{"id":13057,"date":"2013-03-07T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2013-03-07T13:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.shareaholic.com\/?p=13057"},"modified":"2014-05-09T12:22:52","modified_gmt":"2014-05-09T16:22:52","slug":"how-to-fight-writers-block","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shareaholic.com\/blog\/how-to-fight-writers-block\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fight Writer\u2019s Block on Your Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo Credit: e_walk<\/a> via Compfight<\/a> cc<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Bloggers block is a real dilemma, one that can be detrimental with all of the blog and guest blog posts that we need to write to keep our blog active and exposed to new traffic.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t quantify how many \u201cuh oh\u201d moments I\u2019ve had when I notice that my blog hasn\u2019t had a new post in a week or my Google calendar tells me that I promised someone a guest post today, but I haven\u2019t written a word and the words just won\u2019t come\u2026<\/p>\n

And then there is the fact that millions of blog posts go up a day and mine needs to stand out. My post needs to say something in a way that\u2019s never been done before. No pressure, right?<\/p>\n

I have a sticky note on my computer that says, \u201cIf you don\u2019t have anything epic to say, don\u2019t say anything at all.\u201d This is great advice but let\u2019s face it, the well of creative juices runs dry sometimes. Pulling from my conversations with fellow bloggers, one of the biggest frustrations with blogging is that sometimes we become overwhelmed with the feeling that everything has been said and there isn\u2019t anything new left for us to say.<\/p>\n

Of course, feeling like there\u2019s nothing left to say isn\u2019t the only reason why we have bloggers block. I\u2019ve lost plenty of moments staring at my taunting cursor because of lack of sleep, the loss of the ability to concentrate or midafternoon restlessness. Because simply not blogging isn\u2019t an option, I came up with these ways to fight bloggers block, threw together this little infographic<\/a>, and hung it on my wall. It has honestly helped me through some pretty tough spells of bloggers block, so I wanted to share it with you!<\/p>\n

Here are the top 11 ways to fight writer\u2019s block:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Read a post on a topic irrelevant to the one you\u2019re writing about<\/h3>\n

Simply deviating your mind from the problem can reset your ideas. Allow yourself to be consumed by an intriguing piece of content and completely forget about your predicament. For me, I usually read a travel blog, picture myself on an adventure, and come back to reality feeling refreshed.<\/p>\n

2. Do 10 jumping jacks and one back bend<\/h3>\n

In the event your creative juices are drying up because of a lack of blood flow, get that blood flowing. Since I can\u2019t usually leave and go do a yoga class, when in the office, I sneak away to the bathroom and do jumping jacks and back bends. I was told one good back bend gives you as much energy as a cup of coffee\u2026.<\/p>\n

3. Ask someone irrelevant to your blog for an idea<\/h3>\n

Looking elsewhere for ideas has always been a surprising solution for bloggers block. If you blog for a company, use your sales or customer service colleagues for input since they are the ones talking to a big part of your audience. If you blog on your own, ask your friends, family or mailman for an idea\u2014the fact that they are removed from your writing makes them come to the situation with brand new ideas.<\/p>\n

4. Find a new environment<\/h3>\n

Sometimes stale or distracting surroundings can be a culprit for causing bloggers block. As much as I want to work from home, I find that I can\u2019t. Dogs, roommates and dishes in the sink can be quite distracting. Moving to a cozy coffee shop has always made me the most productive.<\/p>\n

5. Read a post from a blog who is an authority on your topic<\/h3>\n

Another blogger might have a cool twist on a topic. I don\u2019t mean plagarism, just allow yourself to be inspired. If you don\u2019t know where to start, browse your favorite topic in Shareaholic Channels<\/a> to discover awesome blogs in your interest area.<\/p>\n

6. Use your social media followers, they\u2019ll feel honored<\/h3>\n

Every few months I like to tweet and post this question: \u201cWhat topics would you like me to cover for you?\u201d Your followers will be honored to be involved in your creation process and love to feel heard.<\/p>\n

7. Reach out to bloggers and ask if they want to do some collaborative posting<\/h3>\n

Try collaborative posting with your blogging buddies<\/a> by exchanging guest posts<\/a> or writing a post together. Either way, the two of you are exposing new audiences to your words.<\/p>\n

If you reach out to bloggers often, whether it be for marketing reasons or for collaboration within your own blogosphere, I recommend testing out my company\u2019s blogger outreach tool, GroupHigh<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. Go outside and take a break in nature<\/h3>\n

When my brain starts to feel \u201cmushy,\u201d I get up from my computer and take a \u201csunshine break.\u201d Soaking in some nature always leaves me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.<\/p>\n

9. Pick an alternative story form<\/h3>\n

Check out this SlideShare presentation<\/a> on alternative story forms, basically taking text-heavy posts and turning them into a visually driven story. The goal is to give your readers a visually appealing way to take in information, something they may not always get on your blog. Sometimes when you pick an image driven way to share your idea, the content flows easier.<\/p>\n

10. Create a resource post<\/h3>\n

Put together a list of your favorite articles that shed light on different aspects of your blog\u2019s niche. Don\u2019t forget to hyperlink!<\/p>\n

11. Drink a latte and eat a brownie<\/h3>\n

Chocolate and caffeine are known to stimulate the mind and even release a few endorphins. These two ingredients have really gotten the wheels turning in the creative part of my mind before.<\/p>\n

Remember, you\u2019ve worked hard to get your reader\u2019s attention\u2014so don\u2019t lose them by never posting. Because it\u2019s crucial to hang on to your audience, I recommend eliciting the help of a guest post author. As long as they are writing content that fits in with our audience, your readers will be pleased to get another point of view.<\/p>\n

Check out the infographic below to see these steps in action.<\/p>\n

Do you have any unique tactics that you use to fight bloggers block?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Bloggers<\/a><\/p>\n

Kristen Matthews is the Marketing and Community Manager at\u00a0GroupHigh<\/a>. She loves collaboration so feel free to contact her anytime\u00a0at Kristen@GroupHigh.com or follow her on Twitter\u00a0@KristenWords<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bloggers block is a real dilemma, one that can be detrimental with all of the blog and guest blog posts that we need to write… 
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