My Battle with Writer’s Block

It will probably surprise you to learn that I recently suffered from a terrible case of writer’s block. While this is bad for anyone, it is particularly hard on someone trying to establish a career in freelance writing. Add to the mix that I had a deadline to meet, and you can imagine my panic. However, I like to think that I learned something from the experience, and that’s what I’d like to share with you now.

What Happened

It really came on rather suddenly. I had an assignment to write create a blog for a new client. The topic was one that I am familiar with, so I was not nervous. I also had plenty of time, so there was no pressure. However, wanted to try to finish the project early so that I could make a good impression and, hopefully, get a good recommendation for more work.

I sat down the first day, and suddenly had this terrible feeling that I just couldn’t think of anything to say. Since I’d never had this experience before, I wasn’t concerned. I just figured I’d feel better the next day and moved on to another, non-writing project. However, the problem continued the next day, and the next, and the day after that. By this time I was beginning to panic and decided I had to do something, anything, to make some progress.

My First Efforts

Since I couldn’t write, I decided to begin browsing the top premium WordPress themes to get some ideas about the blog’s structure. However, even after I’d work my way through all WordPress Genesis themes and chosen the one I wanted, I had no ideas. So here I was with a beautiful, but totally empty blog. Now I was really worried.

How Work Worked

I finally realized that building a blog is a lot like building anything else. So I decided to approach the work very methodically, as follows.

• Made a list of everything I could think of that was remotely connected to the subject.
• Grouped the sentences together by subject.
• Developed each idea into a sentence.
• Wrote an introductory sentence for each group of sentences.
• Wrote a concluding sentence of each group of sentences.
• Wrote an introductory paragraph.
• Wrote a concluding paragraph.
• Left the document alone overnight.
• Rewrote the whole thing the next day.
• Had my husband read it and make notes about what he’d like to hear more (and less) about.
• Reworked the article one more time, incorporating the suggestions he made.
• Put the article aside again.
• Re-read it one more time, made a few more changes, and turned it in.

Was it the best thing I’ve ever written? Of course not. However, it did allow me to get the job done and meet my deadline. It also taught me the very valuable lesson. To be a professional writer is to admit that sometimes writing is just plain hard work.

About the Author

Melissa Cameron understands what it is like to need balance in a busy day with a spouse, children and elderly parents. When she does have a bit of spare time, she enjoys scrap-booking and writing and hopes to realize her goals as a freelance writer online so she can work at home. Melissa loves surfing the internet, looking for deals and learning new things. In fact, her husband has recently nicknamed her The Walking Infomercial!