That third commercial plumbing keyword this week got you down? Before you slip off into eye-rolling, moaning-and-groaning madness, take a breath. Tap into that creative writer that fell asleep last week during a pest control sweep. Freelance writing doesn’t have to suck the life out of you. There are ways you can breathe life back into those same old topics you’ve been writing about for what seems like forever.
Take Another Look. Yes, Really.
You swore that if you even had to look at a dentistry keyword again, you would lose it—run off into the abyss chattering nonsense about crowns and implants. Keep in mind it’s not always that you’ve looked at the same topic too much, but that you’ve looked at it too much from the same perspective.
Consider some of the most productive authors and take note. Stephen King, for example, writes a lot of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, but not from the same perspective. He switches things up with every new tale. He has written as everyone from a teenage girl to a serial killer. With each new outlook, he tells a different kind of story.
You can achieve the same appeal in your own articles. Look at how many different things the word “dentist” could mean to different people. For example:
- What would a teenage girl want to know about the dentist?
- An expectant mother?
- The parent of a small child?
- A senior citizen?
- Someone with diabetes?
- An individual with an oral piercing?
Switching your perspective, your creative focus, can kill the monotony of consistently writing about the same subject and give you a different angle every time.
Open Text Editor, Inject Personality
Do you remember what it was like when you first discovered that you could really get paid for writing? Even if it was about topics you would not necessarily choose, it was fun and interesting. You could put your own spin on common ideas that you previously considered boring.
Somewhere along the line of daily freelance writing, a lot of that personality gets tucked away in your back pocket. You reserve it for your own personal projects. However, if you delete your own spark from your freelance assignments, you start feeling dull as a writer. And if you feel dull, it will reflect in your writing in such a way that editors will probably notice. Not to mention, dull writing makes a dull day, where you have to force every last word out of your brain.
If you struggle, dig deep into your creative psyche to reconnect with your own style of writing. Find the writer’s voice you know you have. Pull up a blank word document and write something, anything, that is what you want to say or about a topic you love. Go back and reread something you composed before that was your favorite or landed you a smashing review. Every writer has a particular personality and sometimes rediscovering that is what will push you to find a new way to say the same thing you have already said.
Take a Break or Step Away Before You Even Get Started
Before you try to tackle yet another dumpster rental article, why not stop, take a breather, recoup? Run around the house a few times to get your blood moving, walk the dog that has been loyally waiting at your feet for the last few hours, or go read a few chapters from a good book.
In this business, burnout comes way too easily. If you start to really feel the burn and smell the smoke, that indicates that you need some downtime — even if it is only five minutes. You could dwell on the idea that taking a quick break could cost you in monetary gain. But honestly, how much are you really getting accomplished when your mind is on the fritz? Besides, taking a quick break could help you move faster when you do go after that mundane topic again.
In a perfect world, all writers would get to craft imaginative pieces every day of the week about topics they love. Unfortunately, the reality is, making your living as a freelance wordcrafter can be all-out boring and repetitive a good portion of the time. If you are feeling a little blah and ho-hum lately, try looking at that keyword with new eyes or rediscovering your skills as a writer. And never be afraid to take a break when you know you need one. You may be surprised at how much easier that same old electrician or residential moving article slips right out of your mind and onto the screen.
This article was written by one of our writers. The author’s views are entirely their own and may not reflect the views of WritersDomain.
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3 Comments
This post couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve been “feeling the burn” lately, and as a result, getting less work done, not just on WD, but on other sites, too. It’s too easy to fall into a rut, especially if you don’t have time to invest in looking for other “eggs” to put in your basket.
Thanks for the reminder that “you” are not “your audience.” Now I feel ready to take on some dumpster rental articles, lol!
I am glad to hear my words helped you out of your slump Jessica! I think we all “feel the burn”, but I think that is the case with just about any job. As writers I think we all need to be reminded sometimes that we do have something unique to offer– even if we have to dig to find it after writing boring stuff for days on end! Thank you for your reply!
Great article, Sheena! And I must agree with Jessica, it came at a perfect time.
I really enjoy your writing style, and you have inspired me to become more creative with the repeat keywords.
Thanks for sharing your insight with us all.