We’ve all been there. Staring at a blinking cursor at the top of a blank screen with no idea how to fill the page. It happens to everyone—even professional writers.
Some call this Writer’s Block, but that’s not a phrase I use. It implies there’s no remedy or recourse. And I don’t believe that. There’s always some way to break the blank page paralysis…once you know the source. And that’s the real key to it. Knowing why you’re staring at a blank page in the first place.
Below are some of the most common reasons for that feeling of being stuck when it comes to writing…and the fixes to help you break through.
Not Being Clear on Your Topic
The Problem—If you have no idea what you are trying to say, you won’t be able to say it. It’s that simple.
The Fix—Fill in the details. Know who you are talking to in your piece and what you want them to get out of it or how you want them to respond. This plan will guide your writing no matter what you are trying to write.
Not Having Enough Information
The Problem—Having a great idea isn’t enough. Not if it doesn’t have substance enough to sustain it. The ideas are easy. They are new and shiny and catch your attention. But it’s the rest of the story that matters. The details that build your story and make your point. If all you have is the shiny bit, you will hit a wall.
The Fix—Do your research. Plot a path. Fill in the details. Have something concrete to say before you start writing. It’s so much easier if you know what point you are trying to make and have specific details to add along the way. A concept alone is not enough. You need a plan (or a plot).
Not Having a Goal (or Throughline)
The Problem—A goal or a throughline helps you get from the beginning through to the end. It guides you and helps push your work forward. Without that, you are likely to drift into tangents and lose your audience. They crave direction. They want to be able to follow your story and thoughts in a logical way. Rambling may seem endearing (and it can be in person), but it tires quickly on the page (or screen).
The Fix—Figure out your purpose and stick to it. Develop a strong throughline to guide your piece—a thread that holds your ideas together and delivers them in a logical progression so you don’t lose your audience along the way.
Trying to Reach Too Many People
The Problem—When you try to reach everyone, you end up reaching no one. The fact is that you can’t write anything for a broad audience. The moment you try to do that, you’ve chosen to water down your approach to appeal to the masses. You can never stand out doing that.
The Fix—Pick an audience. Are you trying to reach mystery readers or business coaches? Podcast hosts or bloggers? Be specific. The more you can tailor your work to that specific audience, the more value you can offer. Niching down helps refine your message.
Fear of (Fill-in-the-Blank)
The Problem—If you are afraid of not being good enough, or of failing (or succeeding), or looking stupid, or any number of other fear-based outcomes, you will fail. You can’t operate effectively in the middle of a panic attack or crisis of confidence.
The Fix—Own your work. Own your message. Get clear on what you want to say and the audience you want to say it to being as specific as possible. Then take a deep breath and be clear in what you have to say. Write it down with purpose. Don’t allow fear to hold you back. Be brave and share your knowledge and ideas with the world.
Being Too Precious
The Problem—Taking your work too seriously or treating it like it’s precious can stop you in your tracks. So unless you’re holding people’s lives in your hands, give yourself a break. Your work is important. It’s not serious. Not life-and-death level serious. You can ease back a bit.
The Fix—Keep things in perspective. One mediocre post or blog won’t tank your career (unless you say something egregious and I’m going to assume you’re not going to do that). In most cases of writing stagnation, it comes down to being a perfectionist and that can kill your writing faster than anything. I will touch on that in my next blog. Until then, take a deep breath and put your ideas out there. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
NOTE: I am launching a new course next month dedicated to throughlines. Jump on the wait list if you are curious. No obligation, but you will be the first to know when it’s available. You also may get a nice bonus for jumping in early.