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Blogger’s block is a problem for many. In fact, we all get it from time to time. How do you deal with that creative block?
I can’t tell how everyone deals with blogger’s block. This is something that we all learn to deal with on our own. If this is the first time you’ve had it, you’ll want to just get some ideas on where to start.
One of the worst things you can do is stare at the blank screen. Even if you have the title in mind, you may not know where to start with the content. Staring at the blank screen is just going to make it harder. You’ll end up full is stress, knowing that you should be able to write but that you can’t. The ideas just aren’t coming; the words aren’t flowing.
I’ve had blogger’s block plenty of times. Here are my tips to handle the problem to get the creative juices flowing again.
Take a break
In the words of Eliza from Hamilton, “take a break.” Sometimes, that creative block comes from being tired and trying too hard. You spend all this time looking at the screen knowing that you should be able to write that you don’t give the brain the time to come up with the words.
Take a step away from the computer. Or even just step away from the project that you’re working on. I find sometimes that just moving onto another client or another type of niche helps to deal with the blogger’s block in another niche. It’s what I love about being a freelance writer since I get to jump between different types of writing and work.
It doesn’t always have to be a long break. You may find that 20 minutes is enough, especially if you get outside and go for a walk. I tend to listen to podcasts and audiobooks to help get back into a creative mindset. Sometimes you need a little longer.
Don’t stress about the problem too much. The more you stress, the worse the block is.
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Assess the reason for your blogger’s block
Something that I always do is figure out why I’ve got the block in the first place. Sometimes, it’s just that I’m tired. I’ve worked so long on one niche or one blog post that my mind needs a break. It just needs me to step away.
It might be that I didn’t get a great night’s sleep. Or maybe that I’m physically tired and that’s affecting my creativity levels. So, rest is important.
In other cases, it’s because I’m bored. You are allowed to get bored of a topic that you once loved a lot. It’s common. We get into ruts and we start running out of ideas. Before we know it, the niche we once adored is a niche we hate writing in. This is when the creativity disappears and we start to resent blogging.
This doesn’t mean you need to completely change your blogging niche. It just means a break. Yes, that word is going to come up a lot.
When it comes to fiction writing, I have a lot of different novels on the go. I switch between them when I need something different to work on. That’s just the way my brain works to avoid that creative block.
You’ve not planned well enough
Having a plan is important. I plan out content for the full month. Sometimes it is just a title, and othertimes I’ll have a basic layout. Either way, I know what I’m writing about and when.
Now, there are times that I’ll deviate from the plan. For example, if Pinterest suddenly changes its algorithm then I’m going to write about that because it’s a current topic. The idea I did have in the works will end up being pushed to another month. I like to be timely as well as evergreen.
When you plan, you’re not staring at the blank screen and trying to figure out a topic to write about. You already have the topic. Sure, sometimes you can struggle to put the pen to paper (or the fingers to the keyboard) and start the actual writing, but it’s not going to be as big of a problem as not even having a topic in the first place.
MORE: Why blogging isn’t dead yet
What do you do to get over that creative block? What are you struggling with right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.