WiP #03: Getting over Writer's block

A few months ago, I was on a client trip in New York.

On the day of our last night, I decided to get a haircut so I could feel good about myself for the evening's activities at Williamsburg's finest watering holes.

I went from barber to barber, trying to find a haircut for under $80 (I pay £11 back in London). Then, I found one hidden away in a quiet shopping arcade.

"Will you cut my hair for $40? It will only take 20 minutes," I asked.

"Dude, we're already the cheapest guys in Williamsburg at $60," the barber replied.

"Please," I begged.

"50," he said.

"45?" I countered.

"50," he repeated.

"Fine," I said, and sat down in the chair.

We started chatting as he cut my hair. It turns out he was a lovely guy who opened the store during the pandemic. He had hoped the traffic would return once the restrictions loosened, but he was still struggling to keep his shop open.

His phone started ringing and he asked if he could take it, as it was his son.

"Of course," I said.

And then, his 10-year-old son appeared on FaceTime, watching his dad cut my hair.

"Daddy, why aren't you at home? Come home, Daddy," the son said.

"Son, those baseball pads aren't going to pay for themselves," the barber replied.

I looked around the shop and noticed picture after picture of this man and his kids, and all of a sudden I felt like the worst man in the world.

END OF STORY

Hello! This is a true story that happened to me and I've had it stored in my memory for far too long now. I'm still trying to find the best way to express this story, but as I've left it in my mind, I've started to forget some of the detail.

If I had just put pen to paper the day it happened, it would have evolved by now.

INTRODUCING... writer's block.

For the purpose of this newsletter, we'll focus on writer's block in the literal sense of writing. But writer's block occurs in all aspects of creativity and content.

Do you:

• Think you have nothing interesting to say

• Get scared of what people will think if you put your thoughts out there

• Procrastinate and start scrolling when you write

• Consume a lot of content rather than create

If you do any of these things, let me tell you right now: a) you're like 99% of the world, and b) nobody cares.

Your first post, your first newsletter, your first video, your first anything is likely going to be average at best. And until you start writing, you'll never find out what you have to say.

I'm not just here to preach. Today, I come equipped with some tools I use when I'm struggling with writer's block.

1. Wake up and go for a walk without looking at your phone. When you're out of the house and mid-walk, look at your phone only to turn on a podcast (for me, it's The Diary of a CEO).

2. Take notes on what interests you (don't look at Hinge, WhatsApp, or Instagram!).

3. Write what you learned on that podcast to a friend or family member (don't send it):

Dear [Insert best friend],

I learned [x]

I think [x] is interesting because

Did you know [x] is

You could apply [x] 

Here is how I will apply [x] to my life

4 -  Remove your best friend's name from your writing. This is how you write to the world.

When you write to only one person, it's easier.

When you write to someone you know, it's faster.

People get confused and think that to be a writer, you need to try and sound intelligent. It's the opposite. You want to make the reader feel intelligent.

I hope that helps.

CREATIVE CHALLENGE

You know what they say - opinions are like a**holes - everyone has one.

So the creative challenge of this week is around opinion forming. You are not giving yourself credit for how intelligent you are and how interesting you are.

The world doesn't need more boring MEH content, and at the same time, it doesn't need inauthentic clickbait opinions. But you won't get anywhere with your writing unless it's interesting, so here are four questions I stole from the GOAT Justin Welsh that can help you unlock your opinions:

1. What is something everyone believes that you don't?

2. What is something nobody talks about that you want to know more about?

3. What is something that you disagree with that you can't stop thinking about?

4. What is something you're passionate about that you want to share with others?

Let's practice

Choose one of these questions and write a paragraph or two about it. Practice forming your opinion and writing about it. Don't worry about whether it's "right" or "wrong," just express your thoughts and ideas clearly and confidently.

Remember, the more you write, the better you'll get at it. Don't let writer's block hold you back. Use the tools and techniques above to overcome it and start creating interesting, authentic content.

Share with me.

How did you find this challenge? Let me know how you got on via e-mail at [email protected]

Good luck and look out for the next activity this time next week.