Jump-Start Your Article

Information, much of it in the form of written content, is what
drives the Internet. As a result, article writing is extremely
important to Internet entrepreneurs who wish to succeed. But
sometimes circumstances arise when the articles just aren't
coming.

Writer's block happens to the best of us. I have cases of it all
the time. I'll be sitting at my keyboard, staring into a blank
screen, just hoping that a decent thought will jump into my head
and I can start typing again. One minute goes by, then two, then
ten, and nothing happens. Drat!

If this has ever happened to you, you know how frustrating it can
be. In my personal experience, writer's block usually occurs
when I have not adequately prepared myself to write at the
particular time at which I'm trying to write. What I mean is, I
have ideas for articles all the time. Unfortunately, they usually
show up when I'm in the shower, driving down the highway, in the
middle of trying to complete ten other things and something just
"pops into my head", or lying in bed at 3:00am. But, when it's
time to recapture my thoughts, when I'm sitting down and ready
to write, nothing.

If this sounds familiar, if you're in a bit of a slump or can't
seem to get or hold onto a decent article writing idea, here are
some tips:

1) If you get ideas frequently, but can't seem to recall them
when you need them, "sticky notes" and a small notepad work
wonders.

I know, it seems ridiculously simple. No rocket science here, but
I'm telling you if you've never tried this, it works. The
problem is not that you don't have ideas that can be transformed
into great articles. The problem is that you're not capturing
the ideas you have.

Keeping small notepads (we don't want to create clutter, because
clutter disrupts our ability to think and act clearly; a subject
for yet another article) around the house, in the car, on your
desks or anywhere else you tend to frequent, helps you to record
important or creative ideas as soon as you get them (or soon
thereafter). By taking time to "jot down" your thoughts as they
come, you create a means of saving them; a record and a resource.
Then, when you're in a position to do something with the ideas,
or when your "well runs dry", you have a great tool at your
disposal. (Note: Using a personal voice recorder instead of a
notepad, will work just as well.)

2) If getting ideas in the first place is your problem, here are
three quick idea sources: current news (What's going on that
affects your niche?), industry news (What are the new/hot trends,
what changes are occurring, what are people saying/doing? ), and
current problems or challenges your audience may face.

Each of these sources can be reviewed quickly without taking too
much of your time or effort. They can each provide the "seeds"
from which to generate interesting and helpful articles. In
addition, don't overlook the value of your own experience. Your
challenges, successes and failures are likely very similar to
those of other individuals who are involved and interested in the
same things as are you. Often, just writing about a subject and
offering readers a different perspective can provide a great deal
of benefit to your audience.

3) My final tip...Don't force it.

If you're experiencing difficulty with your article writing,
walk away. If you're attempting to write an article and nothing
is happening, STEP AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTER (or paper or
notepad).

Turn your attention elsewhere. Feed the cat, walk the dog, get
some fresh air. Do something to break away from your writing.
Engage yourself in activities that are completely different. Then
return to your writing task with a refreshed mind and renewed
energy. I believe you'll find that you can write. If however,
your "dry spell" lasts more than momentarily, my advice is
still the same. Disengage, even for a period of a day or two if
needed, and completely immerse yourself in other things. When you
feel refreshed, come back to your writing and begin again.

Although there may be similarities in the actions of individuals
involved in the task, article writing is somewhat different for
everyone who does it. As writers, we all have different routines,
different rituals, and different methodologies according to what
works best for each of us. Invariably though, at some point or
other, every writer comes to a point when their engine stalls.

The best advice is to keep yourself renewed and refreshed on a
regular basis. Avoid getting so involved in your writing (or for
you who are entrepreneurs, any of the other gazillion tasks you
perform), that you exclude all else. This will help you to
maintain a fresh perspective, and that "freshness" will
certainly be reflected in your ability to write, as well as in
the quality of your writing.

But when a difficult period does arise, be prepared. Have the
tools in place to help you to get your article writing started
and going again. Hopefully the tips included within this article
will help you to do just that. Happy writing!