Many writing challenges have little to do with writing itself. You wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t already at least adequate; you’re here to get better, not for the basics.

No, your biggest problem is probably the voices that say you can’t do it, you have nothing to say and no one wants to listen anyway.

If you think about it, I think you’ll find the loudest voice in all these back-biting critics is your own.

I’m not going to tell you that’s nonsense, but I do have some ideas for how you can get the voice to shut the hell up.

Problem: Lack of Confidence

Solution: Just Do It, and Keep Doing It

“You’re not a writer. What are you thinking?”

Yet what is a writer but just someone who . . . writes?

People who don’t do it for a living seem to view the craft with a mystique that’s largely unearned, in my opinion. You become a writer by writing; a great writer by writing a lot.

Tell your voice that you may not be a writer today, but you will be tomorrow. And the next day. And the one after that.

Problem: Lack of Ideas

Solution: Research, Read, Refresh

“What a dumb idea. Nobody cares about that.”

Everyone runs out of ideas at one time or another. Where do you think “repurposing content” came from? Some marketing expert’s brilliant research? No, it’s just a fancy way of saying, “I can’t find anything new to say, and I have a blog post due in an hour!”

Look for fresh ideas by reading about your industry or topics that interest you. What are people talking about? What does your audience want to know?

Have faith in your ideas. If something interests you, why wouldn’t someone else want to read it?

Problem: Lack of Clarity

Solution: Focus on ONE Big Takeaway

“What a mess – let's lie down for a while.”

When my research is done and I’m ready to write, I often feel like the teenager who peers into a full refrigerator and declares angrily, “There’s nothing to eat in this house!”

All those facts and not a clue where to begin.

The way out of this is to ask what your readers are hungry for. What do they want to know? Need to know? What problem are you solving?

Read through your research and pick out the information that best addresses the problem. Can you categorize it into three to five “buckets”?

State the problem and the solution, give it a punchy header – “3 Ways to Jump-Start Your Writing,” perhaps – and you’re done. (Well, except for the rewrites, of course.)

Turn Off the Noise

Doubts are natural, no matter how skilled you are. They’re essential. I don’t trust anyone with no doubts; unwavering certainty keeps you from seeing the hazards ahead.

Take note of the inner voices trying to undermine you. Shake them off and get to work.

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