Fly on the E-Commerce Cyberwall

Finding Your Writing Rhythm
I got a question the other day about how I overcome the "blank screen" syndrome when it comes to writing.

I don't think I had ever laid it out anywhere before, so I thought it might be something good to share with you, too. Here's what I do.

I usually schedule my projects so I can do them over a couple of days. I know this doesn't work for everybody, but it works well for me.

On Sunday I'll lay out my writing for the week. Each article I plan to write, I plan a compelling (yet limiting) title, something that has a solid hook in it, yet is specific enough to keep me from trying to cover too much ground. Under each title, I write the words, "Intro" and "Conclusion" on separate lines. Then I write two to four headings for each article between those two lines to establish my structure.

Sometimes, I jot down notes about specific analogies, facts, or ideas I want to cover under the headings. If inspiration strikes as I write all this down, I follow it. If not, I let everything sit until Monday.

Then I tackle one article at a time. I don't look at any article except the one I've chosen to start with. That focuses me on the task at hand. I read over the headings and notes and start wherever the first thought hits me. I fill in the other headings and, eventually, the introduction and conclusion. If content under one heading gets too long and involved, I pull it out to write as a separate article the next week.

I take each article in turn, taking enough of a break in between to clear my mind. By the end of two or three days, I have first drafts of all my articles for the week.

Then I set them aside for a day or two and go back to polish them. By Saturday, everything is polished and ready to distribute. The rythym of this process works for me, although finding this process took quite a while.

I think that's what it ultimately comes down to: experimenting to find your own rhythm. Each of us is unique. What works for one won't work for another. But once you find your rhythm, writing is even more of a joy.

When it comes to writing blog posts, I'm a little more spontaneous and a little more casual. I'll usually log on when I have an idea (like this) that I want to share. I'll write it in one sitting. First I'll write whatever comes to my head. Then I'll read back through it and polish it a little.

Overall, my blog posts are a bit less polished than my articles, but it's more of a casual medium, I think.

I hope this helps anyone who's struggling with writing online. If nothing else, it's a little look behind the scenes.

Jeff

Labels: article marketing, blogging