5 tips to deal with blank page anxiety

Writing is an essential part of our workday as PR Specialists and since I’ve started working at The Square I’ve been reminded of a phrase I’ve been hearing all my life: ‘’The hardest thing is to get started.’’

In our job, we face many blank screens that need to be filled with information, like press releases, pitches, content pieces and so on, but sometimes it’s hard to find the right angle or the right trigger that will get us started. When the doubt hits, the best thing is to put all our worries aside and just start writing.

The blank page anxiety consists of the inability to begin a new project, and it’s something that can affect everyone, from content producers, writers, artists, developers, just to name a few. Usually, this kind of anxiety has some contributing factors to it, such as lack of energy or interest, stress or fear of failure. Here are some tips to help you fight blank page anxiety:

Research — first things first, you need to read and learn about the topic you are going to write about. Reading about it will help you to organize your ideas and highlight the important information you can’t forget to mention.

Brainstorm your ideas with others or alone — brainstorming can be one of the most efficient ways to engage and breakthrough this block. If staring at the screen has you frozen, asking for help can be the key to a good idea, as discussing your topic with other people, or even yourself, can lead to a flow of new ideas. Our advice would be to take notes in bullet points as you’re brainstorming.

Create a Routine — creating a routine before you write can help your ideas flow better and set the mood for your brain to start engaging. One of the most popular routines here in the office is to start with a nice cup of coffee, but you can also set the mood with some music.

Change your environment — sometimes changing the room where you write can help you refocus and be open to new ideas. Try going outdoors to a coffee shop or a library to change your setting.

Write — most of the time, the best way to cure blank page anxiety is simply to start writing. Begin with the main ideas in small topics or try writing smaller pieces, but the important thing is to start somewhere. And don’t forget, you can’t improve from a blank page. Start with a few words and remember you can always rewrite the first draft.

These are the tips some of us at The Square use when we’re experiencing this kind of obstacle.

What about you? What do you do to fight against the blank page anxiety?