Productivity Tips: 5 More Writer's Block Tips

“I felt that blank incapability of invention which is the greatest misery of authorship, when dull Nothing replies to our anxious invocations.” ~ Mary Shelley

In a previous post, we offered five tips for conquering writer's block. Here are five more tips for helping you get your writing flowing:

Change Location

Some people find that literally changing the location where they're writing helps. If you write with pen and paper, anywhere will do. It's harder to change it up if you use a computer, though using a laptop helps. Try moving to the kitchen or dining room table or another desk or conference room. Even move it outside to the porch or the beach.

Try a cafe or the library. You may find writing in public less efficient with interruptions, but the change of venue may open new thought pathways.

Respond to Someone Else

Find a good quote on your topic. Or a blog post. Or an article or even a book. Start your writing by responding to what that person said. If you don't want your final article to take that form, you can edit later to format your draft to fit your needs.

Explain It Casually

Pretend that you're explaining the topic to a friend by email. This clarifies your thoughts in a casual, non-threatening way. Don't worry about structure or grammar.

A voice recorder can be useful for capturing your thoughts as you spill them out naturally. Later, you can transcribe your words, re-organize them, and polish them into a draft.

Visualize

Try meditation or visualization to focus and clarify your thoughts. The brain requires a lot of processing for vision. Close your eyes and relax. Have paper and pen nearby to capture thoughts. I don't do this while at my computer as I find that too distracting. Focus on your project and let your mind wander.

One possibility is to meditate and concentrate on a specific problem that you're facing with your project, exploring options for solving it.

Use High Energy Times

Keep track of what gives you energy and what saps your energy. Use your premium time when your energy is high for writing.

Your writing is important and deserves your best time, not your leftover time.