Writer's block.
Like the cement barricade at the end of an unfinished highway, the writer's block stands before me... mocking me... challenging me...
It happens to everyone, but I sure didn't expect it to hit today.
Because content creation is such a critical part of making money with your blog, writer's block can be the site owner's worst nightmare.
What do I write about today?!?!
Here's how I handle writer's block.
1) Take a look at today's news. Whether you are into current events, politics, sports or whatever else, there is always a story worthy of your own commentary. I've been known to give my politically incorrect opinion from time to time. It doesn't always make friends for me, but it almost always guarantees participation on my blog. And I think people respect people who take a stand... usually. ;-)
2) Think about what you did the day or week before. Do you have an interesting or humorous anecdote to share? The best movies, books and plays are just stories at their core. You can tell a story, so why not share it with the world? Again, the personal touch may be just what the doctor ordered.
3) Are you getting ready to do something interesting or different? Perhaps you are planning a vacation. Maybe you've got a product you are getting ready to launch. Or maybe you just want to brag about your spouse or kids. When you share this kind of info, you endear yourself to your reader. It reminds everyone that there is a human behind the blog entry. That's a good thing.
4) Seen any good (or bad) movies? Heard any new music? Read a book that was surprisingly engaging? Entire social networking sites are built on the foundation of sharing likes and dislikes. Your opinion is yours alone, so go ahead and let loose with it. People don't have to agree with you (but it's nice when they do!), so just blog away.
As long as we have breath, there is another story to tell. Grab the sledgehammer of words and bust through the barricade of writer's block. You might find that today's entry is your best yet. :-)
What are your thoughts? Please comment below...
Silence is better than a lousy word. But for blog's sake, where you dot every i and cross every t, which has to be exact but which I happen to disagree, you may highlight one of Stephen Covey's the Have's and the Be's in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. You'd be surprised that there are readers like me who'd be happy just sharing a simple joke or a good old-fashioned humor.
True that Joel! I have been reading your books and I love your writings....this one isnt any different...very simple fact...but so true....I write whatever is on my mind. I dont care whether it is sports or movies or marriages or stuff.
When you are writing with passion it shows clearly in ur blog....
Keep blogging;)
Why do US marketers persist in their wall-to-wall usage of "killer" to denote something that is supposed to be "good", "desirable", even "great" and "wonderful"? What is "good" about killing? Isn't there much too much of this going on in the real world? Has the US military-industrial complex and the media that propagate their agenda hijacked good old English semantics? How about "relevant", "pertinent", "important" "significant" - consult a dictionary of synonyms. The English language is sooo rich in good, appropriate vocabulary. Why this ubiquitous use of "KILLER" for applications, content, advertising, etc.? Is this the Bushman version Orwell's Brave New World?
Joel,
If your blog is about a niche, would point 4) still apply?
Wouldnt that look out of place? Except for occasional use, not sure if that would look good on a niche blog
Anna,
Remember the film, The Gods Must be Crazy? The actors? The Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. Also called !Kung San (noted for their click sound), they are a gentle aborigines, who live by hunting and gathering on both sides of the border between Botswana and Namibia. Despite their foraging technology, they do not eat every edible species in their habitat even when they encounter them while searching for food.
Were you referring to a different Bushman?
Jesucita,
Anna must mean "Bush man." This is obviously a reference to George Bush -- the root of all evil in the modern world. ;-) And BTW, Anna, since when does the media kowtow to the agenda of the military?
Joel all this new stuff is great but how come it can not be run on an imac. will it IF I run though windows iterface program mac now has so you can run windows on a mac or still no. People still use macs it might be costing you extrx profit to get your stuff to run on a mac.
You are so right when you put things that way; there is always a story from the news that we can put our own spin on.