As a podcaster, you have to do a TON of storytelling. This means that cementing a solid writing and production process is crucial for your productivity and your sanity.
However, sometimes, your carefully-planned production process is not going to work.
If you’re like me, sometimes you just… can’t write. No matter how hard you try, you can’t make the right words appear, and your production schedule is in danger of falling off track.
I’m a producer at Grow The Show, and my career is centered around storytelling.
Even though I’ve written countless articles, blog posts, podcast episodes, and marketing materials, I still find myself struggling with creative block almost as much as I did when I first started.
The difference between then and now is that I’ve learned tactics to beat the block that are quick, easy, and help me stay on schedule.
In this blog post, I am going to share four of those tactics to help you keep your podcasting process stress-free.
If You Can’t Figure Out How to Begin…
… Capture Your Thoughts
Sometimes, the most difficult part of the writing process can be actually beginning to write.
When you have a story or script idea, it can seem like an insurmountable task to figure out how to organize concepts and ideas while they are still an amorphous thought blob floating around in your mind.
I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit staring at blank Google Docs, maybe typing a sentence or two only to delete them a few minutes later and close my laptop ultimately having made little progress.
If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, you’re not alone. There’s actually a name for this- it’s called “blank page syndrome.”
To fight the freeze, start filling the page with anything that comes to mind when you think of the podcast episode you’re writing. Write bulleted lists, sentence fragments, and people’s names. Talk to yourself, summarize the story out loud and write down what you say.
It doesn’t have to be perfect or even make sense to anybody besides yourself. But, just by writing something down, you’re no longer staring at a cold, white, Google Doc void.
Instead, you have a page filled with the parts of a story that just need to be edited and organized.
If You’re Stuck on One Decision…
...Call in Reinforcements
Recently, I was editing a podcast episode and found myself at an impasse.
I was nearly finished, but I couldn’t decide where I wanted to place a particular segment of the show.
That night I went to dinner with a friend, and I told them about the episode and my dilemma. To them, the answer was obvious. One of the options was much more interesting, but the clear choice had totally eluded me.
I call this the Cameron Frye effect.
In the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, there’s a scene where Ferris’s best friend Cameron Frye is staring at a painting. The longer he stares, he looks closer at one part of the painting until it loses meaning and he’s lost in a sea of colorful dots.
This can happen with our work, too. The more time we spend with it the more narrow our perspective gets. Sometimes, it helps to have a friend who can remind us to think about the bigger picture or show us a perspective that we couldn’t see.
All of that said, it can be intimidating to show your friends or family an unfinished version of your show. If you need some “fresh ears,” then you can always head over to the GTS Facebook group. It’s full of podcasters who are always willing to lend a hand.
If You Can’t Find a Solid Workflow…
… Change Locations
Changing locations is one of my favorite ways to beat creative block, and it works well for two reasons.
The first is that your brain really craves novelty, so moving to a new spot causes it to release dopamine. Dopamine is closely associated with happiness and pleasure, but it also plays a significant role in your feelings of motivation.
Secondly, when you switch locations, you’re subconsciously setting an intention for yourself: “When I move, I am going to get into a productive workflow.” It turns out, intention-setting is really powerful, and it can have a legitimate effect on the outcome of your day.
Personally, I move between my desk at home and my local coffee shop while I’m working on an episode, but even something as simple as moving from your living room to your basement within your house can provide the change of scenery needed to keep your brain active and boost your productivity.
If Your Eyes are Glazing Over…
…Take a Break
You know how, sometimes you’re reading and you realize that, even though your eyes have been moving up and down the page, you haven’t really processed anything?
This can sometimes also happen while you’re producing. You find yourself going through transcripts and working, but somehow not really accomplishing much.
Sometimes, the best way to snap out of your stupor is to take a 15-minute microbreak. Small breaks are shown to help reduce stress and stay engaged.
However, there is a caveat to this.
Don’t use your microbreak to scroll on Instagram or sneak in a few minutes of a television show. Instead, do something that keeps your mind or body active.
I personally love doing crossword puzzles (you can find the New York Times daily crossword for free online). You can do 15 minutes of reading, sudoku, drawing, go on a walk, or spend some time gardening.
The point is, you have to do something that actively shifts your thoughts away from work during your break for it to be the most effective.
In Conclusion…
Everybody struggles with storytelling from time to time, and it can be frustrating. However, with the right strategies, you can beat creative block and set yourself up for an efficient and pain-free podcast production process.
Want to learn more podcast writing tips? Check out our episode with bestselling author, Jo Piazza!