12/5/07: Power Through you Writer's Blocks

By Dalya F. Massachi

Has this ever happened to you?

You get a writing assignment and you can't seem to get started. You can't think of a word to say about your topic. It's all been said before -- and oh so much better by other writers! Besides, you suddenly see all of the absolutely pressing housecleaning or emailing or other distracting work all around you, just crying out for your attention.

And then....you realize that you have barely enough time left to finish your piece before the deadline.

Well, my friend, writer's block happens to all of us. Here are a few of the many ways you can treat that dreaded affliction.

• Prepare your writing area.

Clear your workspace so that it’s comfortable, inviting and not mixed up with your other work. If you can, try carving out a specific “writing area" in your home or office – either in a private space where nothing else happens, or in the middle of hustle and bustle if you like that environment. You might find that retreating to that place at the same time every day helps you focus on the task at hand. And when you’re done, you just get up and walk away, knowing that you've done your writing duty for the day.

• Cut your piece down to size.

Sometimes you may feel that your writing task is so overwhelming that you just freeze up. It seems like a big, tangled mess that you can’t bring yourself to tackle. Well, it may sound like a cliché, but if you zero in on smaller parts of the piece you’re writing, you can break it down into manageable chunks. If you list them all and cross off each one as you accomplish it, you can track your progress. Set up milestones for yourself and celebrate when you reach them -- with a little reward for a job well done, such as a favorite snack or a special outing.

• Fight off the urge to procrastinate.

Yes, most of us have spent a night or two (or more) cramming to meet a deadline. As soon as you get a writing assignment, start keeping track of your ideas about it. If your piece is going to have sections, separate your notes to reflect that. Then, when you sit down to write, you will already have some starter material. Nothing can torpedo your creativity faster than a blank page staring you in the face.

• Listen to yourself.

My clients often know exactly how to say something orally, but it gets lost somehow in the writing process. In those cases, I ask them to tell me what they're trying to say and we just jot down their exact words. You can do that too!

Just pretend you're chatting with a friend (your intended reader). Try to persuade a colleague to be your “sounding board.” Then go back with the eye of an editor and pull out the juiciest and more important pieces of information, word images, stories, and the like.

• Know that your first draft should NOT be perfect.

In fact, I always say that if your first draft is perfect then you’re probably doing something WRONG.

A very common reason for writer’s block is the fear that you will not get it right the first time. I’m here to tell you that professional writers NEVER (or extremely rarely) produce flowing pieces the first time around. That’s what your word processor’s editing functions are for!

• If all else fails: take a break.

Don’t waste time trying to come up with brilliant ideas if they are just not flowing. Get a healthy snack, go out for some exercise, read a book (unrelated to your work), or play with a stress ball. You might also want to try some deep breathing, meditation, or stretching.

Take a brief nap or “sleep on it” and return the next day. You will be amazed at the things you can fix after your sub-conscious mind has had time to undergo the creative process! You’ll be fresher when you wake up, and may even have a new perspective or insight.

Dalya F. Massachi

Dalya F. Massachi specializes in helping nonprofit professionals advance their missions through outstanding written materials.

She has worked with community-minded organizations for more than 15 years: authoring countless successful marketing pieces, articles, and grant proposals; teaching popular writing workshops; and coaching professionals one-on-one. She will soon publish "Writing to Make a Difference: 50 Powerful Tools & Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.”

Check out and subscribe to her e-newsletter at her website: http://www.dfmassachi.net dalya@dfmassachi.net