Balzac tears up his manuscript, Brentano pulls his hair, ETA Hoffmann stares into space: The image of writer’s block awakens the imagination and invites you to report on your own experiences.
- Five reasons your article just won’t flow
- And how to get rid of your writer’s block.
Obviously it’s not just me: The PR doctor Kerstin Hoffmann has called for a “blog parade writer’s block” and has already won over 40 authors for a nexus ghostwriting contribution. Many deal with beliefs and psychological barriers.
FIVE REASONS FOR WRITER’S BLOCK
There is a lot of truth in this, and yet I would like to do something with my contribution to demystify writer’s block. Sometimes there are very simple reasons:
THERE IS NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT. THE SUBJECT IS MISSING.
If the week is filled with too many tasks, this can happen: I just have no idea. Good ideas come from reading, researching, thinking and talking. If there is no leisure, there are no ideas.
As unflattering as the diagnosis is. It helps to find solutions at the right place.
The same applies to the next point.
THE THOUGHT IS NOT YET RIPE.
I am already one step further. However, it is not enough for an article ready for publication.
“Not ripe” can mean a lot: I know too little about the subject. I am dissatisfied with the structure and the arguments. I have not yet got to the point because I have too many accessories floating around in my head.
Whatever the reasons, in this case it means: step back and think again.
If you value consistent quality, it is really better to let your thoughts mature. I’ve just tried it out and given a trusted test reader a half-baked article to read. She immediately felt the soapy thing about it. You can’t fool readers: an article is only as good as the thought it contains.
I FIND MY OWN ARTICLE TRITE.
There are these articles that one can write. Or you leave it. They’re not wrong, but the world is just fine without them. Butter-and-bread articles help you stick to your own publication schedule – but nothing more. And I doubt whether they are good for building an image.
If the author is bored – what should the reader think? He feels how the author is doing with his article.
A feeling of “what I always wanted to say”, on the other hand, proved to be an early indicator of numerous reader reactions.
I’M UNDER MASSIVE TIME PRESSURE.
It feels good to switch off your computer in the evening and know that something is done. When there is tension on the rope, I think that’s great. However, hectic is too much. Then I just don’t succeed in creating a nice, well-structured article.
Little general can be said about ideal working conditions. Everyone has their own feel-good corridor.
For my part, I can say that good articles do not always work out equally. I’ve learned over the years and realized that it’s better to be considerate.
DISCOMFORT WITH THE WRITING ITSELF BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PRACTICE
Fortunately, after years in my job, that rarely happens to me. But I can still remember my beginnings very well: At the beginning I wrestled my articles with great effort. I fought with them like monsters. Little by little it got easier.
Before you lose all pleasure in writing: Find support from a friend or editor and let him read your article in advance.
The gain is threefold: You get to work more relaxed because you feel more secure. Your reading partner ensures consistent quality, because he points out errors and thought leaps to you. And the article will be ready faster. The lonely struggle with words is over.
In a nutshell: I believe that if I have writer’s block, the internal quality check speaks up and wants to protect me from stupid things.
That’s really decent of her. Why should I defend myself against them and use tricks to silence them? Writer’s block is a variant of the inner voice and I think you can listen to it.
