In his book, On Writing , he advises writing your rough draft with the door closed and then revising with the door open. The surest way to frustrate yourself is to imagine what everyone is going to say about your work before you finish it.
Get the rough draft done, listening only to your own intuition. If you let it, writing can make you miserable. Most terrific writers are normal people who take joy from their writing, and so they write as much as possible. And we need to stop. Find something to write about that gives you a buzz. Find something to write about that touches you so deeply, tears of joy are running down your face while you type. Get more from Jon on twitter. Jon Morrow is the CEO of Smart Blogger, a company dedicated to teaching you how to blog , get paid to write , and make money online doing what you love.
Thanks for sharing these quick tips. Sometimes I get stuck with a headline. I never thought about picking up once of those wacky magazine to get ideas. This is money in the bank!!! I really like the idea to listen to music. I enjoy music sometimes when I am in writing mode.
The beats sometimes inspire me to write something completely different. I also have written a post on my own blog about other ways to get inspired for your writing.
One idea I like is to just get out and away for awhile — I have found LOTS of ideas just going out driving or taking a walk. Walk the dog. There is nothing like being outside, looking at nature, people, wierd-ness that can really spark some interesting ideas in your mind.
Just go for a walk where your cusotmers might be. Speaking as someone that posts every day without the luxury of guest-posters, this has come in extremely handy for piles of good content.
Great post! You have no pen, no recorder, nowhere to log all the ideas that seem to flow straight from the shower head into your brain. Nice tips. The last thing any blogger wants to do is write especially on deadline when uninspired.
I might even toss out questions on Twitter or Facebook to see if the ensuing discussion might trigger a few ideas. I especially would like to thank you for the magazine and quotations idea. I feel emptied out — like, what now? Loved it. But why, when you have nothing to say, is it never an option to just shut up and say nothing? Sure, I understand business demand. Always have a pad and pen at the ready!
Jonathan — it seems you did what you set out to do. Yes, we want to inspire readers to think and act. Job well done. My new favorite trick is to take the laptop somewhere without internet access.
Shutting the door on all that distraction seems to work wonders for me. Creativity comes naturally. Another one that works for me is playing golf early in the morning by myself. Great ideas come from walking around the golf course.
I often find inspiration with a quick trip to the mall. Also, visiting an art gallery or museum of art has helped if I really need to shake things up. I love the magazine advice. Why not go to a bookstore for ideas? One other thing that gives me ideas of posts to write is to read comments. I loved this post. I just started blogging so I have a ton of ideas for posts written down, but these tips will help me expand upon my ideas.
I find that listening to classical music makes me very productive, but music with lyrics interrupts my thinking and makes it harder to write. And another good way to listen to smart dialogue is in stand up comedy. Hi Jonathan, Enjoyed tips and comments. Inspiration for writing happens to me in many places.
As I go about my day in the car, talking with people, reading, watching TV, etc. I capture them if I can paper and recording make great idea traps but then the perspiration is needed.
Writing five minutes straight stream of consciousness seems to be a good small step. Small enough to do and powerful enough to get new perspectives. What comes up can be developed or discarded. The discipline of getting it out without judgment is it good enough? Have Fun, Jim. Kathleen: Most collections of sales letters, otherwise known as swipe files, are a bit expensive, usually a few hundred dollars.
However, here is a nice collection of links to get you started:. This post came at the perfect time for me today…. I need to write: Quotations for me really inspire and invoke thought. I heard quotes from all the speakers that will absolute be the inspiration for future blog posts and videos for me. And, yes…I always have to have fun.
Susanna Fera. Maybe taking a shower can help. Everyone seems to come up with great ideas in there. Exercising is another good one. It alters your chemistry and state of mind which leads to fresh ideas.
I often worry too much about others opinions which I should be writing the articles from my perspective. Very powerful tricks that could surely inspire someone to write! If I may add, reading Copyblogger posts in full usually sparks some new ideas, or at least the motivation to write. What matters if that you write every day, not so much it has to be stuffs for your blog. How true Jon…we often miss this last point and just write for the sake of satisfying our readers.
Love this post! I also find it helpful to read blogs and industry pubs for ideas. Often times I find that I have a different opinion or want to explain something in a different way. I carry a small notebook and pen so I can jot down ideas as they come up. Thanks, I needed this. Stacy: I once heard Stephen Spielberg say he only agrees to direct a movie when it haunts him. For me, an idea for a good blog post works the same way.
I get plenty that I think are good at the time, but I no longer like later. Your writing will thank you for it. Writing is something of a lonely pursuit. Solitary by nature and by necessity, the craft of writing demands that its pursuers spend a great deal of time inside their own heads. While this suits the majority of writers, there are times when it inevitably leads to frustration, a sense of isolation and a lack of inspiration.
As we mentioned in point 2, the work of other writers is often a great source of inspiration — but what about writers themselves? To discuss your shared passion and craft, and perhaps most importantly of all, to be reminded that other people are having the same difficulties as you… There are few things more encouraging or inspiring to a struggling writer.
Writing anything at all — whether it be a well-developed short story or gulp an actual full-length novel — can be extremely daunting. Tackle things in terms of the bigger picture: remind yourself that all writers have been where you are, and that the only way you can truly fail is never to start at all. To lessen the intimidation factor, keep in mind that writing just a few hundred words every day will add up in the long run. A writer, like any other professional, needs to know how to play to their strengths.
By all means, work to improve these elements, but never allow pessimism to consume you — and, most importantly, never compare yourself negatively to other writers. For instance, if you have a knack for immersive, detailed description, try to build your story around this technique, painting a vivid and engaging portrait for your readers.
As well as knowing your strengths as a writer, you should also make a point of structuring your writing process around your strengths as a worker. Night owls, on the other hand, might choose to rise later so they can stay up writing into the night. The bottom line is that no two writers will ever write — or work — in exactly the same way. Use this to your advantage by honing in on your individual strengths and allowing them to inspire and guide your writing.
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Sign up for my newsletter and get cool updates on releases, special offers, and your free ebook! Online Courses. If you have ten minutes. Want a beautiful PDF with all these 20 inspirational tips?
Click here to get your downloadable PDF. If you have thirty minutes. If you have a large block of time. Be sure to download this beautiful PDF with all these 20 inspirational tips! Pin it next to your computer! Love these suggestions! Thank you, Jennifer! I am glad to know, that it was interesting for you to read my article! Hello, Traci! Thank you, Elaine! Thank you for your comment, Diane! This is a detailed list…! This will be by desk every morning. Hello Mary! Thanks for the great ideas!
You are always welcome, Angie! Very interesting and informative. And I will now go and write… gramswisewords. All i have to say is thank you Reply. Thank you for sharing such a great post! Was getting a little stagnant Appreciation! Leave a Reply:. Click here to cancel reply. Search for:. Subscribe to My Blog Enter your e-mail address to get all weekly posts delivered to you:. Sign up for my newsletter to get cool news and offers and your free ebook.
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