All content producers are met with the foreboding blank page. Writer’s block inevitably happens when you least expect it, and you sit staring at your screen with a deadline looming before you and nothing to say. For companies that need steady content marketing, this intellectual dry spell can be infuriating. So don’t lose heart!
1. Start with Freewriting and Brainstorming
If perfectionism paralyzes your writing, freewriting is your rescue. Sit down and set a 10-minute timer. Write continuously on your subject without stopping to correct, edit, or censor your writing. Ignore grammar, organization, or coherence—get those keyboard fingers flying.
This writing exercise enables you to bypass your internal editor and usually reveals fresh and unexpected material in your work. You’ll find hiding within your stream-of-consciousness writing is the perfect hook for your next blog or the solution to a messaging dilemma you’re trying to figure out.
Use other, more traditional brainstorming methods to follow up on freewriting. Create mind maps, list everything you already know about your topic, or pose “what if” questions to yourself about your subject. Each of these processes generates raw material to be molded at some later time.
2. Adjust Your Routine and Environment
Your usual writing area can be the reason for your creative block. Write in a different location, i.e., in a café, library, or utilize a kitchen table to write from if you normally write at the office. Changing the surroundings can sometimes introduce an alternative way of thinking and a few new ideas.
Try to change your writing time too. If you write in the afternoon, attempt to write in the morning when you are more alert. Some people find that they think more clearly at a certain time of the day, and discovering when you write best can make a big difference.
Even small adjustments to your environment are worth it. Try using different music, lights, or eliminating distractions like your phone. The goal is to break patterns that maybe aren’t working for you.
3. Conduct Research and Seek New Inspiration
If ideas do not flow freely, focused research can be a spur to innovation. Read industry magazines, competitors’ work, and the emerging topics in your industry. Scan the articles for areas not covered that your company can fill with an innovative twist. Work with digital agencies such as King Kong to learn more about your competitors and industry.
Social media platforms are goldmines of inspiration. Pay attention to what your audience is questioning in the comments, what is being talked about in working groups, or what is gaining the most attention in your niche. Customer service questions and feedback from salespeople also give you content ideas based on real customer needs.
Don’t remain within your industry. Cross-pollination between industries most often yields the most creative material. An idea about time management in the tech field might be the exact thing that sparks an amazing metaphor for your financial services website.
4. Establish Realistic Goals and Timelines
Having unrealistic expectations for what you can do is the best possible setting for writer’s block to grow. Instead of sitting down and attempting to write out an entire 2,000-word manual at one time, divide bigger responsibilities into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Create micro-deadlines for each step of your content creation process. Set some time aside to get your outline done, some time to finish your first draft, and editing time separately. It will make the work less daunting and give you a couple of opportunities to pick up speed.
5. Work with Others
Two heads are often more valuable than one when it comes to overcoming creative barriers. Brainstorm with other employees who are not directly involved in writing content. Fresh ideas from the product development, customer service, or sales teams can offer a perspective you hadn’t thought of.
You can also interview colleagues or specialists for content. Not only does their reply give you content to work with on what you are writing, but also takes some of the pressure off of having to think it all up yourself. Customer interviews, expert roundups, and case studies are all professional ways of content generation when you are stuck for ideas.
Break Through the Block and Keep Creating
Writer’s block doesn’t have to stand between you and content marketing. These five methods—freewriting, environment change, research, realistic expectations, and teamwork—provide real-world solutions to get the creative juices flowing again.
