by R.A. Rowell; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network

There are many tricks writers use to defeat writer’s block. Of course, some are better than others. There’s one tip I found that one writer actually called “the ultimate secret for overcoming writer’s block.” That secret I will share with you now: working from a template or an example similar to what you’re working on.

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Take a sample of something you’ve worked on before that’s similar to what you’re trying to write. It doesn’t even have to be something you’ve actually published. The example could be something you simply working on before. It could be an article you never finished, or a short story you just never felt was worth publishing. 

The idea is that the example is the same type of thing you’re working on, whether it’s an article, story, or other assignment. Heck, the example doesn’t even have to be something you’ve written. It just has to be along the same lines.

For example, say you’re trying to write a sales pitch. But, you really don’t know where to start or what points to make. Just by having a sales pitch in front of you, even if it’s something you haven’t even written, your mind will automatically process it. If you ask some famous writers, they will even admit that they’ve written pieces that were inspired by a magazine clipper or random brochure that they picked up. Giving your brain something to start with is very important.

The other way to do this is to have writing templates that you work from. If you’ve written a successful article, for example, that you can plug other ideas into, why not work from that? Of course, templates are very, very popular, and you can find templates for just about any type of writing anywhere. With things like sales pitches and articles on similar topics, templates can be very helpful. With stories, people have even done this. Just try not to keep writing the same thing over and over again!

Whatever you decide to use as a writer’s block aid, whether it’s an example or a template, the most effective way to use it is to have it in your direct line of sight as you work. Print it out if you have to, although having it open on your screen in another window is also useful. The idea is to use that visual aid to help spark your brain to create ideas surrounding that template. Of course, you may have to go back and clean it up. But, it’s always better to start with something. Find a good example or template each time you get stuck writing and watch the words flow!

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Try doing a Yahoo search on anything related to freelance writing jobs and you’ll pull up a multitude of opportunities, many of them scams. The simplest way to tell if one’s a scam is that it usually starts with “make easy money” just like any other scam. While it’s true that some aspects of a freelance writing career will become easy to an experienced writer over time, freelance writing as a whole is NOT an easy full time career path. But it’s worth it.

As a full time freelance writer, I used to spend countless sleepless nights thinking, researching, and typing out the results endlessly. Wait, “used to”? If I’m no longer a full time freelance writer, what do I know? The thing is, I spent years as a full time freelance writer and I slowed down, not because of the lack of money or interest, but because I wanted to help other freelance writers. That’s right. Now my full time job is helping others do what I did. But I still write almost full time as well. Therefore, I assure you, you can trust my experience.

Some people think “Oh, I can write. My poems from high school are great. I should be a writer.” And if that’s you, writing might be a good career choice for you. But just keep in mind that writing for the web and writing a poem here and there are two entirely different things. Freelance writing as a full time career path will involve writing for a considerable amount of time most days. Decide which you REALLY want to do and do that.

Writing for the web as a full time freelance writer is hard work. Yes, work. Forget all those scammers out there telling you it’s easy. Yes, it’s easy for them at first because they’re copying and pasting the text that I (or another talented writer) put real time and heart into in order to create it. But it no longer becomes easy for them when we decide to pursue it legally.

Ah yes, there’s another thing about freelance writing. You’re not JUST a writer. You’re a writer, researcher, marketer, CEO, manager, self-appointed attorney, and many other things.

The first part – the actual writing – may come easy to you sometimes and maybe even most of the time. But there will be days when you may not be able to form a complete sentence no matter how many deadlines you’re facing or how much money is on the line. Even for writers who seem to just sprout creative words in an instant, writing all day every day can become difficult. And you WILL need to write very often (among other things) in order to make the most money at web writing.

I know what you’re thinking because it’s me as well. I definitely said it too. You’re saying “but I love writing. I already write all day long, nonstop. I can do this.” If so, then you probably can, just like me. However, keep in mind that even you will likely have days where you just can’t. Also keep in mind that everything you write, though it may come from your heart, is for someone else. And, while you are in charge of yourself, you do still have to actually work. Otherwise, what are you getting paid for?

Up until this point, I may have turned some people off already because it sounds like a big complaint. But heck no! I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. The thing is, if you’re going to be in the business, someone needs to tell you the real facts. Yes, I can spend more time with my kids (human and fur variety). Yes, I make a fairly decent income when I’m consistent with it. But it does take real work and effort and if you can’t commit to that, this is NOT the career for you because if you stop working, the money stops coming.

For me, the benefits of staying home with my kids, the satisfaction of knowing my words may help people, being able to finally start saving some money, and some of the other things directly related to being a freelance writer are worth the hard work. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

Still want to be a freelance writer? If you said yes, I commend you. Feel free to reach out to me on my Facebook page for help getting started: facebook.com/LynLomasi

(No, I’m not going to charge you anything for advice, unlike those scammers out there looking for a quick buck. NEVER pay for work. You’re the one working. YOU should be the one getting paid.)

**Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this here on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

I’ve often written about how to come up with ideas when you’re struggling to find topics as a writer. However, I am one of those writers who always has too many ideas. I can’t be the only one who has docs, notebooks, and cell phone space full of them. So, how do I deal with all of these ideas? What exactly do I do with them and what can you do with yours?

Sort and organize your ideas for ideal use – Many writers write to more than one venue or have somewhat of a designated space or time period for certain topics. It may help to sort your ideas into categories based on topics, venues, styles, in alphabetical order, and more. We each have our own way of doing things. Therefore, only you can decide the exact sorting method that will work best for you specifically. Whatever you choose should make it easier to find and take advantage of all of your ideas.

Give away good ideas you’ll never write – We all have those ideas that sit in a notebook or file somewhere that we keep skipping over for various reasons. Some of those ideas are ones that we may come back to eventually, while others are those which we know we will never write. Take the latter ones out of your records completely and compile them to share with fellow writers who need ideas. Most writers are friends with other writers and you may even be able to think of an exact person who’d appreciate at least some of the ideas.

Create blank docs with titles ahead of time – This is one of the many things I do to help keep track of ideas, as well as to save time when I am ready to write. I title a blank document using the idea and try to make the title one I can use for a potential article or other piece of writing. I save the documents in the most appropriate folder for that specific idea. This could be a folder of docs designated to a specific client, a specific category of ideas, or for one of my own websites. If I don’t yet know where it might go, I save it under the regular documents folder and move it accordingly after it has been written and published.

Use your ideas to create templates/outlines that speed productivity – This is taking the blank doc idea one step further. I have a method I use to speed up my productivity when creating content. I make myself templates or outlines that have all of my ideas listed so that I only have to think of how to explain it in each section and type out just that part when ready to write. To see samples of how I do this and exactly what I mean, go here: www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2011/07/quick-web-writing-tip-make-an-easy-outline-to-speed-productivity.html

Stop staring at them and just write! – You knew I was going to say this at some point, right? The most obvious thing to do with all of your ideas is to just start grabbing them and write! It really is just that easy. Do the voices in your head keep switching back and forth from idea to idea? Let them. I have an easy way that I deal with that issue as well: http://www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2014/10/tips-for-writing-multiple-articles-at-once.html

What do you do when you’re overwhelmed with ideas?

**Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there)

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Being a momtrepreneur with several active careers (yes, several) and a house full of kids and pets, I don't have much time. Therefore, I have many tricks to help me get everything done. Drafting titles is one of them.

There are several ways to draft titles. If you are going to be posting on or submitting to a venue that allows you to save drafts online, you can create and save drafts with titles reflecting your desired topics. I usually save multiple titles and try to make them as close to titles I would actually use so that changes are minimal to non-existent. With all the titles right there, all I will need to do is paste in the content once I write it. It also helps keep me with a steadily flowing stock of ideas.

If you cannot save drafts to your desired venue, simply use the same technique in your word processing program. For instance, I have hundreds of blank documents saved in OpenOffice. The document titles are my possible article titles -- and they can always be changed later if I decide to change one after writing it. Sometimes, once a piece is written, the title isn't quite right any longer.

No matter which of theses methods you use -- and you may use both -- when you draft out your titles ahead of time, it can give you more time to focus on the actual writing. Sometimes, thinking up ideas can take more time than the writing itself. But if you keep a stockpile of these title drafts at all times, you won't have to stress about your ideas when you should be writing instead. make sure to add to your title drafts every time you get ideas. I set aside time each day just to focus on titles. If the ideas keep flowing, I extend that time until I run out of ideas. Then, I move on to writing.

Do you have strategies for drafting titles? Please share in the comment section.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Are your readers getting bored with your posts? Are you getting tired of writing them? The quality may be good but for some reason, no one is reading. Why? One reason may be lack of creativity.

You aren't writing a text book. Get creative! Make your content shine by showing off its style within the text. Obviously, it needs to be readable. But there is no need to be straight facts and no fun. Dress up your content as if you were dressing up yourself. Get glammy, glittery, and gluey -- if that's you.

No one wants to read the same thing they can read anywhere else on the web. people want something different. Don;t just report the facts. Talk about what you would do or have done in the same scenarios -- and don't be too mainstream in how you do it. Just be your creative self. You're an artist, correct? Remember, that is what we writers really are deep down? Use that to your advantage and show it off.

Have you been taking advantage of your creative side?

Writing content piece after content piece all day can have some writers running out of ideas in no time flat. But it doesn't have to be that way. Forming ideas can be frustrating, but it's actually easier than you think.

Stop over-thinking it! I mean it. Just stop. Some of the frustration in idea-forming comes from analyzing and breaking down every single idea until there is nothing left to work with. Every idea does not have to be "the next big thing" in your head before you write about it. If you thought about it, someone else probably did too -- and they may need your info on it. Just write as the ideas come. There is a such thing as editing, which brings us to the next point.

Just write. You can edit later once the ideas have been placed on paper. If the writing looks like crap, don't worry about that until you are done getting the ideas down. Write what comes to mind, even if it is a huge, unorganized mess. The bad parts can be edited out. If there are too many ideas going on in one piece of writing, they can be split up into more than one piece of writing. just write and don't worry about all of that until it is time for editing and rewriting.

Stop the pressure. Michael Jackson said it best in his song, Scream: "Stop pressurin' me. Just stop pressurin' me. Stop pressurin' me. Make me wanna scream". Stop beating yourself up over forming ideas. Many times, writer's block comes from forcing things too hard. You can't force what isn't there. Just write what is there, even if it isn't related to your current project. You'll soon find when the pressure is gone, the right words will flow.

Go have fun! This may seem counter-productive. But if you are just sitting there banging your head on your desk or laptop, you aren't getting anything done anyway. Sometimes getting out and doing something different can relieve some stress and reveal ideas you hadn't thought of. For me, it never fails. As soon as I get into having fun and doing something else, the words come "interrupting" me and I can concentrate on my work once again.

Look around you. What have you done lately? Recent trips, events, and neighborhood happenings can be good fodder for your writing. have you taught your dog an amazing trick? Were you at your wit's end with a parental issue, only to find an amazing solution? Do you know how to get a particularly tough stain out of anything? Maybe you invented a fabulous meal that your family is raving about. Share those things with the world. Your ideas do not have to be extremely elaborate. People often search for normal, everyday things on the web. we are all different and what may seem a simple solution could be a lifesaver for someone else.