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It's a common scenario: bloggers around the world brew a nice cup of coffee, settle down in front of their computer, launch their preferred word processor, and then proceed to stare at a blinking cursor over...and over...and over again. Yes, I'm talking about dreaded writer's block.
If this sounds like you, then be assured that you aren't alone. Even the more prolific bloggers who've crafted thousands of posts occasionally struggle to get their fingers moving.
The bad news is that there's no 100% guaranteed way to avoid writer's block. It's like bad weather: sooner or later, it strikes. But the good news is that you can dramatically reduce the time you spend staring at that blinking cursor by doing these proven and powerful things:
Step away from the keyboard.
Yes, this sounds like the exact opposite of what you should be doing. But it's surprisingly effective, because it creates a "pattern interrupt" in your current behavior, which might be all that you need to refuel your writing tank.
Go for a walk, vacuum your rug, do some exercise or yoga - anything that takes you away from your keyboard and gets your body moving.
Create a writing schedule.
One of the joys of blogging is that unless you're facing a tight deadline, you can generally decide when (and even where) you write. For example, if you need to craft a blog about the benefits of using a host voip phone system vs. a conventional landline phone system, then you can schedule this task around other things that you want or need to do - like getting the oil changed on your car, visiting the dentist, getting your haircut, and so on.
Yet sometimes, this freedom and flexibility and be a curse instead of a blessing, since there are times during the day, and days during the week, when you're usually more focused and productive.
he moral to this story?
Identify your "peak writing times," and build a writing schedule that aligns with it. You'll be amazed at how much of a positive difference this makes.
Change your music soundtrack.
It's never been easier to listen to all kinds of music anytime you want. There's YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Music, SiriusXM radio, and the list of platforms goes on. However, you may be surprised to discover that not all music has the same influence and impact on your writing experience.
Many bloggers find that both their writing quantity and quality improve if they listen to soothing, calming and ambient music that doesn't have lyrics. Others find that they work best when listening to certain classical music composers, such as Mozart and Bach.
Experiment to find out what music and sounds work best for you, and create a specific "writing playlist" that you only listen to when it's time to write.