Say goodbye to writer’s block
Here’s how I find inspiration to write
Whether you’re a student or professional, writing is something you need to do often. Sometimes words flow like a river and other times, your brain is dry like a desert. If you go through desert phases more often than river phases, this is for you. I’ll break down where I get my inspiration, how I execute anything from an email pitch to a 10-page case study paper and what drives me to keep going.
Where to Get Inspiration
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”
— Stephen King
Consume content
Stephen King said it very well in his “On Writing” book about his approach to writing: you have to read. Even if you don’t want to be a professional writer like Stephen King, it’s important to understand that consume all kinds of content. Listening to an audiobook as you go for a run, reading your industry’s blogs while sipping your morning coffee and getting updated on news while waiting at the doctor’s office are all ways you can fit media consumption into your daily life. What ever it is you chose to do, make it a habit. This feeds your brain with inspiration on how to inform, persuade or format your writing for the next time you stare blankly at your Word document. If you like a piece of writing, make sure you save it to reference later.
Sharpen your skills
I’ve talked to many people about why they get stuck on writing and hear them say, “I’m just not a good writer. I never have been. It’s not my thing.” It’s hard for me to give them the right answer because it’s all about mindset. Thinking you are bad at something will only make it come true. Instead, I propose reading “Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. This book helped me get through my undergraduate studies, writing my GRE essay and getting straight A’s during my master’s program. This book provides easy tips to help you feel more confident in your writing, which will quickly change your mindset and help you get started.
How to Execute that First Draft
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
— Louis L’Amour
Outline everything
No matter what I’m writing, I always start with an outline. The same way outlines are written for study guides or presentations, an outline for any piece of writing will get you started within minutes. You can start by identifying all the components you need. This helps you make sure you aren’t missing topics. It also acts as the backbone for the whole paper. Or, if your ideas are further along, you can write a few words about what each portion of the writing piece should be about and outline what each section will cover in more detail.
Do your research
Before you can dive headfirst into your writing, you need to do your research. This is where most of your information will come from whether you want to reference a study, quote an industry expert or bring in knowledge of a topic you’re unfamiliar with. Since you have your outline, you can identify where you’re missing information and fill in as you go along. The outline should also organize your thoughts so you stay focused and know exactly what you are looking for. Once you find those valuable nuggets of information you think will bring your paper to life, copy them into the sections where they make sense and keep the link at the bottom of the paper for reference.
Find What Will Keep You Going
Get inspired
Here are a few of my favorite inspirational quotes on writing. These have pushed me through those moments when I wanted to give up. If they don’t work for you, find some that do, write them on a post-it note and keep them somewhere visible.
“Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.”
— Orson Scott“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
— Benjamin Franklin“A word after a word after a word is power.”
— Margaret Atwood“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
— Douglas Adams
Get out of your head
Once you have your outline, finished your research and found inspiration, this is the time to get out of your head. I never let myself sit in front of a writing piece for too long because my eyes get cross-eyed, the words stop making sense and I criticize everything. This is not the time to criticize, it’s the time to stay inspired and focused. That’s why I recommend going for a run, walking outside, talking to a friend, meditating or doing anything that requires no effort. This is the time for your brain to process the inspiration and figure out the pieces to the puzzle. This is when your “aha” moment happens. Once you get out of your head, you let your subconscious mind process the information and bring the ideas to life.
Still in a Writing Rut?
It’s not the end of the world if you’re in a rut even after going through the steps I discussed. Sometimes, life gets in the way. Time runs out and stress blocks any creativity from coming through. If that’s the case, you can always contact a freelancer to help with your writing needs.
This piece was originally published on www.laurenliebler.com and adapted for Medium.
