Creative problem-solving tools
Never fear the blank page again.
I’ve ghostwritten and edited 500+ content assets for clients in the past 3+ years. And I use a combination of creative problem-solving tools to help me do my work.
These tools give me the confidence that I can handle whatever writing problem I face…especially when I’m stuck or on a suffocating deadline.
Here’s a few of them:
1. Ask the problem question early. Prime your subconscious to be on alert for useful ideas. Plant the question in your mind, and let your brain work in the background.
2. Add constraints.
Constraints give shape to your thinking.
Time: “I only have 30 minutes to write the blog post intro. I’ll try to play with as many intros as possible for 20 minutes. Choose the least dumb option and polish it for the next 10 minutes.“
Structure: “I’ll only answer these questions, in this order.“
Specific details: “I’ll use only these details, and nothing else.”
3. Ask: How did other people do it?
Same audience, different product.
Same audience, different medium (video, blog, social).
Different audience, same medium.
Different audience, different medium.
3a. What would [my hero] do?
When stuck, borrow someone else’s brain.
4. 100 MPH thinking (a.k.a keep hands moving for 10-15 minutes nonstop). No judgment. No corrections for spelling and grammar. You can do nonstop freewriting or you can copy what Donald Murray loves to do: list-storming.
“I begin brainstorming by putting down anything that comes to mind—even if it’s stupid, embarrassing, or not related to the territory I hope to explore in writing.”
-Donald Murray
5. 180-degree thinking.
Flip it.
What would the opposite look, sound, and feel like?
6. Walk away.
Let your mind wander.
Diffused thinking often delivers what focused effort can’t.
7. Prompt your thinking.
Never fear the blank page. Give your mind a starting line.
Some prompts I use for brainstorming headlines:
Contrarian: “They say, “{{insert conventional wisdom”}}”. The opposite of that is…{{insert contrarian view}}.”
Credibility: “I’m credible to talk about this topic because…{{insert qualifications…results, experiments, interviews, etc.}}.“
Get to the point: “If the reader can only read one sentence from this post, it should be…{{insert the ONE sentence}}.“
8. Invert the question.
Instead of only asking, “What should I do to achieve X?”
Also ask, “What would cause the opposite of X?”
Then avoid those things.
Thanks for stopping by, and see you again.
Mark