5 Tips To Beat Writer’s Block

Writers block knocks even the most prolific of writers to their knees on occasion.  It seems to pop up during the most inconvenient times.  Your product is ready to launch and that sales page just isn’t working or your auto responder needs to go out and all you have written is “Lesson #1”  

Sound familiar?   Here are 5 tips to kick writer’s block out of the way and get down to work. 

#1  Change your topics into questions.  For example, if you’re writing an autoresponder mini course and your subject is organizing your home office you can turn it into a question to answer – “What is the best way to organize my home office?”  Or “How do I begin to organize my home office?” 

Answering a question is significantly easier than writing an essay on a topic.  This strategy works well if you’re writing a book or a report too.  Simply take your detailed table of contents and change each section into a question.  It will literally take you minutes to answer each question, your copy will be conversational, and it will flow better.  Try it! 

#2  Write without judgment.  One of the biggest hurdles to writing is our inner critic.  Silence your inner critic by declaring that “The first draft is going to be awful.”  Now all you have to do is sit down and write that awful first draft.  What does this accomplish?  You’re getting words down on paper.  Granted, they may not be the words you end up with but first drafts rarely are.  Their purpose is simply to get you started to get ideas and concepts down on paper.  When you get rid of your inner critic the copy, no matter how awful it is, will flow a little easier. 

#3  Break your task into smaller parts.  Writing a sales page can be an overwhelming task.  Instead of sitting down to write the entire page, break it up into manageable steps like writing the headline, writing the call to action, writing the first paragraph, writing the PS, writing the “proof.”  Not only will you have a sense of accomplishment after each section is completed, the smaller steps may inspire new ideas for your copy.   

#4  Use a blueprint.  One of the easiest ways to avoid getting stuck knee deep in writer’s block is to follow a proven structure.  AIDA, attention, interest, desire, and action work well for sales copy as does the 4 Ps, Picture, Promise, Prove, Push.   

#5  Write the easy stuff first.  Are headlines your nemesis?  Save them for last?  Is the call to action your easiest step?  Write it first. As you accomplish each section of writing, it will generate ideas and inspiration that will lead into the other areas of your copy. 

 Writer’s block doesn’t have to stop you.  Accept it, face it head on, and work through it using one of the five options suggested above.  If all else fails set your writing aside for a designated period of time with a promise that you’ll come back to it in a few minutes, an hour, or a day. 

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