Writing can be a difficult and solitary business. Some days are great and you get several pages written or revised, but other days... it feels like trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Rejection comes by the truck loads some days.
There is often a tremendous amount of self-doubt which can cause what some people call writer’s block. Other people don’t believe in writer’s block. I envy those people.
Here are a few tips to overcome writer’s block or whatever you want to call the thing that keeps you from getting those words on the page.
1. Make the goals smaller and attainable. Write only one page a day, or even a paragraph, instead of being overwhelmed by trying to write a whole chapter. If you can write the whole chapter that’s great but don’t try to eat the whole elephant in one bite. Books are written one word at a time – one page at a time.
2. Give yourself permission to write absolutely anything and to write it badly. When we expect to write everything perfectly the first time, it can create a huge stumbling block because we can’t imagine writing anything good enough. Get rid of the inner critic and give yourself permission to write badly. Then just write. You might surprise yourself with how good your writing really is.
3. Be accountable to someone else. Check in with another writer friend or someone who’s interested in your work and keep them updated with your progress. This works best if both parties are dedicated and keep it going.
4. Get some exercise. You may not believe that this works, but it’s amazing how getting those endorphins pumping and oxygen to the brain can energize you and get the ideas rolling. Just go for a walk or a jog around the neighborhood.
5. Start anywhere. Don’t get bogged down trying to come up with the perfect first line, just jump right into the middle or the end.
And while no one wants to dwell on their fears and self-doubts, I do think it can be a good idea to talk them out with a friend. Sometimes another perspective is all you need to get motivated and start writing again. They may have the same fears and together you can overcome them.
Do you ever have writer’s block? If so, how do you get past it? Is there someone who helps talk you through the dry spells?
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can we wear one of these at conference? 'Cause that would be AWESOME!
For Christie!
hahahahahaha
2 comments:
great points, and ones that i need to be reminded of fairly often.
i am of the nonbelievers in writer's block. i guess just b/c of school it was drilled into my head and i write for 8 hrs. at work - i would choose writing over chocolate and sleep - seriously. if i'm mad about something, i can sit down and write about it and instantly feel better. if i'm working on a story but am having trouble with a scene, i skip it and write a forthcoming scene. sometimes you have to know how the story is going to end before you know what needs to happen in the middle.
in my self-analysis, i think i've been avoiding submitting because subconsciously i'm postponing rejection, however it's not because of a self-doubt in me. it's an insecurity about the unknown - the subjectivity of an editor, agent. i don't like that i have no control over their reaction to my story. it's a crap shoot and i'm not a gambler.
i'd just like to say that we have such a supportive, encouraging, and positive group that it makes all the difference in the world. i'm really thankful to be a part of the spanksters. we keep each other going, and i'm sure we'll all get to where we're trying to go - some day soon.
I think that writer's block and procrastination are cause by our own self-doubts. JMO It does help to have a support group like we have.
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