A lawyer friend recently expressed to me that he has been having difficulty coming up with good ideas for blog posts. My advice, stop trying so hard.
Most bloggers will have some experience with blogger's block at some point in their blogging careers. The typical reasons given for blogger's block can be anything from fear to joy to boredom. Anything can cause this particularly frustrating condition to set in. Fortunately, blogger's block tends to be a short-lived phenomenon. Luckily, there are several ways to overcome it. Here are a couple that I have found work wonders:
1. Schedule Your Blogging.
Pick a time to blog. Like exercising, scheduling a time to commit yourself to blogging forces you into the "blogging zone". Even if you ultimately decide not to write during this time, in the very least, scheduling blogging time will serve as a reminder that you're missing it.
2. Relax.
Too many lawyers are simply trying too hard when it comes to writing for their law firm blogs. Just write. You can always save your post as a draft, come back to it later, or abandon it altogether. Personally, I think over-thinking posts is the most common cause of blogger's block. So, just write.
3. Step Away From The Computer.
If things get really bad, just stop trying. Go for a walk. Go to the gym. Watch TV. Sitting in front of an empty wysiwyg editor is just a waste of time. Often times, the harder you push against the blogger's block wall, the harder it pushes back.
4. Diversify
Get a variety of draft posts in your blogging queue. Having multiple ideas from which to work will help you "change things up". This will help when you're having a difficult time getting started on a new post.
5. Stream Of Consciousness
There are many writing exercises used by the pros to help overcome writer's block. My favorite is stream of consciousness writing. Just put something down. It doesn't have to make sense at all. Just type words. Sometimes this will lead to an idea that you never would have consciously developed.
6. Relocate.
Is your chair comfortable? Get up. Move around. Go to a coffee shop. Sometimes the stagnation comes from sitting in the same place. Finding a new location may mean finding a new muse.
7. Remember Why You Started Blogging in the First Place.
What was it that caused you start your blog in the first place? Was it a life-altering event? Was it merely a desire to market your law firm? Either way, hearkening (hearkening, really?) back to why you originally started blogging can help overcome blockage. What motivates you to write?
When it comes to blogging for your law firm, everything can be boiled down to 2 simple words, "just write". Effective blog posts can be just about anything. Too many lawyers hyper-focus on their content. Great law blog content doesn't isn't always about in-depth legal analysis and insightful editorials. What it's always about is engaging your readers and giving them a reason to interact and come back for more.
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