Got this great question today from Cheryl of www.cherylmillerville.com…
How do I write when the inspiration isn’t there?
Now I had a good laugh when I received this email from Cheryl, cause at that very moment I was avoiding my own writing project that I had planned for the day. She read my mind. 😉
So I thought, what are some ways we can jumpstart the inspiration to write when we just don’t feel like it? Writing, of course, being the lifeblood of online communication and a necessity for most of our businesses. Be it writing a newsletter, an ebook or a simple email response.
Here’s a few ideas I had to jumpstart the inspiration to write:
- Do an Outline
Instead of trying to write the whole thing start with a simple outline of the key points you want to make. Sometimes we don’t know what we are even trying to write which can definitely put a damper on the writing process - Have a Conversation
I do this quite a bit when i’m stumped. Call up one of my colleagues and have a quick chat with them about what i’m trying to write about. They may have some ideas of questions that help get the writing process going.You can record the conversation to capture those little nuggests of wisdom that sometimes flow better from our lips than our pens (or typing fingers). - Do a little ‘Back and Forth’
This is probably my favorite strategy when I just don’t feel like writing. I’ll sit down and write a *really* rough draft and then send it to a buddy for their input/advice. Their suggestions always give me what I need to finish the project.And best of all, what I usually send them as a rough draft ends up being pretty good afterall. It’s almost a mind trick that I use on myself, “it doesn’t need to be good, just enough to send to Andrea”. - Just Be Still
It occurs to me many times when writing that i’m trying to hard to come up with the words. What i’m writing about is usually already inside me and just needs to come out, it can be a very spiritual thing.This is an excercise in turning your brain off and can be easier said than done. However you may be surprised at what actually flows from (or through) you if you give it a try. - Try Writing at Another Time of Day
If you usually write in the afternoons try writing in the morning. Get up extra early one morning and start writing before you do anything else. Try doing some writing on the weekends when you normally wouldn’t work.Sometimes our brains just need to be ‘unplugged’ from our regular work schedule to get into writing mode. - Hire Someone to Do It for You
Where is the rule that says we have to do all our own writing? Honestly, if you find that you put writing off on a very regular basis you may want to seriously consider this option. Sometimes we are too busy with other stuff, or maybe writing simply isn’t our thing.There are lots of people out there who write for a living and would be thrilled to help you. Don’t be afraid to give it a try.
Whew! That was fun… I got on a bit of a roll there.
Now I want to hear from you. What do you do to get over the ‘I don’t wanna write’ hump? Please share your tips and tricks below.