I was recently talking to some writers. Both fiction, web content, and copywriters.
And a constant issue comes up, over and over again.
And every time it does, there’s a massive list of so-called “solutions”.
Running. Taking a break. Meditation. Exercise. Sleep. Have a drink. The list goes on.
But let’s define what writer’s block really is:
Imagine you’re writing. And then you stop. You don’t know what to do next.
You feel as if there’s nothing more you can think of. You feel bad.
Your regimen might require that you keep on writing for another 30 minutes.
And yet, words don’t come out. Ideas stop flowing.
The core of the issue is simple. You don’t know what to write.
There’s a very easy way to overcome this. And most people don’t do it, because it requires more work.
If you don’t know what to write… learn what to write. It’s really easy.
Ultimately, Writer’s Block Stems From Lack of Planning
Having a plan for what you’re writing is crucial. If you know what you need to write next, writing is becomes a technical task.
This puts the creativity of writing into the planning stage. Being free to write easily and at one’s own pace is unreasonably liberating.
Here’s how to avoid writer’s block from start to finish.
Literally everything you can. News articles, TV shows, books, movies, hearsay, whatever.
Keep notes of everything.
This phase is the most demanding overall. When I write copy, a simple sales page can take me as much as several weeks.
As a rule of thumb, you want to have at least 10-20 times as much information collected as you think you’ll need.
Start with the Big Idea. What’s the text about? What’s the hook?
Break that into parts. Each element of your Big Idea.
What are the elements?
What’s happening between them?
What emotions do you want the reader to experience at each point?
Once you have all of those in place, set them into a coherent order.
Then repeat the process until you have everything planned out from start to finish.
“Lesser artists borrow; great artists steal.”
Write, write, write. Don’t stop.
Fill out the outline with emotions.
Fill it out with details.
You already have a detailed plan of what goes where, so write, write, write.
And DO NOT EDIT. If you’re writing without punctuation, capitalizing, whatever, that’s best.
Just put all of your ideas, and all of your elements in place. Make it a story.
Use speech recognition software (Google Voice Typing in Google Docs, or Dragon NaturallySpeaking are best).
This speeds you up.
20-30k words in a day isn’t hard, once you have a plan, and just sit down and start talking.
If you’re doing your own editing, this is the part that takes the most effort.
First edit light. Make sure the ideas and concepts are in place. Make sure your events are in proper order.
Then edit harder. Go into paragraph structures. Ensure things flow well.
Then go deeper. Start removing sentences which add nothing to the goal of your text.
Whether it’s plot, educating people, or the sale.
Cut it out.
Then repeat again. Go even deeper. And deeper.
Until every single word moves your reader through.
To the next word. To the next sentence.
To the next chapter. To the next book.
Editing is the part of writing which matters most.
Anyone can write. Few can edit.
For a start in basic editing, use HemingwayApp.
Writer’s Block Doesn’t Exist
If you do your research, and plan your writing properly…
You’ll find writing to be effortless, while your artistry can flourish in the worlds and stories you create.
Or as some say, Proper Planning and Preparation Prevent Piss Poor Performance.
And that’s where the core of great writing comes from.