Writing Rituals
So you’ve decided to take on the burden of writing your own marketing content. It might not be so bad — if you enjoy writing, marketing and communicating, you may even be looking forward to it. So why do you feel so uncomfortable when you actually sit down to do it, and what can you do to make it easier?
I’ve been at it for 14 years now, and even at this stage of my career some days are easier than others. What’s more, about half the time I have no clue as to why a given workday felt better or worse than usual. We all have our ups and downs, of course — health, stress, distractions, depressing weather and whatnot can all have an impact on our productivity from day to day. But there’s something special, or notorious, about writing. Nobody ever talks about “accountant’s block” or “construction worker’s block,” but the term “writer’s block” has entered the general vocabulary as a dreaded occupational hazard. Writing can be a lot of fun, or it can feel intensely uncomfortable.
How do you get back into your comfort zone? That’s up to you. Writers throughout history have found their own preferred methods of relaxing into the writing groove, which may explain the high rate of alcoholism among literary giants. But for many writers, getting “ready to write” may include such simple little details as wearing the right clothes or keeping a clean office. Some only feel relaxed writing in their PJs, while other insist on dressing up in business clothes so they can feel like professionals. Friedrich Schiller kept rotten apples in his office to spur him on (some of us suffer for our art). Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway used to sharpen every pencil in the house before settling down to write. Whatever works.
I suggest you experiment with the surroundings and practices that work best for you, then make a conscious effort to incorporate them into your daily routine. What sounds, sights, smells, or activities keep your inner editor quiet without distracting the parts of your brain needed for that first draft? What time of day offers the fewest interruptions or coincides with your peak productivity?
Once you find that comfortable “writer’s place” — within and without — you’ll boost your chances of producing good work without stressing over every word. Bad days can still happen, of course, but you’ll have more control over whether they lead to bad writing.
Or you can just stop stressing completely and hire a copywriter. Let me just get some pencils ready.
For more about my writing services and current package deals, check out my website at www.reynoldswriting.com.
