The blank page.
That’s a pretty scary opponent for most people. It’s what keeps most marketing from being effective, much less from being any good.
It’s sadistic, but the blank page makes me happy. It’s a security fence. A checkpoint. Only the people who are willing to struggle through the blank page, who put some effort into this, are going to get anything done.
That’s as it should be.
Here are some tips for those of us who face the blank page, and come out writing:
Bank- It’s called a swipe file, and it’s a necessity in the content world. Take your ideas and keep them somewhere accessible. Then, when the blank page greets you in the morning, you’ll immediately have an answer to the never ending question, “What should I write?”
Move- Don’t stop to wait for inspiration to hit you; you’ll be waiting a long, long time. Keep moving. By that, I mean don’t stop to edit as you write. Outlines are a good way to keep moving. So are deadlines. So are prompts. If you continue to press ahead, eventually, I promise, the ideas will come out.
Dig- If you’re not reading a lot, you’re probably not writing a lot either. They say the web is an echo chamber, and that’s definitely true. To an extent. Better to think about improving on the ideas of others. And hopefully, your ideas will be written down for others to improve on as well. Dig around to find the people with good ideas, and read about them.
Fight- The blank page is waiting for you every time you sit down. Sometimes you’re ready. When you’re not, don’t give up without a fight. Pound out words. You definitely have something to say about your business, your marketing, or your customers. It’s all in there. Fight to get it out.
Dream- Go big or go home. Vete a casa grande o ir. It’s okay to be wrong. Be imaginative. If what you’re writing feels uncomfortable, you’re probably on the right track. Put your dreams into what you’re writing. Otherwise, what is your marketing, really? Another billboard?
Does the world really need one of those?
Writing is a struggle. A good one. It’s worth it.
Tags: blogs, content, content marketing, getting started in social media, Social Media, writing
Awesome Ben. To paraphrase Pressfield: “[conquering the blank page] is like giving birth. It seems absolutely impossible until you remember that women have been pulling it off successfully for fifty million years.”
Pressfield’s ‘The War of Art’ is an awesome kick in the pants for any writer by the way.
Keep trucking.
Phil
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Ben Curnett
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July 9th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Totally agree w The War Of Art, Phil. Awesome read. Thanks for the kind words.
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This is just what I needed to read today, thank you.
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Well said, Ben. All of your points really resonate with me. I am ramping up my writing commitment and while it is sheer joy it is also challenging at times, especially when you want to get something out but you also have expectations of yourself that it be good and valuable. Keeping a file of things to pull from helps eliminate that feeling — you can still write but not everything is baked and ready for prime time. Keep up the good work!
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Ben Curnett
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July 9th, 2010 at 11:01 am
My toughest writing days have been when I’ve neglected to fill (or open) the swipe file. I guess it’s a well known writing tip (?) I’m pretty sure I read about it on copyblogger right when I started as a web writer. Works every time. Almost :-)
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