Expert Roundup: Writer’s Struggles and How to Deal With Them
Creativity blocks, competing with AI, getting steady streams of writing gigs, and more
Even seasoned pro, full-time writers experience lulls when working on a new piece.
Some writers may feel a sinking suspicion that they’re stuck in the sameness.
Others often find themselves staring at the blank new draft with the cursor blinking.
Every writer feels stuck every once in a while.
We’ve asked some of them the question:
What’s one challenge that you still face today as a writer, and how do you usually deal with it?
Here are their answers…
Writing with brevity
I hate reading long-winded content. And yet, I struggle to produce content that omits details.
I’m an advocate of “less is more,” but it’s not my natural writing style.
I have to work hard to edit my content and read it from a third-party perspective.
I don’t want to cut too much and risk losing heart and soul of my words. But I also don’t want to waste readers’ time.
To shorten my content, I have to let it “simmer” for a few days before editing.
This lets me read the content with fresh eyes and find ways to cut the length without losing its meaning.
Alli Hill, Founder and Director, Fleurish Freelance
Artificial Intelligence creates real-world problems
Due to the advent of AI writing software and, of course, the massive recent hoo-ha for GPT-3, my biggest challenge right now as an editor and writer is the suspicion that my work is the product of artificial intelligence rather than human creativity.
People often assume that because my writing is so precise and accurate, it must result from a computer algorithm.
Newsflash: I’m an editor!
This has been particularly frustrating when submitting any of my work for professional publications and syndications, as “other” editors have refused to believe that a human could produce such a piece.
To combat this, I emphasize my personal experience and list a resource list for the research I have completed.
Plagiarism checkers such as Copyscape have been valuable in protecting writers’ credibility.
Now the advent of AI checker software to detect AI content is at a decent level, so I will always point any doubters to use that should they need further clarification.
Aiden Higgins, Senior Editor and Writer, The Broke Backpacker
How to work smarter, not harder as a writer
Freelance writers struggle to find those precious few writing jobs that pay a living wage on their own.
The most likely experience is scraping together enough small gigs to carve out a living, but this isn’t sustainable, especially if you’re looking to support a family.
Getting a non-writing job that pays at least most of what you need financially can free you from the pressures that come with the freelance life, so you can spend that energy building credibility in your writing.
Whatever your ambition, you can devote that time to taking only the jobs that build your career and build an impressive portfolio, rather than feeling like you’re only treading water.
Bridget Reed, Co-founder and VP of Content, The Word Counter
Consistently generating fresh and engaging content
One of the biggest challenges I face is consistently generating fresh and engaging content, especially in an ever-changing digital landscape.
To deal with this, I always prioritize conducting thorough research on trending topics and industry news to stay informed and inspired.
I also continuously engage with my community and audience to understand their interests and needs, allowing me to generate relevant and valuable content that resonates with them.
Basana Saha, Founder and Editor, KidsCareIdeas
Feeling uninspired
In my writing career, I’ve experienced many mornings where I felt uninspired.
I haven’t felt driven to write about anything, nor have I been inspired to write.
Each of us has days like these. Anyone who says they don’t, I don’t trust.
But in these circumstances, what matters is that you continue to come to your desk and decide to write.
That you write while feeling uninspired. Because doing so will help you rediscover your inspiration.
The writing process is driven by momentum.
Paul Somerville, Editor-in-Chief, Electric Scooter Guide
Editing while writing
The need to go back and revise the work from the previous day until it is flawless is strong.
The issue with this is that you could always think of additional elements to add or remove, so a scene would never be perfect.
Make it a habit to pick up where you left off as soon as you sit down to work.
You will ignore the earlier work once you catch up with what you are now writing.
Hamza Usmani, Head of Content, Believe Money
Writer’s block
The one major challenge I still face as a writer is writer’s block.
I have been a blogger for almost a decade now and I run into this situation when I write tons of content in a similar niche.
There have been days where I have struggled to come up with ideas or found it difficult to express my thoughts clearly.
I usually deal with it by taking a break and engaging in a different activity to clear my mind.
I only get back to writing when I know I can fully focus and write an excellent piece of content without a break.
Harish Thyagarajan, Content Marketer, Blogging Nuggetz
The struggles that writers face are numerous and can be daunting, but they are not insurmountable.
No one says it was easy, though.
But, by recognizing the challenges and taking steps to address them, writers know how to get back on track and continue creating the best work.
As a writer yourself, feel free to share your biggest challenge below!
