Don’t Be Afraid to Get Your Hands Dirty: The Value of Brainstorming

If you’re like most writers, your love affair with words started long ago, maybe way back in grade school. From those early days of brainstorming ideas for stories and essays, you’ve honed your craft and learned to play with language in creative ways.

Remember looking with wonder at your first reading book? Those pure white pages with their crisp, clean rows of print? Maybe you longed to be the architect of that same kind of perfection.

Fast forward to today. Now you work at content writing, and that same perfectionism that makes you a conscientious, professional writer, sometimes gets in your way.

If you’ve ever found yourself paralyzed by the tyranny of that blank, white text box, here are some tips to get your words flowing again.

Brain storm 

Give yourself permission to get messy. Just start writing. Do not worry about form or punctuation. Do not even think about the finished product. Just write down every idea that comes into your head. If you know what you want to say, but can’t think exactly how to phrase it, just write down the rough idea.

If you know there needs to be a segue between two concepts, but you don’t know quite what it is, just type “segue,” and keep writing. You can fill in the correct phrases later. The important thing is to keep moving.

Once the words start flowing, you may even be surprised at just how neat and tidy they are. The very process of not worrying about form often frees the mind to use form perfectly.

Start in the middle … or the end 

You know what the focus of your article needs to be; you even have a conclusion in mind. But that darned opening paragraph just won’t come together. Skip it. You do not need to write your article in order. In fact, focusing furiously on that opening paragraph can drive the other, more fully formed, parts of your article right out of your head. What a waste!

Grab them while they’re fresh. Write down what you do have and don’t worry about what’s not there. Often, the very process of writing out the body of your article, for example, can add clarity to the problem of the opening.

In fact, you may even find that by the time you’re finished writing what was already clear, the part that seemed to be a problem has come together, too, and is just waiting to be written down.

Let your mind wander  

As strange as it sounds, your mind sometimes does its best work when you are not at the helm. If you find yourself stalled while writing, it may be time to lay down the reins.

Take a good look at your project and form the problem into a single question. “What would be the best opener for this piece?” for example. Or, “What types of subheadings would be most relevant?” Then simply walk away. Keep yourself busy — it’s the best way to prevent yourself from actively thinking about your project.

This is important. You want to leave your brain in charge. Go for a walk in the park, or fold some laundry. Anything that keeps you from thinking about your writing. But, be sure to keep a pen and paper handy. Once you have let go of the problem, you will be surprised at how quickly the solution pops into your mind — sometimes fully formed. You’ll want to be ready to write it down.

The important thing to remember is that everything you write is a work in progress until it is done. If perfection is your goal in your career of content writing, you may just need to throw perfection out the window to get there.

Leveraging AI and Expertise for Enhanced Content Creation

Welcome to the innovative world of content creation with WriterAccess. Here, we combine the power of artificial intelligence with the expertise of professional freelancers to elevate your content strategy.

AI Content Wizard: This advanced tool is your ally in content creation. It uses artificial intelligence to generate ideas, outlines, and even complete articles based on your specific needs. It’s a smart way to streamline your content process and ensure consistency across your projects.

AI Content Idea Generator: Struggling with content ideation? The AI Content Idea Generator is here to help. Input a few keywords, and the tool provides a list of relevant and engaging content ideas. It’s a quick and efficient way to keep your content fresh and appealing.

Professional Freelancer Network: Beyond AI, WriterAccess connects you with over 15,000 professional freelancers. Whether you need writers, editors, or content strategists, our platform offers access to top talent to produce high-quality content at scale.

By integrating AI tools with professional expertise, WriterAccess offers a comprehensive solution for content creation. Embrace these resources to enhance your workflow, boost creativity, and achieve your content marketing objectives.

Ready to Transform Your Content Creation Process?

Discover the power of WriterAccess for yourself. Sign up now for a 14-day free trial and experience how our AI tools and professional freelancer network can streamline your content workflow and elevate your content marketing strategy. No strings attached, just pure content creation magic at your fingertips.

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial with WriterAccess

Kate C is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.