As I sat down to write my monthly newsletter in November, I hit a wall. For the first time since launching Wordnerdery in March 2013 — after 152 issues! — I drew a blank on what to write about.
The newsletter usually touches on recurring topics, like plain language, giving wordy writing a “before & after” treatment, great metaphors and similes that help readers understand why a project or number is significant. Usually, I link the topic to something going on in the world. For instance:
- Taylor Swift’s concerts in Toronto led me to look at the storytelling and expressive writing she uses for her song lyrics.
- Wildfires in Los Angeles prompted a look at how explaining numbers can help readers grasp the significance of something.
- All the talk about tariffs led to a roundup of analogies that compare the known to the unknown to explain how tariffs work.
As it turned out, the “what’s going on” in my world was writer’s block. So I did what any self-respecting writer would do: I went looking for what causes writer’s block and how to overcome it.
You’ll see the answers in the November issue of Wordnerdery.
How do you handle writer’s block? I’d love to know — for next time.
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