5 Tips for Writing When You Don’t Feel Like It
A guide to help content writers and creative writers break out of a writing slump and get back to creating great work.
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It doesn’t matter if you are a content writer, copywriter, or blogger; learning how to write when you don’t feel like it is essential if you want to get serious about your work.
But ultimately, there will be days when writing feels near impossible . Perhaps you didn’t get a great night’s sleep, or your personal life is chaotic. Maybe the words just aren’t coming, and you simply feel uninspired. When this happens, sometimes a break is in order.
However, there will be times when you need to get on with the work at hand despite the resistance from your mind .
Professional writers don’t have the luxury of waiting for inspiration. After all, inspiration doesn’t pay the bills; writing does. Thankfully, there’s no need to despair because a few time-tested tips can pull you out of a rut and get you back to typing away at your keyboard. Try freewriting
We often struggle to write because we overthink getting the words right. It’s good to care about your prose, but this concern, when left unchecked, can lead to a mental block. Freewriting is an exercise that can help you overcome this.
Without thinking, set a timer for 20 minutes and start writing about anything. Give yourself the freedom to write any old rubbish. If your brain goes blank at the thought of this, write “I can’t think of anything to say because…” and see where it leads you. Once the timer is up, read over it if you wish. You might surprise yourself with what you’ve written. But don’t worry if none of it makes any sense. The point is not to create content but to trick your mind into getting into the flow of writing, which you can then use to get back into your work. Change your environment
Sometimes a change of environment can make a world of difference and alter your frame of mind. This is especially the case if you are used to working at home, where some people struggle to get into the right mindset. Even just walking to your local cafe can tell your brain a change has occurred and that it needs to get into “work mode.” Try using the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a handy tool for productivity that breaks your workday into distraction-free chunks. The first step is to find a place where you won’t get disturbed. Then, set a 25-minute timer and work on a writing task. Don’t allow yourself to do anything but work on that task during this time. Don’t check your phone, don’t look at your emails and concentrate on your job. Once the timer goes off, one ‘Pomodoro’ is completed, and you can give yourself a 5-minute break.
At this point, you can walk around, stretch, make a coffee or do whatever you feel the need to do. You […]
