How Microwaves Overcome Writer's Block

Do you often struggle to write? Well so do I. And there's a reason why we struggle. We're starting up on a topic cold. And there you are, staring at the darned computer screen, unable to string two lines together.

But there's a way out of this quagmire of blankness.


I call it the microwave method

Notice how frozen and cold food can be when taken out from the freezer. Even if you're dying of hunger, you simply can't get at the food. But about 3 minutes and 23 seconds later, and you've microwaved so the food is hot and edible.

So how do you microwave your words?

First, it's rather important not to sit down to write an article.
Instead go over to a forum and answer some questions. Notice how eloquent you're on a forum?

You have no problem writing reams of information. The words flow.

The advice gurgles out in big bursts. You don't sit and stare at the screen forever when you're writing an answer to someone's question, right?

No you don't. Because you aren't writing an article, that's why. Your brain doesn't freeze and your language is free-flowing and not rigid.

So answer questions on forums

It doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, there are at least fifty forums on your topic (yes, even if you deal with in-grown hangnails).

So go onto those forums, and answer a question in great detail. Then take the guts of your answer, and re-fashion it into an article.

Now you're not starting cold, and it will be much easier to write the article at one go.

Or if you're not much of a forum person...

Write a blog on topics dear to you. You'll find writing a blog non-intimidating. Often I'll write in my blog. I'll keep the post short, because I know it's still in the incubation stage. Over time, I may add to the blog post, or simply take the post and re-fashion it into an article.

Whatever system you use, remember one thing

The problem with writing isn't because you can't think of ideas.

It's because your brain is frozen. If you've got some blog posts or forum posts stored away in advance, then it's a matter of putting that idea in the 'microwave' and heating it up.

And voila, your article is ready to serve!

Mini Article 2:
Do keywords in headlines lead to greater website traffic?

Can you really drive more traffic to your site if you have more keywords in your headlines? Or can you do without keywords completely?


But first I have to disagree

Imagine you need to write a headline for an article. Would you first consider keywords before writing the headline? I don't think so.

A headline is hard enough work, without you driving yourself nuts over the whole business of keywords.

The core of headline writing should be attraction

First concentrate on writing headlines that seek to make the reader want to read more. Imagine your headline showing up on Google.

Would it be enticing enough for the customer to click through? Or would it be keyword rich and so boring, that the customer would simply go to the next link?

Customers click links based on curiosity and relevance

A headline that's curious and relevant gets far more clicks than something that's keyword rich and boring. So here's what you should do to get your cake and eat it too.

First write the headline.
Then add keywords where you can.
When you follow this method, you'll focus mainly on the curiosity
factor, thus creating a more powerful headline that is also picked
up by the search engines.

And you can have the best of both worlds.

Find out:
How to never run out of ideas. You'll have so many ideas, that you'll realise that writer's block is really a myth...