3 Ways To Overcome Writer’s Block: For Advertisers

We all suffer from writer’s block. Even the most creative of us struggle now and then to get the right words out. Or any words, at all. It always seems to happen at the worst times when we need our creativity the most to get us through projects and work, and it is nowhere to be found.

For some industries, this is more difficult than others. Industries that create articles have the freedom of long-form content and the flexibility to go into greater depth where it is needed to get their point across

Unfortunately, not all industries have such a luxury and must produce thought-provoking, on-brand pieces of content within a matter of sentences. All to a tight deadline.

Advertisers often need to create some of their best content for consumers within a short word count. So writer’s block is inevitably going to occur and can be a massive hindrance to the entire creative process.

This is why it is essential we know how to overcome these writer’s blocks quickly. So here are a few tips and tricks on how to overcome writer’s block for advertisers.

Attend a Class

Writer’s block is not uncommon, so what you might need is help from others going through the same thing. Attending classes such as copywriting courses will not just give you a refresher on what is best practice but allow you to bounce off others and help each other through your writer’s block.

Classes are a great way to learn from leading professionals in the industry, their experiences producing high-quality content to deadlines and how best to utilise your creative talents for the advertising world.

An even more invaluable benefit of attending these classes is learning from other advertisers within similar and different areas of the industry. You can share ways to overcome specific challenges and help build the industry as a whole to new heights.

Play A Brain Game

One of the best ways to overcome forms of writer’s block is by playing a game. It might seem a little irrelevant, but it really does work.

By playing a game, we don’t mean something along the lines of Mario kart – it might be fun but not exactly beneficial for what we are trying to achieve here.

Find a game that stimulates your brain, gets you thinking creatively in different aspects other than just in a work format. Puzzle games that require you to overcome something and think your way out of the situation will position you in a creative mindset more readily. You can think of innovative ways to get your point across in a suitable way for the audience you are trying to capture.

Finding a practical game that includes creative thinking around words, phrases or even numbers, like a crossword or sudoku, can help stimulate your brain differently than your traditional content creation habits might.

Writer’s block isn’t always about knowing what to write or create; it’s about figuring out the best way to construct it. In this case, it’s a case of training your brain to be able to push through that period of blankness that comes with the translation of an idea from thoughts into material.

Stimulating your brain with a game or unrelated creative pursuit can often give your brain the space it needs to figure out that plot kink, work through the phrasing that’s already floating around, or come up with a new groundbreaking idea that you might not have thought about otherwise.

Step Outside

Sometimes the most straightforward answers are the most effective. One thing advertisers desperately need when trying to create some copy that will resonate with their customers is inspiration.

However, when you’re working in an office or even at home, inspiration can be hard to come by when looking at the same four walls. So the solution? Get outside.

A study by Stanford University found that when we spend time outside or in natural environments, our perception of time shifts slightly. We enter a state where instead of feeling restricted by time or pressured by it, nature inspires a sense of ‘time abundance’. This can have significant results on stress levels, and therefore, creativity.

Furthermore, a recent study by the University of Kansas and Utah found that respondents were up to 50% more creative after four days hiking – spending time in nature improved their Remote Associates Test, which is a test that measures creativity through word associations.

Now, while taking a four-day hike is unfeasible for many of us, it’s not always necessary.

Even 20 minutes spent outside is all that’s needed to reduce fatigue and increase your energy levels – letting your brain restore, re-awaken and function at its highest capacity.

Where getting outside directly ‘into nature’ is not possible, even just switching up your workspace for a different environment for the same amount of time will have a beneficial impact on your creativity levels.

The most important thing to remember when trying to overcome writer’s block in any circumstance is that there are many techniques and materials out there to help you get past that wall you are stuck at.

There is no ‘one shoe fits all’ technique, and it is essential for you to explore what you find helps you best. For some, it’s more interaction with different activities. For others, it’s taking a break and a step back. There is no right or wrong way about it, just the way that works for you.