Do you ever find yourself suffering from writer’s block?
If you just answered “yes”, take a look at the following 10 ideas and see if you can find something, which will help you flood your mind with inspirational ideas:
- Go for a walk. This one works for me every time. Just remember to bring something with you, to record your thoughts.
- “Write for the waste paper basket.” I’m paraphrasing Ernest Hemingway there. The idea is not to allow the need for perfection to stop you getting started. Get going and THEN refine what you have written.
- Listen to some music, preferably something without lyrics.
- Read some of your own, previous material. It’s amazing how many times I read something I’ve written before, which gives me an idea for a brand new piece of material.
- Exercise. Just like number1, be sure to bring an audio recorder with you.
- Change your environment. I write 99% of my material outdoors. Sometimes, I will write from a quiet location and other times, a busy coffee bar. If quiet isn’t working for you – Go somewhere noisy, and vice-versa.
- Go for a drive. I know a lot of people who get some of their best ideas, when they are driving. Just make sure you wait until it’s safe, before you record your ideas.
- Take a look at some of the emails, tweets or messages you get from people, seeking your advice. This can sometimes provide very useful food for thought.
- Listen to (or watch) something that’s REALLY funny! I find that often, just after enjoying a great comedy, (Big Bang Theory is my current fave) my mind feels like a hard drive, which has just been de-fragmented. I’m told that laughter reduces stress and floods our brains with endorphins , which then changes our mental state. Whatever the science is, there’s no doubt that it’s extremely effective (and fun!)
- Try getting your ideas down using pen and paper, rather than a computer. As I mentioned recently, I do ALL my problem solving and creative thinking on paper. I know manyt, many people who find this form of thinking on paper to be extremely effective.
What would you add to this list?
I would really appreciate it if YOU would share your best ideas for overcoming writer’s block, with your fellow readers and myself. So, what did I miss?
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Hi Jim!
I know that what gets in the way of any creative work for me are my self judgments…so I write those down first in order to get them out of the way – somehow seeing them on paper takes the bite out!Then I’m free to carry on.
Thanks for your tips!
I find helping someone always gives me loads of ideas. It may be something to do with refocusing the problem-solving part of your brain, or that maybe a load of tripe, but it always works a treat.
Just find someone who needs help with anything. Help them. Then think about writing and 3 or 4 ideas will occur. Give it a go; it works.
Another good way to spur ideas it to read or view material that doesn’t have anything to do with your own industry. Look at the way people in other businesses approach their challenges or discover their successes. You might be led to some great ideas by taking what they do and trying something similar with your own livelihood.
Many of my ideas now come from reading the tweets published by the leaders I follow on Twitter (including you, Jim).
Following a small number of leaders means I can read every tweet.
Many ideas come from the interactions I have with these great and generous people.
It’s an application of social networking that delivers ongoing results. I’m generating over 200 ideas a week (yes, I measure this)
Best, Robin
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Similar to changing your environment, I’ll sometimes go to a busy shopping mall and people watch, or just look at the window displays. Also, visiting a big city is often inspiring.
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Thanks for the great ideas! Music can always change my down beat blues! I’ve almost always come up with something after it has set me in the mood!
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