Writer’s block doesn’t just strike those intrepid souls writing the next Twilight or Harry Potter. It can strike those of us writing nonfiction, also. In response, many people suggest doing something unusual to cure writer’s block, such as sitting at a different Starbucks than the one you normally haunt or writing at a different time of day.
If those tips work for you, great! However, when I was writing my Master’s thesis just a couple years ago, I found that the best way to deal with my own writer’s block was to be boring—very, very boring. I got into the habit of writing in the same spot at the same time, day in and day out. I went so far as to make sure I was even sitting in the same chair every day and drinking the same brand of coffee. Crazy, I know! But, this method helped me to research, write, and edit a ninety-eight page thesis on the relationship between small business and social media—in under two months.
I think this method worked for me then, and still works, because it creates a rhythm. When I’m sitting in my writing chair, my brain unconsciously feels the repetition of action and sends a signal to my fingers to start typing. Or, at least that’s my hypothesis!
So, if you are having trouble creating content, try being a bit boring. Your fingers might just feel the rhythm!
Erin Wright is a freelance writer and editor located in Chicago, Illinois. She specializes in general business content, including marketing and instructional material for print and the web.
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