I have a lot of conversations with people who want to start blogging. At some point in those conversations, we end up talking about writer’s block. I’m sure there are people who won’t agree with me but I don’t believe in writer’s block. I just finished reading Kelly Kingman‘s The Sticky eBook Formula and in it she mentions a quote from Susan Shapiro, “Plumber’s don’t get plumber’s block.” Get it?
When I think of writer’s block, it comes across as the inability to write. I believe with a little self-examination, you can identify those times when you feel “blocked” and try to find opportunities to keep yourself from getting in that position.
For example, let’s say a person becomes blocked because they don’t feel they have anything to write about. My guess is if they looked around they would realize inspiration and ideas are everywhere. Conferences, news, conversations, television, current events, – the list goes on and on.
What I’ve actually found out about myself is that it’s not about finding a topic…it’s about remembering the topic. Two totally different things.
So if remembering ideas is a challenge, then the key is to find a way to capture ideas when they occur. For me, I find that I get a lot of ideas when I’m out with friends or having dinner with Mr. B. It’s important to find a way to quickly jot down an idea without removing myself from the conversation…so I note it on a bar napkin.
When I’m traveling or at a conference, I use a little notebook. And my latest is trying out iPhone apps. I recently wrote a post over at Workshifting on note taking apps. You can check it out here.
Or maybe ideas aren’t the problem. You have tons of them. Maybe it’s finding time to get those ideas from your head to your computer screen. I’ve been there. A million ideas and not enough time to write. Hate to say it…but ya gotta schedule time to write. It was actually one of the reasons I wanted to start blogging – to learn how to write on a schedule. Not just when I felt like it.
Now, I’d be lying if I said that I always write on a schedule. Sometimes the mood just hits me. And, sometimes it doesn’t.
While today’s post is about writing / blogging, it often reminds me of my Corporate experiences. When I worked in the hotel industry, I would be walking around and talking with employees. During those talks, they would either ask me for stuff or I’d think of something I needed or wanted to do. For years, I was constantly forgetting things. Or I would sit at my desk in a funk because I knew I had a great idea but just couldn’t remember it anymore.
Then a friend gave me this really nice little leather notepad with pen. Now I could walk around, talk with people, and take little notes. Got back to my office and took care of business. It was a huge time saver.
It’s kind of like those waiters who think they’re impressing you by not writing down your order. Then your food comes to the table and it’s totally wrong. Write it down. Then make it happen.
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RMSmithJr.SPHR says
For me, it’s not the starting it’s the finishing through the three stages of good writing to get to where I am confident with releasing my perspective to the world.
Thoughts swirl continuously and are captured on various mediums. My PDA (remember them) is burgeoning with fragments. Twitter is another repository. Then there is the notebook that is supposed to be in my camera bag but I know is on my desk at work. Yesterday’s big idea is scribbled on a HR Convention vendor swag note pad – one of several scattered around. Looking in the bottom drawer to my right, there are three of them and the 2008 calendar of an idea a day.
The writing is started, the making it happen is pending.
Mary Jo Asmus says
I find that my Blackberry is a good tool for capturing ideas when you are without a little notebook (which I also use). There is a recording function on mine. So I simply capture the thought by recording it (this only works when you won’t disrupt others by talking into your cell phone).
Trish McFarlane says
You make some great points about writing Sharlyn. Like you, I am a believer in writing ideas down. I’m also known to call my own voice mail in a pinch leave myself a message with the idea. In addition to writing on a schedule, which I endorse whole heartedly, I would tell people to at least write the post. Even if they never publish it for the public, at least you have taken the step of getting the thoughts out of your head and “on paper”, or the web, as the case may be.
I suggest to find a person or two that you really trust and ask them to be your editor. It doesn’t mean you use them all the time, but when you have a post that you’re just not sure about or that doesn’t seem to be coming together in a way you’d like, they can be the voice of reason for you.
My last piece of advice is if you are a blogger, you probably have a number of ideas that you’ll never write about. Think about another blogger and if that idea would make more sense for them to write. Ask them to trade an idea with you. It’s a fun challenge and I have really enjoyed seeing another writer take an idea I had and really making it work.
Cheers!
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas!
@RMS – I just read an interesting post about writing stories – along the lines of creating self-fulfilling prophecies. The takeaway was not to write the story for the reader. You can check it out here: http://www.erica.biz/2010/story-strangle-your-business/
@Mary Jo – Love the recorder idea! I have a recorder on my phone…need to use it more often.
@Trish – I’ve called my voicemail many times…I can relate. Trading ideas can be a great way to get other people involved in a discussion; as long as it’s not being used just to avoid a particular subject.
Sergey Gorbatov says
Hi Sharlyn – great observations.
I am all for the modern technology, iPhones and Blackberries, but for some old-fashioned reason I would always have my moleskin notebook with me with a cute little pencil, so that a nice phrase or a bit of the outside world does not escape my memory.
I have also noticed that blogs that have a video or a picture attached draw much more attention and reaction from the readers.
Another point – comments are more often found on the social media channels where my blogposts are mentions (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) rather than on the blog itself. Any idea why?
Thank you,
Sergey
Sharlyn Lauby says
@Sergey – Thanks for the comment. I agree, it’s not about what you use to take notes…just find the method that works for you. I can’t really answer your question about blog comments. I know HR Bartender gets comments on multiple social media sites, depending upon where people prefer to read the post and interact with the community.