Almost everyone I know and follow on the blog world is either taking part in the #NaNoWriMo or cheering for someone who does. I definitely am in the latter category and all am hoping is to not get stuck in a blogging rut once again. *knocks wood*.
But as a writer, be a blogger or a novelist or a poet, getting into a rut seems too scary, yet it is very possible that any day you might. There are days when I just stare at the blank page waiting for the words to pour out for hours and they wouldn’t.
Well, if this scenario sounds a little true for you then this article is for you. If not, please let us know what kinda crazy potion do you drink each night.
I am gonna try and tell you the secrets of managing the slump or rut so that your writing doesn’t have to stop.
10. Write like you talk
Do not worry about your writing voice.
Why try to change a voice that you use daily to talk to people in your real life? Talk to your readers as you would talk to your friends and family. Don’t try to be the pompous ass that you are not in real life. If you are one real life, DO NOT FOLLOW THIS ADVICE.
9. Talk to a person
More often than not, I get stuck when I try to generalize my readers and talk to them, as a faceless crowd. It is easier to think of that one person who would enjoy your story or post and just write for them. It is definitely less intimidating.
8. Don’t self sabotage
Negative thoughts send us down a spiral. It happens to the best of us and it is easier to say to be positive. But to truly overcome that try and understand its pattern and then solve the cause.
Worried that you are you not organized? Get a spreadsheet or a planner.
Worried that you are you not creative enough? Start writing.
You are not a real writer? Write MORE.You can do it.
7. Best laid plans
One can never stress enough on the importance on planning. Instead of waiting for an inspiration to strike every time you need to post on your blog, working with a plan makes sense doesn’t it?
Every week I start with a blog plan and schedule for the week which avoids the time I spend on frantically searching for topic when I actually write.
6. That elusive perfect ritual
Every post or article we write is different and the process we end up might be different as well. What I am trying to say is, do not fixate on your perfecting a writing ritual.
There is no one perfect writing process. If you do have one, please share it below in the comment section.
5. Write a spinoff
When you are stuck without knowing what to write read some of your old works. Write a sequel or part two of your most favorite. If you are a blogger, I believe every post can off shoot more posts.
For example, I wrote the post ‘how I follow your blog‘ months after I wrote ‘why follow your blog‘.
4. Lists saves our life
Another thing that never fails to gets started is making a list. Make a list of 10 items. or 20. It could be on anything. Do not try to hard or to make sense. Dump everything on the blank page.
You can even write list of ideas for your posts that you can expand later. I do that often. It never hurts to have an idea bank.
Here are some lists for you to get started.
3. Pomodoro technique to rescue
Despite all these I do suffer from ‘staring at the white sheet’ more often than I would like to admit, and there is only one thing that gets me going. I set a timer for a short time, say 20 minutes and start freewheeling. I am sure you will start making sense in one or two bouts.
2. Use your creative muscles
When everything fails, shut your work down and go do something else. Read. Draw. Sing. Dance. Just do not obsess about what you are supposed to be writing. A creative break usually gets us back in the mood to write something. If doesn’t, well you did something else creative didn’t you?
1. Enjoy what you do
Lastly but the most important thing is: write for yourself and enjoy what you do. When you push and push you might end up frustrated, which ultimately is not achieving anything. Write for writing sake and enjoy the writing craft, I am sure your readers will thank you for it.
These are some of the things I do when I have to get over the writing rut, be it for a blog post or copy writing. Let me know if it works for you.
How often do you struggle to write an article or post? What are the things that you do to manage the rut? Do you follow any of these ideas? Let us talk more.
I am glad I could be of help Fanna!
I use the Pomodoro technique a lot and it’s honeslty so useful in terms of even overall productivity and not just writing <3
I agree on all these points and this list is so helpful!
I totally agree. I remember using a Chrome extension to even lock other websites to avoid distractions based on the Pomodoro idea.
This is a really helpful post with some great suggestions.
I hope it helps!
Great advice!
Thanks!
I read this advice when I needed it most. Thanks for sharing!
We all need these tips sooner or later.
Some great advice there for writers.
I hope it helps them.
Such a helpful post (and several tips that I will certainly keep).
Thanks for sharing!
I hope you will not need to use these tips in the near future.
Helpfull post for writers and reminds us readers all the hard work that goes into the books we read.
I was thinking the same thing as I read through this! Great minds Nikki 😉
I am glad we all agree and hope we never get stuck in the rut!
YES! You cannot emphasis enough on that.
Great tips! I’ve found that since planning and scheduling my blog posts I’ve definitely been posting more which is great.
Gemma @ http://www.gemmasbooknook.blogspot.com
I learnt that the hard way this year. Better late than never, right?
Great tips! It can be so hard to find motivation when a slump strikes!
I hoped it was helpful too.
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Love these tips!! I never have quite tackled that organization one, myself, but it’s always something to strive for! 🙂
I am glad you liked this post.
Lovely post!
#8 is my big failing. I’m very good at self-satisfied. :/
You can get do it. Don’t worry.
Thank you for this post! <3 I’ve been struggling with my NaNo project for so many of the reasons above. I was honestly thinking about quitting this time around. So thank you for getting me to believe in myself and give some awesome tips for helping me out!
Please do not give up already. I will be around to cheer you from the sidelines.
This are really useful suggestions that tends to get ignored more than what we think. Especially the firsts, about writing like we’re talking but also trying to get free from “readers-fear”.
For a long time I tried to create a more elaborate writing style but I realized how much 1)it was not for me 2)kinda useless… in certain senses? It would have created a barrier between me and the reader
I appreciate that you were able to decide what was necessary for your blog. And it turned out perfect for your blog!
If you can’t write then read. Reading is just as important as writing. Do something different or unusual. If I’m in a post writing slump, I try to find a meme or a topic I wanted to write about but haven’t. Sometimes changing media helps. Instragram pictures always lifts my mood. Great post Gayathri! ❤️❤️
Reading other blogs help me get motivated and even get some ideas to start with. Instagram creates anxiety for me.
I have a motto which has served me well since high school, ”write what you know. When you run out, learn more”. So, I m constantly reading, researching various things, people, ideas. I tryt not to run out of things to say.
That is a great motto to follow. I am copying it down.
Quite what I needed today..! thanks for sharing
I am glad to be of use! Don’t give up.