Easy steps to get past writers block

Overcoming writer’s block has so many prescribed cures that seem like witches’ brew, you may as well be trying to get rid of hiccups. My favorite remedy is “just write anything.” If I were to follow this advice when I’m stuck in a frustrating blank stare moment, my page would be filled with expletives that would be of no use to anyone, including Lenny Bruce.

If you have no idea of what to say on any given subject, you do not have writer’s block, you have a lack of knowledge problem. If you have the facts in front of you and still do not know what to say then you have writer’s block. The basic step of gathering enough material to complete your writing task should never be confused with writer’s block. Writing takes leg work - tedious legwork. Before the Internet this task could seem insurmountable; but now with worlds of knowledge at our fingertips, I don’t want to hear about any problems getting background material on any subject. Learn how to use the search engines well. This should already be part of your writer’s skill set.

Genuine writer’s block comes when you “just don’t know how to say it.” You have the information, a basic outline, yet you are not satisfied with the tone, cadence or anecdote provided. It just doesn’t feel right. You can’t tie your ideas together into one cohesive product that supports the underlying theme you are trying to convey. What do you do?

Take your material and write it out as you have it. Even if doesn’t feel right complete your assignment as if it were due today, and walk away. Leave the problem to rattle around in your brain for a while. Now here comes they key. Do something totally unrelated that requires you to pay some attention to your new task - a household chore, returning emails, running an errand. I generally find a physical chore, like walking to the post office to be superior to a mental chore like answering emails. Exercise is one of the great inspirational tools available to us. If you exercise regularly this would be a great time to do that. Sometime during your chore or exercise the answer will pop into your head. That is the way our brains work. Inspiration comes to us all the time. We need to be distracted from the noise that interfering with our ability to hear the inspiration. Once we have changed our focus away from the problem at hand our brain can finally deliver the answer unimpeded. Whether you believe the answer has come from your brain or from the cosmos the answer is always available to us. Sometimes more than one chore is required for distraction. On a big problem it might take a week of chores. Be absolutely sure you have a pen and pad of paper with you at all times, because the answer may be fleeting, or just a partial answer with the remaining portion to show up at a later time.

Most writers are working on more than one project at a time. Leaving one assignment and starting another can also help in getting the answer to a previous writing problem. Remember; never confuse lack of preparation with writer’s block. Lack of preparation is a matter of laziness and is a whole different problem to overcome.

Writing a cover letter yourself

Are you planning on writing a cover letter yourself but you don’t know where to start? Do you feel a little overwhelmed by all that you might have already researched about cover letters? Try not to stress too much; writing a cover letter is really a piece of cake as long as you keep a few things in mind.

As you are more than aware, your cover letter is more or less a sales letter. You are the product that you are selling. In a nut shell your cover letter needs to show the employer why they would be crazy not to hire you. You letter will need to demonstrate your specific qualifications that make you better than any other candidate for that position. Your letter allows you to personalize your resume.

Another thing to keep in mind when writing your own cover letter is to keep it short and too the point. Remember you are not the only person applying for the position. Chances are the employer or hiring manager has a stack of resumes and cover letters sitting on their desk. It is unlikely that they are going to sit and read a long cover letter that goes on and on. They will more than likely get through a sentence or 2 and lose interest and toss your resume with your cover letter aside. Therefore your cover letter should never be more than a few paragraphs long and it should never, under any circumstances be longer than a page. Anything longer than a page is almost guaranteed to make a trip into the black hole of cover letters that never get a second glance.

Start your first paragraph off with your introduction. Address the letter to a specific person whether it’s the hiring manager or HR Rep. It’s important to remember to have this name spelled correctly and their correct title. This is where you introduce yourself and your reason for contacting them. It’s here that you tell them exactly why you want to work for their company. It’s a good idea to have done some prior research of the company and include that in this paragraph.

In your second paragraph you should incorporate some highlights from your resume that demonstrate how qualified you are for the position. It’s key here to keep in mind that you don’t need to write your resume word for word. Only highlight those parts that pertain to the job. This is where you really sell yourself. This is the paragraph where you should dress it up to impress. Put yourself in the employer shoes, and ask yourself if you meet the company’s needs and how you meet them. Chances are this will be your longest paragraph but don’t get too carried away. There is no need for the employer to know that you volunteer at your local community center every weekend teaching young kids how to play ball. Remember, these employers are looking for that one person who best fits their needs. Use this paragraph to show them that you are exactly what they are looking for.

Your final paragraph or your closing paragraph is where you make yourself readily available for that interview. After all the whole purpose of the cover letter is the land the interview. A good idea is to tell the employer to expect a call from you in a specific time to discuss the opportunity further. End your letter thanking them for their time and that you look forward to meeting them.

You might be tempted to use one of the free samples of cover letters that you can find anywhere online. I don’t recommend this. Writing the cover letter yourself is much more personable than a generic sample letter. A cover letter written by you is customized by you for that specific company and position. If you were to send a basic letter, chances are it will just be tossed aside. One last thing to remember is to keep the page itself simple. Make sure your spelling and grammar are all correct. There is no need to go crazy with funky fonts and strange margins. It’s key to keep the cover letter neat, basic and easy on the eye.

Writing your own cover letter is nowhere near as hard or as intimating as it seems. Keep in mind these simple tips and your cover letter will be opening doors for countless opportunities.