Getting over business writers block

[porsche4life]

Any tips for getting over writers block at work? I find myself writing lots at work, and not just the normal emails. Ranging from process change announcements that will go out to 20k associates, project charters, summary docs to be reviewed by VPs, new policies for the business etc. I’ve never been one to be at a loss for words (shocker) and I can go to a meeting to discuss any of these projects and handle the situation just fine, but when I sit down to write a few paragraphs I come up dead blank and it takes me a while to come up with what I want to say. When I send my work off for review it comes back with only minor edits, but I just feel like it takes forever to get there.

I’ve done some training on writing in the particular style by employer is famous for, and that’s helped me with learning how to format it, I just struggle putting the words in my head into the doc.


Any courses you guys have done, or books you’ve read to help with this? Or is this just a case of keep pushing through and it will get better with time.

[slodave]

Find yourself a nice, well setup 944 and go for a drive to clear the mind.

[LeeH]

Probably just a bit of performance anxiety. Try not to get too caught up on the audience. Instead of thinking about the distribution list, pretend like you're explaining the same stuff to your Pelican buddies.

[gchappel]

Writing, like any another creative skill is a combination of a learnable skill set and that unknown creative process that comes and goes. Blocks are common. Lots of things can make the blocks come and go. Write about something else. Go for a fast ride in the 944.
The best book I ever read about writing was Stephen King's book On Writing. This is more about habits that make writing easier, and how he manages it. Interesting read and I am not a writer.
Staring at the screen/paper until blood drips out of your eyes is not usually a successful method.
Good luck
Gary

[vash]

I also find myself writing more and more for work.

I lock up all the time. My method works for me. I just start tapping away. Zero pressure. Just start typing. I typically will have to go back and edit the gibberish at the beginning, But that’s no big deal. I’ll build up a head of steam and finish up pretty well. This works for me on everything. Presentations to change orders.

I think it has something to do with just getting started.

[LWJ]

Like above. Start early. Put something down. Anything. Then walk away for a while. A day is good. You will continue working on it mentally and can come back to hone the message.

As you said, you are not at a loss for words!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by slodave

Find yourself a nice, well setup 944 and go for a drive to clear the mind.

Put on some Mozart to listen to, maybe some Rush

If you had enough time, and a roomful of monkeys with typewriters, it would happen for you.

[crustychief]

I pretty much do what Vash does. It does require more editing though.

[Seahawk]

I have written tons of proposals, responses to RFI's, white papers, Statements of Work, etc.

The key to me, may not work for you, is to write something, anything, and it doesn't have to be connected to the subject matter - I have used Pelican in that role - to get started.

I also do a lot of searches on the subject matter, ask others for relevant examples and templates and modify as required for my uses...never plagiarize, look for angles and ideas.

Also, I never press the "zone" (when you can write for hours and it seems like minutes). I sprint and drift as needed to get there. Never clock watch.

One last thing. Go for walks and carry you phone with a record function. I get more ideas simply walking for 45 minutes than anywhere else. I don't know why, but there it is.

[GH85Carrera]

I was trying to come up with some funny way to suggest a young female muse, but it kept coming out really wrong, and I just can't write much now. Not sure what is going on.........

[stealthn]

Slap the cratch a little...

[jcommin]

I paint in pastels and markers - it's a hobby, a serious hobby. I have a studio in my home. I paint for me and compete in national contests. I do some commission work but I'm picky. If it doesn't speak to me, I'm reluctant to accept the work offer.

I had artist block once - it paralyzed me for a several months. I finished a piece that was technically done well. I couldn't stand to look at it. I couldn't understand why this particular piece had this affect on me. I just got stuck. It was a pastel, unframed sitting in the family room and it was in my face every day. We had a cleaning lady come to the house once a week and she accidentally took a dust cloth and wiped across the pastel. The piece got smeared. She apologized and was beside herself when she told me. I told her not to worry because I really didn't care for the piece. I thought to myself, "even God doesn't like it" I took time to reflect and process what was going on. I picked up art books and started reading about artists and their success and failures.

It took some time and I figured it out - a painting has to tell a story and my piece did not. It was technically correct from the photo I took but but it lacked in the story and soul. I now look at what I paint in a different way.

I don't regret the experience, it needed to happen. Sometimes you need to step back to move forward.

[wdfifteen]

I’ve written a lot, and posted some of my work here. When I need to write, I just start writing. I may throw it all out, and may heavily edit it, but I start by laying down words. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step (and it ma be in the wrong direction!).