“How to Overcome Writer’s Block and Write Consistently: Lessons from a 30-Day Writing Challenge”

Captain’s Log: Day #30 of my 30-Day Challenge to write a 500-word article every day for the next 30 days.

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Today marks the completion of my 30-day writing challenge.

It was a long and exciting challenge. I am glad that I was able to complete it despite having challenges like what topic to write about, what words to type, and committing to the task at hand.

I can’t really say that I am a better writer now, but compared to when I began I think I have been able to improve a lot. And with that here are 30 takeaways that I would like to share. Ready?

1. Block time off for writing. Having a schedule to do your writing makes it easier. You’ll also be able to meet your deadlines much better.
2. Look for ideas from everyday things. Sometimes ideas can be difficult to come by and when that happens you can use things that you see every day. My post about impostor syndrome came about because I saw a tweet about it and heard it again in our Accountability Call.
3. Write now, edit later. It can be tempting to write and edit at the same time however, it also blocks some of the ideas that come out. So it’s best to write first and then edit and improve it.
4. Use a framework. Sometimes it’s easier when you have a format to follow, that way you’re not always writing from scratch.
5. Take a walk. Taking a walk can be both relaxing and at the same time help you get that creative juice up, you might also pick up something you can write about.
6. Use tools. Nowadays, it’s very easy to edit and proofread because of the technology. Utilize it to make you efficient but not lazy.
7. Have a hobby. One of my hobbies is playing piano and honestly, it has helped me relax when I feel stressed and running out of ideas to write or simply just need some quick time to relax.
8. Read. Reading is like a mental exercise of the mind. You will learn concepts and also pick up some tips or two about the author’s writing style.
9. Use descriptive language. When telling stories, it is always best to use descriptive language that way you can immerse the reader better and make them feel how you felt as you tell the story.
10. Use language that’s easy to read. Unless you’re writing a technical paper, you probably will need to learn how to simplify things when writing so your audience can easily understand what you are talking about.
11. Research. Researching a topic that you want to write about helps you avoid writer’s block and gives you something to start with.
12. Exercise. Physical health is also important, taking walks or just stretching can go a long way to help you write better.
13. Embrace distractions. Sometimes distractions will be there, especially when you’re working from home. Learn to anticipate it and also have a routine that can get you back into your groove quickly.
14. Draw from your experience. Experience they say is the best teacher. And when you share some of your experiences, you open yourself to readers and make it a bit easier to write.
15. Draw from other people’s experiences. Sometimes you may not have that much experience on a subject and that’s when you can use other people’s experiences as an inspiration.
16. Use images to add depth to your story. Most of us are visual learners and having a nice photo that relates to your article can make it more interesting.
17. Music. Having music in the background can help you become productive. Ignore this though if you’re the type who wants to be quiet and focused.
18. Have somebody to bounce off ideas with. Having someone to listen to you or check on your ideas can be a great way to improve on an idea you already have.
19. Use a list or bullets. Having a list or bullets can help you organize your topics better.
20. Break down paragraphs. Sometimes breaking down paragraphs can help make your article better to read.
21. Identify a target audience. Having a certain person in mind when writing your article can help you make it better especially when you have a feel for what they want to read and what gets their senses tingled.
22. Feedback. Use feedback to improve what you wrote. As they say, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
23. Create an environment that will help you write better. Having an environment that helps you be creative is helpful to get your creativity going.
24. Embrace the attitude of gratitude. Being thankful for the ability to write and be able to express emotions, and tell stories through print or blogs is always a great mindset to get you started.
25. Use transitions to connect ideas and create coherence. Creating transitions helps add a flow to your story and make sure that everything is connected.
26. Use humor and wit to engage your readers. Adding a touch of humor and wit makes you more relatable and of course, people always love a dose of laughter.
27. Use storytelling to make your writing more memorable. Stories have always been ingrained in every culture. It’s how we first learn about things and also a great way to keep people interested and hooked.
28. Have a professional mindset. As a professional, you show up whether you feel like it or not. You create the environment for you to get inspired and be productive and not the other way around.
29. Write daily. What you repeatedly do, you get better at. Especially if you’re starting out, you need reps to make you better.
30. Celebrate small wins. And finally, we have to take into account our small wins and celebrate! Just like finishing this 30-day challenge!

I hope you take away these valuable tips, use them and modify them to what best fits you. And of course, never stop learning and practicing. I have had a lot of fun doing this challenge and hope you did as well in reading my articles. Until next time. Live long and prosper!