Five Top Tips For the Lazy Article Writer

We all know that creating fresh, original and informative content is the very lifeblood of our websites or blogs but we don't want to spend hours every day thinking of new things to write.

In fact one of the very worst ways to gain inspiration for a new piece of writing is to sit down in front of a blank piece of paper or computer screen. (That flashing cursor just seems to drain away any inspiration you may hope to find!)

You might know a thousand and one things about your particular niche but sometimes as soon as you sit down to write an article you can't think of a single thing to write about. Fear not because this happens to us all from time to time and even seasoned writers find times when they struggle to put anything down on paper.

If you are having a day when you just cannot shift the ‘writer's block' then just accept that there are some times when you are more creative than others and work on another area of your business instead. (There's always the long list of emails in your inbox you promised you would either read or delete but have so far just ignored!)

However here are some tricks and tips to make writing as painless as possible and help ensure that you are never at a loss for something interesting to write for your website:

• Realize that the inspiration for your next article may come at the most unlikely moment or the most inconvenient time and prepare for this. Keep a small pocket notebook with you and jot down ideas as they occur to you. Keep this by your bed at night as a lot of ideas seem to come to many people while they are in bed.

• When it comes to turning your thoughts into an article then focus on the task in hand and set aside enough time to compose your article. You might want to give yourself 30 or 40 minute blocks which you devote entirely to writing your article. Don't be distracted during this time by other tasks you have to do or by checking email or answering the phone.

• If you need reference materials to refer to while writing your articles then have them to hand and clear enough space around your desk so that you can get to them easily. Also if you need to access the internet to help your research then limit your surfing to article research only. If you come across a page you just have to check out but is not relevant to your article then bookmark it and come back to it when you have finished your writing.

• Remember that writing is a creative process so give yourself the best chance to get your creative energy flowing. For some people this means absolute silence so you can concentrate while others work best with music in the background, the aroma of a scented candle or cup of tea or coffee to drink.

• Just as there are times when we find it difficult to write there are other occasions when the words flow as if by magic. Take advantage of any particularly creative times you may encounter by extending your article writing session during these periods. Instead of writing the one article you intended you may find yourself able to produce several in one sitting and this is where having a long list of ideas in your pocket notebook will be most useful indeed.

Sticking to a writing routine like this works and means that you should have the best chance of getting your articles completed when you sit down to write rather than spending time staring at a white page and a blinking cursor.