Some Suggestions on How to Defeat Digital Writer’s Block

Anyone who writes or develops content has been here before: At your desk staring at a blank screen and blinking cursor, because despite how hard you try to sit down and focus, nothing is coming out. In other words, you’re trapped in the grips of Writer’s Block.

This problem has plagued creative professionals for as long any of us can remember, but it’s likely worse in our digital age. Since we are expected to produce more content than ever, content publishers and marketers are scrambling to produce as much material as possible to drive visitors to their websites and increase engagement.

Dealing with digital writer’s block is frustrating for most Web workers (trust me), but not impossible. There are plenty of useful tactics that have had proven success for other professionals. So, ease your restless mind for a bit and look at these methods for overcoming the creative stalemate.

Brainstorming

When focusing is the problem, brainstorming is one of the best remedies. This is because it can help a writer organize his or her thoughts. In fact, writers should take 15 minutes to jot down all of the ideas that come to their head regarding a specific topic, and then organize those ideas by creating a mind map or an outline. Aside from old school pen and paper, there is also a multitude of mobile apps available to help with the organization process, such as Simple Mind, MindMeister or Mindjet.

Social Media

While most writers use social networks to market their content, these sites should also be used to generate inspiration. However, if you don’t want to spend time sifting through the random content in your feeds, there are many tools available that can help you pinpoint information, such as Monitter, Twitterfall and Inboundwriter.

While both Monitter and Twitterfall can be used to discover and filter Twitter conversations relating to a specific subject, Inboundwriter not only assists writers in optimizing their content for search engines, but can also be used to find insights and popular topics from hundreds of sources on the Web, including social networks.

RSS Feeds

Sometimes other authors can help you get rid of writer’s block, which is why it is important to keep your RSS feed full of publications and blogs that relate to your expertise or topics of interest. After scanning headlines and skimming through a few articles, inspiration should strike. At the very least, you have given your brain a break from the task, which also helps combat writer’s block.

Change your Routine

Routines are tricky. They can help keep someone organized and provide a sense of comfort, but can make life mundane (leaving little room for inspiration). This is why writers should test how changing a few aspects of their normal routine could negatively impact their writing process. For instance, looking at your social or RSS feeds during different times of the day may help you discover content you would have otherwise missed, while even taking a different route to work could present something as simple as a new billboard that could help spark inspiration. If all else fails…

Stop and Wait

Sometimes, when you’re trying to produce the right words (or characters, these days), you can get a little overwhelmed; and the real kicker is that this anxiety usually only serves to prolong your bout with writer’s block. In these cases, the best thing you can do is to stop staring off into your empty computer screen and just take some time to compose yourself and gather your thoughts, because obviously what you’re currently doing isn’t working.

The time you spend not directly mulling over the topic at hand will allow you to free up your brain and get your creative juices flowing again. These kind of mental breaks are an absolute necessity to any creative professional, and if you’re especially proactive, you can even take a few minutes to go for a walk or meditate, which are both proven methods for clearing your mind and getting it ready to go back to work. Plus, there’s always the chance that you’ll stumble upon something that will provide the inspiration necessary to finish your project. It can also help to strike up a conversation with other people; this not only serves as a good distraction for your overworked brain, but can be another source of inspiration, as well.

However, the key to being able to do this is to set strict deadlines (either of your own or from some sort of supervisor). This is because everyone is likely going to fill up the
amount of time they’re given to complete a project. So, despite how much time you need to stop and ruminate on your work, you’re going to have to complete it eventually. As you approach that deadline, the virtual adrenaline will kick in and (hopefully) help you finish, but that only works when there is a deadline in place.

Something To Think About…

Something to think about…..

Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each

morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for

your use. However, this prize has rules.

The set of rules:

1. Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away

from you.

2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.

3. You may only spend it.

4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with

another $86,400 for that day.

5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can

say,“Game Over ! It can close the account and you will not receive a new

one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right?

Not only for yourself, but for all people you love. Even for people you

don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right?

You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, right?

ACTUALLY This GAME is REAL!

Shocked ?? YES!!

Each of us is already a winner of this PRIZE. We just can’t seem to see

it.

This PRIZE is *TIME* !!

1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.

2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited

to us.

3. What we haven’t lived up that day is forever lost.

4. Yesterday is forever gone.

5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your

account at any time WITHOUT WARNING….

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds TODAY?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.

Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your

life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

Here’s wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.

Start spending…

How to Safeguard Your Electronic Devices

The calendar may be new, but 2018 will bring the same online threats to your money and identity when you use computers and smartphones. Here are some simple safeguarding steps that can go a long way:

Protect those phones and computers
For smartphones, at the very least use the security software that is recommended by your carrier or phone manufacturer. Free products such as Lookout Mobile Security are available for Android and iPhones; AT&T now preloads it on its handsets. Overall, many experts consider Android to be the least secure platform.
Turn off or disable unnecessary features to minimize the “attack surface” of your device. Use encryption features (if offered) to protect stored data in case of loss or theft.

For computers, basic free security software is available from SuperAntiSpyware, AVG, Avast, Bitdefender or Malwarebytes. However, more comprehensive security “suite” products are better. They may be labeled as “total,” “platinum” or “360” vs. those simply noted as “antivirus” or “anti-malware.” For Macs, look into free protection software from Sophos or avast! Many experts recommend Firefox as a safer browser than Internet Explorer or Safari.

Check firewalls
A firewall is software or hardware that examines information coming from the Internet or a network, then either blocks it or allows it to pass through to your computer, depending on settings. Computer operating systems typically come with a built-in firewall. Here’s how to check your settings for Windows and Apple’s OS. Firewall security software beyond what’s in the operating system may offer a stronger defense.

If your home has several computers using the same service provider, you likely have a router to link the modem to each. Routers usually also have a built-in firewall for added protection, but it’s worth spending time reading the manual or visiting the manufacturer’s website to educate yourself on setting options. When buying a router, always change the password from its factory default.

Know your privacy settings
When was the last time you checked the privacy settings on Facebook, Google Groups, Windows or anywhere else?

Never? It’s a good time to start. If you don’t protect yourself, many websites can track your online activity without your knowledge.

Many online services offer different levels of “control” to prevent the potential sharing of your online searches and website visits. Although setting up privacy controls at individual websites can be time-consuming, it’s worth it.

Strengthen your passwords
And of course, lock whatever device you have with a hard-to-crack password. For a smartphone, avoid easy-to-guess number combinations like 1234 or 2014. For a laptop or desktop, use a lengthy password that combines letters, numbers and symbols. You can gauge password strength with free “checkers” such as the best-known from Microsoft, or The Passwordmeter or Ask the Geek.

If you have trouble keeping track of multiple passwords, consider a password manager software that helps you store and organize different passwords and PIN codes. Some allow you to create one “master” password and automatically enter log-in information. Most password managers start at about $20 a year, but some are scaled-down free versions like the one included in the Firefox browser. Some subscription versions are PasswordBox, LastPass and RoboForm.

My Devotional – Law and Order

LAW AND ORDER

We’re producing a generation of kids who are allowed to rear themselves with the aid of television, violent videos and the Internet (which can be a minefield). Often both parents work, leaving one child to supervise another. As a result, they become a law unto themselves.

“A child left to himself disgraces his [parents]” (Pr 29:15 NIV).

Most of us are loving parents, but our children need discipline and rules to live by. Love has a backbone – it’s called law and order. Without it, love is just license.

“A refusal to correct is a refusal to love” (Pr 13:24 TM).

Remember the cute cartoon where dad, strap in hand, makes disobedient Dennis “assume the position”? He says, “This is going to hurt me more than you.” Dennis responds, “Don’t feel obligated to hurt yourself on my behalf.”

Enforcing law and order isn’t easy. But the alternative is a betrayal of our children and our God-given responsibility! Failure to enforce law and order to gain short-term popularity with our kids always ends up costing us their long-term respect. Expecting younger children to figure out what’s right and wrong is a burden they shouldn’t have to bear. Their neurological and moral equipment isn’t sufficiently developed yet for such responsibility.

The Bible says, “Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline” (Pr 22:15 TM).

Your children learn to make good decisions from the rewards and consequences of dealing with law and order at home. So don’t fail them!