Written by: Olga Zapisek, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It creeps up on you unexpectedly. And usually at the most inconvenient time. For a straight month, you’ve been on a roll. You felt unstoppable and were all jazzed up about it. Nothing could throw you off. Until today.
Now all you’ve got are frozen fingers and a blank screen shining brightly in your face, putting your predicament front and center in the spotlight.
Ah, writer’s block. The super sneaky thing that makes you want to scream, “this content sh*t is really hard!” and climb straight into the lion’s den. Surely, being devoured by a pride of hungry Simbas with shaggy golden manes is better than this headache-inducing agony.
OK, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. Yeah… let’s scratch that. After all, they do have pointy teeth. Ouch.
But coming up blank is a bloody nightmare, too.
Listen, I know this feeling really well. I may have 17 years of writing and content creation experience under my belt, and a successful business growth and marketing coachsultancy and agency to match, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still encounter the creativity resistance gremlin. It particularly enjoys showing its mischievous self when there’s a deadline looming (like, say, for this piece). That’s when it has a jolly good time, prancing around in my head and singing, “I put a spell on you, and now you’re mine, mine, MINE!” – on repeat (you can bet your bottom dollar that Bette Midler’s character Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus would be proud).
What those nearly two decades as a writer and entrepreneur have taught me, though, is how to scare it away, so the words and ideas flow out of me like Niagara Falls on a summer day.
And that’s what I want to share with you here today – three practices and strategies that will get you back on your streak to creating binge-worthy copy that moves people toward action. Because you can tip the scales in your favor (and without excessive force), even with a plump gremlin, donning a Cheshire cat grin, sitting atop one of them.
Read, read, read
Ever heard of reader’s block?
Didn’t think so. Why? Well, simply because there’s no such thing.
You don’t have to be a bookworm like me (carrying a book everywhere I go – yes, even to dinner or birthday parties, just in case. Hey, don’t judge! Some parties and conversations fizzle out even before they’ve begun. This is a great way to put the fizz back in them – and not just for you) to find something that’ll make you excited to turn the pages. There’s a book, blog or magazine out there for everyone – including those of you who would enter into a stare-down with the wall clock in English class, hoping your gaze would make it quiver and spin frantically toward freedom.
When I’ve gotten stuck and couldn’t find the words, I’ve learned that one of the best things I can do for myself to find the inspiration again is to read. I’ll grab a book off my shelf, or a bookmarked article on my reading list, and let it start doing its magical thing.
It could be the way that the author transitions from one point to the next that will inspire me. The style or format in which the article or book is written. The topic idea itself and the author’s perspective on it. Or even one powerful sentence. And suddenly, I’m shouting “EUREKA” all over again and scribbling in my notepad like a madwoman who has had one too many Red Bulls.
This can be you, too. Maybe you won’t be flying with unicorns over rainbows like I do in my joyful state (I promise: no drugs involved, just my wild imagination!), but at least you’ll be karate chopping that writer’s block and showing it who’s boss.
There’s a recipe to this madness, though. You can’t just read. You have to read actively.
No, that doesn’t mean you need to do 50 push-ups while reading (unless, you really want to! Who am I to stop you, if that’s your fancy. I’d much rather sit on my couch in a quarter lotus position, occasionally sipping on some lemon water. You do you, though!). But you should have a pencil or pen in hand. And if you want to feel super daring, grab that orange highlighter (sorry, yellow, you’re cool and all, but orange is the new yellow – just ask black!).
The point is: Don’t read for the sake of reading. Read to absorb – to connect. Read as if what’s on those pages was written specifically for you. When you relate what you read to your experiences and your target markets’, almost like you’re having a two-way conversation with the author, you open a floodgate of ideas. A great exercise to do is to take a word, or the author’s perspective, and start forming questions that are centered around it. It’s like playing connect-the-dots – except with your thoughts.
Try it. Next time you fall out of flow, grab yourself a book and let its hypnotic genius reveal itself to you. Inhale those words. Let them envelop you and permeate your soul. Then start conversing with the author. Before you know it, words will materialize and that bland white space will be full of sparkle.
Fashion a skeleton
You can breathe. I don’t mean the human kind. No graveyard digging required on this one. You can put your shovel away.
All you need is pen and paper for this one – or your laptop.
Now before I go any further, you got to admit: I had you scared there for a second.
I’ll tell you what else is true. Writing blocks are rather horrifying. They make our skin crawl. They give us the heebie-jeebies. And they have us wanting to run in the opposite direction. It’s like a horror movie come to life. Nail biting is totally warranted. Actually, it’s expected.
But that’s where your skeleton outline comes into play, to scare the writing block back into the darkness it came from (and certainly far away from you!). Nails rejoice! No ruining that mani-pedi (or, well, the mani part of it at least, as I do hope you’re not actually biting your toe nails... I mean, besides the obvious ick factor, that would involve some serious feet-to-head yoga posing. I can hear my back cracking at the mere thought; someone call the chiropractor!).
So, what exactly is a skeleton outline and how do you create one?
Well, I’ll tell you first what it’s definitely not. It’s not like one of those incredibly comprehensive outlines you had to create in school for your essays, where the outline itself seemed like the essay. It’s simply a breakdown of your contents – the framework for it.
The point is to create a starting plan that you can continue to shuffle around and add to. This way, the process is simplified for you, and you’re able to tackle the content in sections instead of in one go. You’re giving yourself structure, which saves you time, takes away some of the pressure, and helps ignite ideas. Think of it as your personal table of contents.
While there are many different approaches you can take, here’s a straightforward template to help you get started:
Main topic idea
Introduction
Main Point 1
Reason why this is interesting and of value to my audience or tip No.1
Important sub-topic
Important sub-topic
Main Point 2
Reason why this is interesting and of value to my audience or tip No.2
Important sub-topic
Important sub-topic
Main Point 3
Reason why this is interesting and of value to my audience or tip No.3
Important sub-topic
Important sub-topic
Closing summary and call to action
What I personally like to do is write the bullet points as questions, ones I want to answer and that I know my audience will be asking themselves. But you can create a method that’s uniquely your own to serve as your writing prompts.
And don’t worry about the outline being perfect. It doesn’t have to be. The key thing is that you’ll be moving forward. If you follow this technique, you’ll have the bones, and all you’ll have to do next is add some meat to them to have a deliciously written piece (pun intended).
Now, wave to your writing mojo. It’s running back toward you.
Leave your comfort zone
OK, so what if you’ve tried the above two methods and you’re still giving your screen the Darth Vader stare?
That’s when you need to shut your laptop down. I mean it. Close it. Now. And get your fabulous butt outside, away from your desk, before time elapses and you turn wrinkly like Yoda with no wise words in sight.
Sure, it’s great to have a dedicated spot for writing, one that brings you ease, focus and comfort. Anyone who knows me well will tell you I’m all for routines, especially around content creation. But when you have steam coming out of your ears and you could fry an egg inside your brain, it’s time to find a new space to air things out.
You’ll be amazed at what a simple change of location can do for your creative flow. Go to your local coffee shop. Walk through your library. Sit on a park bench. As you do so, pay attention to what you’re hearing (you know how your mom told you it’s bad manners to eavesdrop? Well, she wasn’t completely wrong. But to strike gold, you sometimes have to be naughty. Go ahead. You know you want to… just don’t point the finger back to me when you’re being chased by your angry mom. I like my nose the way it is, no pummeling necessary – thanks!), seeing, touching, smelling and thinking. Let yourself experience something new.
When you surround yourself with something different and give the steering wheel to all your senses, you jolt your brain out of a stagnant pattern. Allow your excitement to guide you and open the roof to the creative box you locked yourself in. Pop it open. See what happens. I dare you.
Here’s my jolly writer’s rule of thumb:
Creativity is a lot like sex.
Sometimes all it takes is a spark to let things ignite into a fiery flow, other times you have to dig a little deeper and tap into something new.
So, when things get stagnant and you feel like serving yourself up on a dinner plate to a pack of hungry Simbas, remember this: a little spice and variety can shake things loose. Open your ears and your eyes and let your inner compass guide you toward an untapped path. Do that and you’ll be singing “Hakuna Matata” and flexing your creativity muscle in no time at all to the beat of your keyboard clacking.
If you need more support with content creation or in growing your business, and you want to kick ass and maintain a life while doing so, then book a call with me here and let’s explore how we can transform you into the CEO and storyteller your business needs to thrive. Your next chapter awaits.
Olga Zapisek, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Going on 17 years of combined experience in media and marketing, Olga Zapisek helps purpose-driven, visionary and ambitious female coaches, CEOs, corporate renegades, and small-to-medium sized businesses in health, wellness & spirituality; real estate & interior design; beauty; and business & personal development to: unlock their growth potential and elevate their brand voice; increase their community & impact; and improve their digital footprint & success mindset through bespoke done-with-you coachsulting programs and done-for-you thought leadership, copywriting and content marketing services that engage and connect at the heart.
In fact, she’s on a mission to inspire global healing and shape the digital future by helping women step fiercely into their business ascension and discover new ways to magnify their success, passion, voice and stories. Why? So they can live their version of a first-class life, become catalysts of influence and change, and deliver exceptional experiences to their target market by embracing and spotlighting the expert within.
