Aspiring and newer writers and authors often ask me for tips on writing a book or how I handle various situations and issues related to developing an idea and turning it into a published book. While there are probably thousands of articles and book offering writing tips for authors, I thought I’d share a few points I’ve found useful over the years related to the writing process and specifically, writers block.
Many writers and authors face the daunting writer’s block when they sit before a blank piece of paper of computer monitor. Causes stem from things, such as, not being prepared, lack of a developed ideas or theme, outside distractions interrupting their thought flow, or a lack of confidence as a writer. No matter what the cause, here are three simple techniques to reduce or alleviate writer’s block and that might get you back on track if you experience this dreaded impairment.
1. Take our a blank piece of paper and a pen and write your topic of central message or theme that you wish to share in the middle of the paper.
Next, just start brainstorming anything that you can think of related to that topic and list these around your central theme. Do this for 5-10 minutes until you have as many ideas as possible on the paper. You can now use these as subtopics in your writing by creating sub-headers on your paper or screen and then starting to fill in content under each.
2. Ask a friend or colleague that you trust to listen as you share your idea or concept and then share some general elements of the content that you hope to create. If you do not have someone to talk with, use a voice recorder and just do some free-flow talking into the machine listing the central topic or theme. Also record associated elements that would likely tie to into the book or article topic.
3. Do some research in other books or articles, and on the Internet, on a similar theme or topic to discover what key points other writers or authors have addressed on the topic. Do not copy theirs. Instead write down key points that relate to your idea and later go back and put a different spin on what you have read. Once you have this as a starting point, begin to develop content under each point.
If you are looking for additional resources and ideas on how to reduce or eliminate writers block, check out these resources.