30 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block for Bloggers

It happens to all of us one time or another. You stare at the blank screen, or perhaps one with a half-written post. You stare until you feel like pulling your hair out….and still nothing. You just crashed head on against writer’s block.

Writerâ€™s Block

Photo by Mayr via Flickr

Hopefully, you have been pacing yourself and haven’t try to post more frequently than you could manage — if you aren’t, I recommend that you read Why Blog Post Frequency Does Not Matter Anymore. Assuming you’re pacing yourself for long-term success, here are some quick ideas:

Don’t write for the day. It’s your blog, why go crazy with imaginary deadlines?
Take a walk
Take a shower
Go to a different room
Go outside of the house
Read a book
Watch TV
Turn on the music
Visit discussion forums in your niche
Surf the web with social media sites — e.g., StumbleUpon, del.icio.us, etc.
Read other blogs
Play out a “what if?” scenario
Debate other people’s posts
Build on other people’s posts
Build on your old posts
Build on reader’s comment
Pick up a meme
Start a meme
Interview other bloggers
Review other web sites in your niche
Observation on the current trend
Observation on the industry
Go through your categories and build top 10 lists. But don’t just link, add something
Do blog search and build themed top 10 lists
Freewriting
Mind mapping
Ask questions
Start a poll
Use notebook instead of a computer so that you can doodle your ideas
Ask for a guest post from your blogging buddies

Here are some more ideas from around the web:

Hack your way out of writer’s block at 43 Folders
Overcoming Writer’s Block at LEO: Literacy Education Online
10 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block at Humanus Publishing – Editor’s Blog
Chipping Away at Writer’s Block at Big Bad Book Blog
12 Tips for Battling Blogger’s Block at Performancing
Cat Got Your Tongue? at WritingThoughts
How to Conquer Blogger’s Block at Inspirit Blog

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Pinyo is the owner of Moolanomy: personal finance blog and Blogthority, and founder of the M-Network: personal finance blogs network.

All posts by Pinyo

10 Comments

Abhinav Sood
February 21, 2008, 12:21

Some great ideas in there. I actually support your viewpoint that you don’t need to freak out if you don’t have anything to write for a day. But I believe that these imaginary deadlines we make up are the real challenges that we should try to beat, to be successful.

I may not post for a day if I have an exam (like 2 in a day, just 8 hours later !) or something of that sort, but whenever I make a post. It is with this spirit that I am going to raid and take over some-big-thing!

Thanks for the mention of this post from Inspirit.

Good Day.
Laura
February 21, 2008, 12:51

Thanks for including me in your awesome list of resources for bloggers with writer’s blog.

You’ve got a lot of helpful tips here!
Mrs. Micah
February 21, 2008, 13:08

Yeah, I sometimes have trouble coming up with something. I wish I could keep more in mind that I don’t have to post on my schedule if I don’t have anything.

I love talking with Micah about ideas…he often helps me come up with good ideas.
Pinyo
February 22, 2008, 9:43

@Abhinav – Thank you. Yeah, I agree that posting regularly is important, but if you have to write crap to fill the spot, then you’re better off

@Laura – it was my pleasure. Thank you.

@Mrs. Micah – Yeah, talking to other poeple helps too. Sometime, they’ll say something and ideas will just pop up.

Now, imagine if you have commenter’s block :-O
Nadz | MindBlogger Blogging Tips, Tricks and Tools
February 22, 2008, 10:42

Great ideas Pinyo!

Adding something, when I feel really lost, I just take a break from it all. Just go goofing around and then come back refreshed. What I learned from that is that when you can’t seem to get a move on, change can be good. If I can’t get a break, I just go somewhere outside and try brainstorming.

I also research for any new developments and trends in the blogosphere(for my blog is of blogging resources niche), so that when the next big thing comes up, I can ride the wave.

And finally, I keep this notebook with me, which allows me to write followups to the posts that I already did. I just go random on my archived posts and see how I can write a follow up on that.

Cheers!
Randall at CreditWithdrawal
February 22, 2008, 11:01

It’s funny, sometimes I come up on my deadline (self-imposed) and don’t have anything until a few minutes before, then the ‘good idea’ hits and it’s like I can’t STOP writing the article.

I think the artificial deadline helps on occasion to get the brain in gear.

Having said that, there are days I’ve still come up with kerfluffle, and taken the day off.
Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net
February 22, 2008, 11:32

I just bookmarked this list. I think I seriously do my best work under pressure. If I’m not up against a deadline, I can’t think of anything to write. Maybe this list will help me out, so I’m not always writing at the last minute.
Carol
February 23, 2008, 12:41

Personally I am glad to know that I am not the only one that has writers block at times. Although it is important not to let days go by before you post. I think most bloggers will forgive if you don’t have something everyday. But it is great to have some ideas on what to do about it.
Pinyo
February 24, 2008, 14:42

@Nadz – Good example. And I agree on carrying around a notebook. This is a must do for bloggers.

@Randall – Yeah, sometimes they come in spurt. I love creative spurts.

@Lynnae – Thanks! The funny thing is sometimes our last minute posts turn out to be the best.

@Carol – I think as long as you don’t just stop and let your blog dies, it’s okay.
Geoserv
February 25, 2008, 4:26

Nothing worse than trying to put together a post and your mind goes blank, especially when your half way through.

Great read.

Added to TopStumbles:
http://www.topstumbles.com/how.....ogthority/