Methods to overcome writer’s block

Posted on February 15, 2010 | Filed Under Editorial

One of the hardest things about being a blogger is the need to consistently write new material. When you are trying to write worthwhile content, this can become an overwhelming issue. If you are anything like me, this can lead to frustration with the process. That frustration inevitably results in procrastination of the writing process, followed by complete shutdown.

Here are some techniques and guides to help you have a constant flow of material and to help prevent the onset of procrastination.

Plan Ahead

Successful bloggers suggest that you plan and write ahead. I know that I find it more difficult to write one post at a time. I am much more prolific when I brainstorm ideas ahead of time and have three or four good pieces I am working on simultaneously. That way, I always have something ready to go.

ProBlogger.net has a great article that suggest developing a writing schedule. Develop a schedule of writing all of a week’s posts at once, then take the time to refine them as you publish. Try to add an extra post per week to build up some extra content to publish later. Tony Newton at Tony’s Blog Tips makes a similar suggestion. He brainstorms 7 days of posts on the weekend so that he has something to work on throughout the week.

Start With a Headline

As Julie Andrews says in The Sound of Music, “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” Start with a killer headline that will grab your readers. Brainstorm a few and write them down (or type them in your blogging platform of choice).

Work on Writing

The following resources will provide you with a plethora of techniques and ideas to combat writer’s block and get you writing again. You should be able to find enough material here to keep you going like the energizer bunny:

Don’t Procrastinate

This last point is the most important. It happens when I’m feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed by the process. Certainly, we all fall victim. I’m tired, not feeling creative, can’t think of anything to write about, yadda, yadda, yadda. But those excuses will cause to you just put of what you must inevitably do – write! Also over at ProBlogger.net, Karen Andrews provides some ideas on overcoming procrastination: Are Excuses Hurting Your Blogging Success?

Go into your drafted posts. Find one that’s been sitting there for ages; the one you don’t quite know what to do with, but can’t bring yourself to delete. (We must all have one or two!)

Scan it briefly and then write down a word or phrase which best suits its theme/tone. Sometimes it helps to just have that guideline back in the foreground of your mind so you can then develop it further, with the insight you’ve, hopefully, gained since it was originally drafted.

After consideration, be honest. If you cannot breathe life into the piece, let it go. Not all ideas come to fruition. Make the decision to keep it ‘just in case’ if you must, but in my experience it’s often best to delete, thus freeing up my mind for the next project.

There is enough information here to keep you busy writing from now until doomsday. To quote Merlin Mann’s paraphrase of Laurence Olivier

When all else fails, just try writing.

Judge Roy Pearson lost not only his pants, but his suit

Posted on June 25, 2007 | Filed Under Editorial

The lawsuit brought forth by Roy Pearson, “The Case of the $54 Million Pants,” was lost today. Judge Judith Bartnoff rightfully ruled in favor of the defendants, the Chungs. Also, in a rare move in civil cases, the Judge awarded the defendants the court costs. Unfortunately, that is for actual court costs only and will not begin to cover the mountain of attorney’s fees they have accumulated defending this ridiculous lawsuit.

If you are unfamiliar with the case, here are some additional posts:

This case is a fine example of why we must institute a “loser pays” system. Frivolous lawsuits such as this can bankrupt an innocent business owner such as the Chungs. If you would like to help the Chungs, visit www.chungfundraiser.com

I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of Roy Pearson. An appeal is more than likely, and the Chungs will most certainly incur additional costs defending themselves.

Some stories on the verdict:

Those must have been some great pants

Posted on June 23, 2007 | Filed Under Editorial

We still await a ruling in “The Case of the Missing Pants.”

Judge Roy Pearson, the administrative law judge “suing the pants” off his dry cleaners for losing his custom tailored trousers, apparently broke down and cried on the witness stand. Those must have been some great pants! And, boo hoo, “he needed those pants for his administrative law judge job!” <sniffle>

I don’t like to resort to name calling, since it usually indicates you have absolutely no argument, but either those were the most incredible pants he ever owned, or he is an absolute wimp. I guess the other possibility would be that he is a gifted and talented actor. Since this case calls into question his suitability to be a judge, perhaps he might be more suited to playing one on TV.

To show that he is not an unreasonable man, (and probably to help his PR situation), he dropped his original claim of $67 million to a much more sensible $54 million. That should make his side of the story more popular with the general public. I mean really, $67 million for a pair of pants? Come on! But $54 million? Yes, that’s much more in line with today’s norm for a “pant suit.”

Get it? Pant suit? ROFL!

And what about this poor man’s legal fees? He is representing himself and has (according to him) spent some 1400 hours working on the case and preparing witnesses. That is the equivalent of more than 23 solid 60 hour work weeks. My question is, if he’s put that much time into this case, when is he finding time to do his administrative law, a job that is paid for by taxpayers? I smell a rat in this case.

The dry cleaners are not the only ones being “taken to the cleaners” in this case.

Why Washington “Judge” Roy Pearson Owes Me $2,595,000

Posted on May 4, 2007 | Filed Under Editorial

(But I’m willing to settle out of court for $1,000,000.)

It seems that Washington “Judge” Roy Pearson is suing his dry cleaner for losing his pants. The problem with this? The suit is for $65 million!

Part of Pearson’s request for damages includes $500,000 in emotional damages. What about the emotional damages sustained by the Chungs fighting this ridiculous lawsuit.

And what does this say of Pearson’s character? This man has chosen to destroy the lives of three people (the Chungs and their son) over a lousy pair of pants – a pair of pants he could easily replace, mind you.

So why my demand for $2.5 odd million?

This case has infuriated me to the point where I am considering filing a lawsuit against Pearson. To begin with, his lawsuit is so absurd, it calls into question his suitability as a judge. In my mind, that amounts to fraud. From what I understand in reading his case, fraud in Washington is a $1500 fine per infraction. Using Pearson’s math, that’s $1500 per day per person. I don’t really know what kind of person he was before this case (although I am certain we can make an educated guess), so I will give him the benefit of the doubt and only look at the time from when this incident began. Two years X $1500 X one judge comes to $1,095,000. In addition, I am so upset about this, I will need to include damages for mental anguish. $500,000 should make that go away. Pearson’s request for legal fees in his suit comes to $542,000. Since he is representing himself, I am certain I won’t be able to get such a bargin. I would guess I need to allow for at least $1 million in legal fees to fight this.

All told, my case against Pearson comes to $2,595,000.

All kidding aside, this is flat out abuse of the system and Pearson deserves to be punished. Is disbarment to much justice? At the minimum, he should be removed from the bench. This is a man that has the power to hand down decisions based on competent and fair interpretation of the law. This case tells a story of his suitability (or lack thereof) to don the robe.

Also see: Kick in the Pants

If you find Pearson’s claim to be absurd, ridiculous, and a mockery of our legal system, please consider helping the Chungs by donating to the Custom Cleaners Defense Fund.