I don’t know what to write.
This is an unfamiliar feeling for me.
Just checked – I’ve written 1,318 articles (this one makes it 1,319). Those articles have gone out in my Writing Without Waffle tipsheet and are archived on the blog. Some are copied to my LinkedIn company page to reach a bigger audience.
I’m not sure what else I can say about copywriting that I haven’t already said.
Maybe I could talk about websites I’ve recently completed for clients. For example, InterSTEM.
I might list my regular content-marketing jobs, which include: covered car transport, recruiter training, two solicitors and one employment lawyer, financial planner and a coach.
Perhaps I could mention copy I’m due to work on in future. For example, I’m teaming up with Jon (logo and web design) and Nikki (SEO) to rebrand the website for a security firm who are moving their marketing from UK-based to global.
But who cares about my business news?
So here’s another idea. I could share insights into the life of a copywriter. It’s not just writing (at least, it’s not for me). Among other things, since the end of May I have:
- Run a copywriting training course for journalists
- Recorded some promotional videos with my accountability partner
- Delivered a Q&A webinar to copywriters
- Mentored two copywriters, one freelance, one employed
- Interviewed two attendees for a copywriting workshop I’m preparing for storytellers
- Arranged and co-hosted the summer forum for the Fellows of the Professional Speaking Association UK & Ireland (a full day in Brighton, including overnight stay)
- Taken the brief for the potential rebrand job and liaised with my associates about it so we’re ready to go
Oh, and meanwhile I’m dealing with personal stuff such as a home extension. And I’m fitting in my hobbies which include singing (I’m trying to teach my local community choir a song from my schooldays) and dancing (I recently did a two-hour George Michael workshop – which I loved! – and I’m currently learning a routine to music from Six the musical). And I have a fulfilling social/family life. It’s all about balance.
I’m also kept busy feeding the social media monster. I give advice in my Copywriter Club on Facebook, and share pictures I’ve taken for profile followers to caption. I tweet what I think is amusing to my network on Twitter/X. I share typos I notice on LinkedIn. I post images to Instagram (mostly to prove I’m still alive).
Hmm. How about a piece of copywriting advice. A handy hint. After all, this is going out in my tipsheet, so it should include a tip.
Here it is.
If you have writer’s block, just write anything. Make a squiggle to spoil the pristine blank paper, or do a brain-dump and start typing anything onto the computer page. Draw a mind-map to get your thoughts out of your head in any old random order, and then arrange them into a linear sequence that flows.
And then edit it.
In short, don’t panic. Whatever you write will be OK.
So, what shall I write about this time?
It doesn’t matter. I’ll just keep typing in the hope that it turns into something useful.
And, if you’ve read this far, at least it shows that whatever I write can hold attention until the end.
P.S. Bonus tip. This article is an example of a conversational tone of voice. Writing like you speak. It’s especially effective online. Techniques to achieve this include using short paragraphs, short sentences, punctuation, and linking phrases.