5 Simple Secrets to Writing When You Don’t Feel Like It

Make and appointment with yourself

If you want to get rich, famous, and better looking…

….you’ve got some writing to do.

That’s because online marketing relies on sending out little messages into the online universe. And yes, those messages can be MP3s or video. But more often than not, they are written.

Which means you need to get all up in your writing’s face and say: I’m not afraid of you, you big bully… AND I’m gonna get you done on a regular and consistent basis so YOU start bringing ME more clients, word of mouth buzz, and benjamins*! How you like the sound of that… huh, writing?!

Let’s face it. Regular and consistent is key. But that takes devotion. Stuff comes up. Life happens. And you’re not always in the mood to write. So here are 5 simple steps Stella uses to get her butt in the chair & get her copywriting on:

1) Set an egg timer. Get a kitchen timer & set it for 45 minutes. Then sit down & write your article, free report, solo email broadcast, or short copy until you hear the ding. When time’s up, stop. This trains your brain that all you have to do is write for 45 minutes. (http://e.ggtimer.com/ is a free online timer).

2) Go for a walk. When your brain is foggy, inspiration can’t find you. And you aren’t going to write anything charming and useful. So go for a 20-minute walk. Clear your head. Watch what the squirrels are up to. A few minutes in, ask yourself, “what do my people need to read today?”

3) Check out your swipe file. A swipe file is a collection of ads, copy, and marketing that strikes you. Set up a swipe file of emails & newsletters in your email, and then filter it so that it bypasses your inbox. When you need a shot of inspiration, you’ll have it.

4) Have a soundtrack. Pavlov and his dogs were onto something. Have a playlist CD, or channel on Pandora that gets you in the writing state. Upbeat works best. This is a trick I learned from my playwriting professor, when I took a summer class at NYU. (I also learned that writing a play to Tom Waits will make you weird.)

5) Schedule your writing time. If it’s important enough to get done, put it in your calendar. Make an appointment with yourself. Then honor it. And set your timer!

A special note to my fellow Recovering Perfectionists: remember, the perfect is the enemy of the good here. I know it goes against every cell in your being, but you simply can’t obsess over spelling, formatting, grammar, and punctuation on the internet. It will make you stressed out, blocked + crazy. Also, people will hire you even if you aren’t perfect. Remember that.

So, there you have it. How to get your butt in the chair to actually write your marketing and get it out there in the world, bringing you business.

One parting thought here: please be patient with yourself. I’ve talked to so many business owners recently who expect big results overnight. That’s not really how it works. Marketing is sowing seeds. Know that, like anything else worthwhile, smart marketing reaps rewards over time. Like, several months. So start small, make a commitment, and trust the process. I’ll see you along the trail.

*Benjamins = Hundred dollar bills, for those of you who left your slang dictionary in the other room. Mighty thanks to Mike Rohde’s flickr photostream for the calendar and iPod.