Writing Tips And Support…From The IT Help Desk | Writer’s Relief
Ronnie L. Smith
Writer's Relief: Helping creative writers find literary agents or get published in literary journals
You’ve set aside time to write, but when you roll up your sleeves and get ready to get to work, nothing happens. Instead, you’re left staring at a blank page or computer screen. If you’re experiencing the writer equivalent of the dreaded computer blue screen, the tech-savvy computer mavens at the IT help desk have some ideas. At Writer’s Relief, we know the experts at the IT help desk are pros at troubleshooting your computer—and the same skills can be used to reboot your creativity and bust through writer’s block. Here are writing tips and support from the IT help desk.
Writing Tips And Support From The IT Help Desk
Turn it off and then back on.?It seems like the IT desk is always saying this, but there’s a reason: Quite often, it works! Taking a break to reset and restart is good for both writers and computers. Go grab a cup of coffee, look out the window for a few minutes, or take a short walk around the block. When you come back to your writing project, you’ll be reenergized—and you may even have a few new ideas inspired by your mini mental reboot.
Unplug your router.?Social media scrolling can?easily distract a writer . In order to focus on writing, you should shut down online distractions, including browsing Instagram, writing funny tweets, checking up on old friends through Facebook, and watching YouTube videos of bunnies with pancakes on their heads. Unplug your router, literally and figuratively! If you can’t access the Internet, the Internet can’t sidetrack you from your writing. Plus, your router can use the break to run important updates.
Don’t overload your limited disc space.?Like your computer, your brain can only handle so much information at once. When you’re working on your latest chapter, short story, or poem, the great ideas and details you’ve thought up can get lost if you don’t write them down! Take notes or make an?outline ?for your work to keep your edits and inspirations organized.
Recharge!?IT experts recommend you never let your laptop or phone battery drain below 25% to extend its functionality. The same goes for writers! Stay hydrated,?have a snack , and keep your energy level steady while you’re writing. However, do your local computer tech a favor—don’t eat or drink over your devices! You don’t want to get crumbs in your keyboard or spill a glass of water over your laptop.
Delete what you don’t need.?To increase loading speeds and improve the performance of your computer, you should purge files, apps, and software that you aren’t using. Similarly, it’s a good idea to?edit your work ?and tighten your writing. For example, if some of your dialogue feels awkward or there is lengthy, largely unnecessary exposition in your work—delete. This will result in cleaner prose and more impactful poetry.
Don’t let the dust settle.?Use a can of compressed air to dust off your keyboard and clear any cobwebs, and use?writing exercises ?to dust off your writing skills. Many writers fall victim to writing the same poems and stories over and over again in the same style. Or, if you haven’t written in a while, your skills may be a bit dusty. Use writing prompts and writing exercises to keep your work fresh and interesting for your readers.
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With these writing tips from the IT help desk, you’ll be able to troubleshoot any writer’s block issues that arise and maintain a strong creativity connection. And with a few more clicks on your keyboard, you can submit your work to our?Review Board ?to find out how we can help boost your odds of getting published—much like?adding RAM to your computer ?will boost its capabilities!