| I personally, sometimes, find it difficult to just | | | | systems. |
| START writing. | | | | The IT Director sent everyone on a course called, |
| Other times, ideas and what to actually write just | | | | "Investment In Excellence". Not a particularly inspiring |
| come to me and my fingers simply cannot keep up | | | | title but we were asked to attend in groups of 20 or |
| with my thoughts. | | | | so. |
| But writing simply doesn't come naturally to me. I do | | | | The first group attended and returned. The rest of |
| have to work hard at it and, like many others, I | | | | us wanted to know how it went. They said they |
| suffer from the 'staring into a blank piece of paper' | | | | couldn't tell us anything, as they were sworn to |
| syndrome: the anxiety of the writer's block. | | | | secrecy. |
| We can all expect to suffer from it and for me, it | | | | They also said the title didn't 'do the course justice'. |
| can be hard to over come. | | | | We saw the staff members who had attended the |
| This is what helps me when I find myself in that | | | | course were really excited. Really happy. Really |
| situation: | | | | positive. |
| Take a nap | | | | The next group attended. They came back the |
| Being too tired or stressed is one way of setting | | | | same. |
| yourself up to be faced with Writer's Block. | | | | I was in the third group. |
| So, rest your mind by taking a nap. | | | | The course was simply outstanding. It was with a |
| Allow your mind some time to recover and soon you | | | | guy called Lou Tice. |
| will be right back to writing. | | | | Lou Tice's course changed my life. |
| Do more research and get even more information | | | | Why? |
| You have completed your research but you feel | | | | Because Lou introduced me to "affirmations". |
| there is still something missing. It just doesn't feel | | | | Affirmations are a way to 'trick' your mind into |
| right. | | | | thinking you are very successful at something, now, |
| Maybe you are not happy with how something is | | | | TODAY! - even though you may not be. You tell |
| explained. | | | | your mind to imagine what it's like as if you have |
| When you face this type of situation, there is a | | | | achieve the end results. i.e. being the best writer in |
| simple answer: | | | | the world. |
| Don't accept the blog post as it is. Go and do some | | | | So you can affirm you are a brilliant writer and writing |
| more research and make it a blog post you are | | | | comes easy to you. |
| proud of. | | | | Listen to music and have a dance |
| Believe in yourself | | | | For me, music is always inspiring and I love dancing. |
| We can all write. It's just some find it easier than | | | | Some of you know, my wife and I attend ballroom |
| others. | | | | and Latin dancing lessons. We simply love to learn to |
| However, no matter how good you are at writing, | | | | dance. |
| we will all experience the situation of "this is just not | | | | So when you are stuck with a problem (not just |
| working. I've spent hours getting nowhere." | | | | writers block), put on your favourite music and |
| Tell yourself, everyday, how good a writer you are. | | | | DANCE! |
| You don't have to shout it out or tell anyone. Just tell | | | | Go for a walk |
| yourself. Let the inner voice inside your head tell you | | | | Maybe listening to music or dancing or taking a nap is |
| how good you are, at writing. | | | | just not your thing. |
| You have the skills to write about subjects that | | | | But try and change your surroundings by going for a |
| others want to read. | | | | short walk. |
| There are going to be times when you can just | | | | Even a short walk around the block can be |
| write, write and write some more. Writing is so easy | | | | enlightening. |
| for you. Your confidence is high. | | | | It helps clear and relax your mind. |
| Remember those times when you faced the writer's | | | | Whatever you do, DON'T QUIT |
| block. Remember the times when your confidence in | | | | This may be the best advice I can give you. Don't |
| your own writing, was sky high. | | | | give up. Don't quit. |
| Visualize Success | | | | Break the blog post down into small steps. Spend |
| Sixteen years ago, I was an IT Manager at a large | | | | some time each day writing and stay focused until |
| corporate company and a new IT Director joined. He | | | | you finish. |
| didn't sit in his office. He sat in the middle of the | | | | Then when you finish, celebrate. |
| open-planned office with the rest of us. He showed | | | | Buy yourself a treat. |
| great interest in us as individuals. | | | | These are some of the ideas and methods I |
| He was a great boss. | | | | personally use, when faced with that dreaded blank |
| We were working on a multi-million pound project, | | | | piece of paper and the writers block. |
| which was to replace all the company's computer | | | | |