5 Steps to Jump Start Your Writing Career and Get Out of a Writing Rut
By: Wamaitha Mbugua
Tags: Writing, Writers Block, Writers Life, Copywriting Tips

5 Steps to Jump Start Your Writing Career and Get Out of a Writing Rut Wamaitha Mbugua May 16·5 min read

Image by Lukas Bieri from Pixabay

Here are 5 steps that will help you to refocus on your writing career and free you from the frustration of ‘stuck-ness’.

We’ve all been there. Writer’s block. It’s that place where you stare at your computer and just don’t know what to write next. You’re stuck and nothing seems to fit the bill. If you’re anything like me, this not only happens sometimes, but all the time.

There are many articles out there telling you how to get out of the rut, but they offer only a few tips. Also, they are usually not as easy to follow as you would like. I know that’s how I have felt about the tips out there. I have a simpler 5 step plan I’ve used in the past, and it works for me, so I’m passing it on for you to try.

1. Write About a “How To”

Everyone loves how-to guides. Whether it’s a guide on how to install software or how to overwinter your tomatoes, people always love a good how-to. A great place to start when attempting a how-to blog is to write about an everyday problem everyone is facing and then introduce a way to fix it–and then provide the solution in your post. Just like this one.

How-to blogs are effective because they provide readers with step-by-step instructions on how to do something. Understand the topic or subject you want to write about. It’s important you understand what you are going to write on, so make sure you take the time to figure this out before writing.

Ask yourself questions like… Why should people care about this subject? Readers enjoy how-to guides so much that they’re almost guaranteed to be read from start to finish.

2. Write as if you were talking to a friend

One of the best and simplest ways to improve your writing is to write as if you are talking to a friend. Talk a mile a minute. Give lots of detail. It is not about writing well for the sake of being a writer — though that is nice — it is just that if you write like a friend; you find it is easier to write well.

Each night I go to bed thinking about how great it would be if someone wrote a blog post about my life. And every morning after I awake, I do just that. It’s not an exact science but the more I practice, the better my writing gets. By writing as if I’m talking to a friend, I’m more likely to capture the emotions and ideas that truly matter without trying too hard.

3. Write Out of Passion Not Out of Obligation

It’s a known fact that most people who grow their skills responsibly are the ones who do so not because someone told them to, but because their natural inclination is to do so. When I started writing, I did so out of passion. Whether it was for a particular hobby or my first job as an agency copywriting: Writing wasn’t something that I felt compelled to do because someone told me to.

If you’re writing for other people to read, then lies the problem; you may end up getting stuck in a rut. Sometimes, however, you find you are indeed writing for someone else, or for the pay. If that is the case, then find the right motivation to write, even if it’s for the money. (I know that sounds selfish, but it works for me sometimes). Just don’t write because someone said you should.

4. Ignore the Negative Inner Voices in Your Head

There’s a voice in your head that says: “I don’t have what it takes to write blogs like those big name writers. They have all the experience and access to top-paying clients. Why would I think I can get to their league?” If that doesn’t happen to you, it does to me. A lot.

The key is to ignore the negative inner voice in your head and focus on your next steps. You can do this by turning your focus from what you don’t have to what you have. When you focus on what you can do well rather than what can’t, you’ll get your writing career moving in the right direction once more.

Tune out the negativity by listening to some inspiring music that you love before you get down to writing. If you are like me, a good motivational YouTube video does the trick each time. I feel invincible when I sit before my laptop and the ideas just keep flowing.

5. Change Things Up

Perhaps in order to get out of a rut in your writing career you can take on a project outside of the one you’re currently on. Read something different, see what other stories are being told, see if there are opportunities to collaborate on a project that excites you.

There could be opportunities in your industry for you to learn new skills and gain visibility toward your writing career. These could include tons of free or paid for courses if you can afford some time and money towards these. Focus on skills needed for the growth of your writing career as opposed to just the next project or client.

Get Out Of Your Writing Rut Today

Admittedly, writing can be a career that takes years to master. That doesn’t mean you will only have bad days. There’s the bad days that all you stare at on your screen is a blinking cursor for hours. And then there are those days that you just can’t stop writing.

Roll with the punches and you find that once you figure out the ups and down of this career, you will soon write like the pros. Remember, these are just tips that I have applied before that have gotten me out of a writing rut. Try some or all of them and jumpstart your writing career today.