Eliminate the Idea of Writer's Block: Just Write!

Although this list is in no particular order, the one thing you really must do if you have motivation or inspiration problems (whether too much or too little of it!) is to keep a list of articles to write. Always keep this list with you, such as a list in your phone or pad on your nightstand. This way, you can add to it or begin writing from it wherever you are, even if it's on the back of a restaurant napkin or placemat.

• Set a personal goal to complete so many articles in a certain amount of time--one per day or week, for example. Make it an achievable goal for you: and make sure you do achieve it. Then, gradually challenge yourself to higher goals if you wish to write more.
• Take a paper notebook and sit in a different place than usual and write or see what comes to mind—use a colored pencil or crayon or something unusual to write with. Have you ever tried a glass ink pen, where you have to dip the glass pen in an ink well every few seconds?
• Look at your list of articles to write and figure out what's easiest for you to write at that particular moment, and then go write it right quick, before you have time to think twice about it.
• Write the first sentence of each article you plan to write. Now, write the last sentence for each.
• Outline an article--then filling in the details now or later will be easy.
• Drink coffee (or another warm beverage) out of a special cup/mug every time you write, helping to make it a ritual that you look forward to.

Use some of the above ideas to develop healthy habits that you can easily do year-round, year-after-year.

External motivations for writing can be helpful, especially if you're motivated by being held "accountable" to someone for producing your work, such as if you are deadline-motivated.

Join a writer's group. There are plenty of options, including:

• Shut Up & Write--these groups meet nationally either in-person or virtually. There's a group for just about everyone.
• Meetup.com writing groups
• Groups through your local libraries, community centers, and universities

Create your own writer's group

Form your own writer's group if you can't find one that suits you, and recruit members via social media such as Facebook and Next Door.

Take a class

Many universities, community colleges, community education centers, and numerous online schools offer free or low-cost writing classes. Even if you already know the subject, taking a class can spark your participation and hold you to deadlines.

Consult a life coach or therapist

Sometimes, a professional, such as a therapist or life coach, can motivate you or determine what's blocking your success and how to overcome it in a hurry. It never hurts to try, all you lose is a little time and maybe a little money. Note that therapy is often covered partially or fully by medical insurance, and many companies have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that might offer resources that can help.

Yet another go-to method for overcoming writer's block is to find books on writing, writer's block, writing prompts, and more. Avid readers of anything are the most prolific and successful writers, too, so that bestseller you're reading may be the key to unlocking your own creative juices, not just a waste of time.

There are many mobile apps that can help you in the writing process. These writing-related mobile apps can help when you're on the go or deliberately seeking new spots to write in or about:

• jumpstarting the creative process to overcome writer's block— (**Note that I haven't tried either of these two applications, so since they aren't free I can only recommend them based on their descriptions):
  "ThinkBook - Write, Plan, Outline and Take Notes" by Bitolithic Pty Ltd, $3.99";
  "iThoughtsHD (mindmapping)" by CMS, $9.99, "Mindmapping enables you to visually organize your thoughts, ideas, and information. Typical Uses: ... Brainstorming...."
• simple new-text entry—
  "Free Writing - the cure for writer's block" by psyos, designed for iPhone and iPad and some iPods, available in 14 languages, "an app for writing... and nothing else." gesture-based text editing, rated 4+ out of 5;
  "Easy Writer Lite" by Infovole--there is also a paid upgrade to this app that you might want to consider before making any in-app purchases
• accessing an existing document on the Cloud—
  "Documents by Readdle" by Readdle, works in iPhone and iPad; highly acclaimed--apparently does everything but the dishes
• storing ideas of various types for later development into articles or whatever—
  "Save Your Ideas: Chromolux Ideas Preserver" by M-real Zanders GmbH; available for iPhone and iPad; English and German versions.

Personally, the last app listed ("Save Your Ideas: Chromolux Ideas Preserver") sounds the most fun and useful, but please share your experiences with any apps that you use to help with the writing process, especially in overcoming writer's block (that which does not exist).

I get paid to write. Seriously, I write because I get paid to write, either in money, recognition, or by comments from people who were helped in some way by my writing. Often, it's all three.

While I’m actually writing an article, I continue to write in hopes that what I’m saying really resonates with someone else and makes their life better, fixes some problem they had, teaches them something new, or just plain makes them laugh—even if it’s at how stupid they think my article is!

Then again, I'm a professional technical writer all day at work, so I'm used to writing about any old topic that someone needs at any moment and getting paid for it—there is no such thing as “writer’s block” as a technical writer, just assignments to write and deadlines to meet--and a salary.

But if I'm writing articles, it's more like creative writing--like taking a holiday from "regular (technical) writing" for me. If you aren't a professional writer, then you can think of writing as your holiday from whatever job you normally have.

Everyone enjoys a holiday! If you think of writing as your holiday, then you will be happy about doing it and, therefore, not likely to get "writer's block".

Whatever you do, from now on eliminate the words "writer's block" and the concept of it from your mind and you will soon stop suffering from it, too.

When writing online articles, I get motivated by seeing the comments people write, which are usually inspiring and confidence-building, or at least educational or helpful (like pointing out an error in an article I've written--thank you thank you!!).

I'm especially happy when one of my articles makes a real difference--whether big or small--in someone's life or affects our culture or our world.

Something that de-motivates me to write, however, is email. You can't escape it, but you can turn it off while you're writing to avoid the temptation to deviation from your present work.

My dog provides no end of antics that I could write about, and just as often she is likely to inspire me to write about something other than dogs.

Maybe you have pets or children or other things that motivate you. If you don't, pick up your ideas notebook and pen and go to the nearest playground and play on the equipment. Or just swing. Or sit on a bench. For 15 minutes. You'd be surprised what you think of to write about, both related to the park scene and not related to it.

I hope this article helps Karen Creftor, who personally inspired this article, and anyone else with motivation/inspiration problems!