I am not a writer, I just play on on TV...

I am not a writer. I suppose that is an unusual thing for me to say, given the number of blog posts, newsletters, articles and books I have authored over the years, but it is true.

For me, the blank page is intimidating, so I’ve come up with strategies to get past writer’s block.

Break the Block

Talk before I write- I naturally think aloud. I often brainstorm with others about potential topics. Working through the content verbally makes it easier for me to put the sentences together when I sit down to write. If no one is around, I will often dictate the same blog post several times until I get a version which sounds good. Then all I have to do is transcribe the audio file and polish with a bit of editing.

Work ahead - It is hard to be creative on demand so I write when the mood strikes me. Then I have content stacked up and ready to go. This gives me a chance to reread the content with fresh eyes. I almost always find one or two things I want to tweak before publishing.

Keep a notebook handy – When I find myself answering the same questions over and over again, I make a note to turn my answer into a blog post. Yes, I am old school and actually write in a notebook, or record a quick voice memo to capture the thought. This also worked well when I owned the agency to channel my energy if I was frustrated by a client making a bad decision because of lack of information. I would write a post to inform the next customer.

Work from an outline – I am a stream of consciousness writer. Both lots of people found making a list of their key points and fleshing out the content to be very helpful. So if you are stuck, writing a few bullet points with fresh ideas might be enough to jump-start your writing.

Set a schedule - It’s easy to find something else to do when you sit down to write. Set a schedule in advance. To make it easier, plan ahead, come up with a list of topics for the month. You don’t have to write anything, but use that list to focus your attention throughout the month as you look for content to add to your post.

Be flexible – Don’t be so rigid with your calendar that you can’t take advantage of something new or interesting. Be willing to scrap something if your ideas don’t come together. Occasionally I start writing and get stuck. If I come back to it several times and can’t finish, I give myself permission to delete it and move on.

What are your favorite writing tips?