing my books, I had this terrible habit of trying to make what I was writing sound perfect as I was writing it.
Edit later.
When I was writing my books, I had this terrible habit of trying to make what I was writing sound perfect as I was writing it.
I ended up barely getting anything written, and most of my ideas vanished into thin air because I was too focused on putting a comma in the right spot or the spelling of a word.
You have to let go of perfectionism if you want to get the words out.
You have to let go of perfectionism if you want to get the words out.
Remember, you’re not going to publish the first draft.
Write as many words as you can about your topic first.
Don't worry about the spelling or any other grammar issues until later when you’re finished writing and it’s time to edit.
Write as many words as you can about your topic first.
Don't worry about the spelling or any other grammar issues until later when you’re finished writing and it’s time to edit.
The editing is where you’ll polish the writing and make it shine.
That's a wrap!
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If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @Rugged_Legacy for more of these
2. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
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