The blog post is due.
The article needs to be written.
The speaking event is in a couple of weeks and you’ve got nothing. Zip, nada, zero.
Everything is bleak and there’s no hope in the world.
Isn’t it amazing how you can have a million ideas all at the same time until you sit down at the computer to actually write something, and then your mind becomes like Olivia Pope’s wine glass in Scandal—quickly empty.
So what do you do when your fingers are ready to write but your brain has become like your toddler (uncooperative and probably in need of a nap)?
- Give yourself a deadline. If I really can’t think of anything, I will put on my calendar a time to work on the project in the next 24 hours and let my subconscious work on it while I take a shower and do the dishes.
- Phone a smart friend. You’re friends with them for a reason, so let their brain work for you. Brainstorm, bat things around, and talk through anything and everything that will spark great conversation.
- Look at your text messages. I have several funny, smart friends who will text me their innermost thoughts. (Don’t share those!) Do share the general topic. If you and your friend were able to text back and forth for 15 minutes about Instant Pot Cheesecake recipes, chances are your audience will love your thoughts as much as your friend does.
- Go through your old files. Do you have ideas you never developed just sitting in a Word doc? Go back and brush those off and see what new ideas you might have on the subject. Maybe you have a new take, idea or a totally different opinion than you did when you first came up with it.
- Read through your Facebook feed, or hop on twitter to feed the funny. If you find it funny, I’m guessing your audience will as well, and funny is a great place to start.
Share in the comments what you do when you run out of things to write about. One commenter will be randomly picked to receive Kathi’s booklet, 9 Simple Steps to Sell More Books.
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Leverage 
founder and keynote, Kathi Lipp, is a national speaker and author of 17 books including Overwhelmed, Clutter Free, The Get Yourself Organized Project, and The Husband Project. Over the past 10 years, Kathi has helped hundreds of people increase their platform through teaching and coaching. She is a frequent teacher at writers’ conferences and has helped countless authors and speakers find their audiences.
Learn more at kathilipp.com
