Writing Truths to Embrace #3: Successful Writers Convert Writer's Block into Creative Pause
Hello, Writing Friends!
Many clients express doubts about their writing and how to successfully navigate the process of creating their own content. In this monthly series, I bring you positive, approachable steps to help you overcome any of these common challenges. You can do it!
This month’s Writing Truth is that Successful Writers Convert Writer’s Block into Creative Pause. Many authors dread writer’s block and believe that it is something all writers struggle with.
First of all, It is okay not to produce text sometimes. We are human beings, not writing machines! We nourish our bodies with healthy food, adequate rest, and thoughtful exercise, and our writing “muscles” need the same care in order to function efficiently. If you can’t write, check in with yourself to see if you can tell what is holding you back. If you’re not feeling well, take a break until you feel better. If you are struggling with feelings of inadequacy, you might need some self-care or professional help to work through them. If possible, accept that what you are going through is normal, and be kind to yourself. In my experience, the kinder I am to myself, the better I write.
Rather than thinking of your writing as a text-producing switch you can turn on and off at will, It might be more helpful to think of your writing as a process that includes, reading, thinking, talking, and writing, because language works in our brains using all 4 of those skills, and they reinforce each other. What’s more, our brains need rest and relaxation as much as our bodies do, and checking in with yourself can help to avoid burn out and fatigue, which can really stifle your writing process.
I created the following infographic to present my key points. (If you know someone who would appreciate the information, please feel free to share it.)
Smell the Flowers!
If you find yourself struggling to write, it can be helpful to reset your energy by doing something that gives you pleasure such as hiking through the woods or gardening. Ideally, a reset activity should be totally unrelated to your writing so that it engages a different part of your brain. I like to take a walk, fold origami, or play with my cat. Deliberately engaging in activities that rest or activate different parts of my brain helps me to stay focused with my writing and allows me to write more and better text in the long run.
Read Up!
Many writers believe that we have to do all of one part of our project, when the truth is that completing different tasks as they arise or we feel drawn to them can be a more effective way to work. Reading about your topic is one way to get your mind thinking about it and dialoguing with the ideas present. Even if you don’t like what you’re reading, that can help to spark more ideas to include in your project. This jump-start can reignite your ability to produce text.
Pick the Best Time for You!
Often we don’t realize that the reason we can’t write is because we’re trying to work at a time that just doesn’t fit with our bodies’ or our lives’ rhythms. For example, many, many people have a hard time working during the dreaded 3:30-4:30PM time slot. (Afternoon tea was invented to boost us through that time!) Unless you have a hard deadline, schedule your work at the time of day that works best for you, even if it is unusual. For example, I wrote most of my dissertation from 7:30PM-1AM. This allowed me to come home from work, eat dinner, watch one of my favorite shows, then work on my project until bedtime.
Explain Your Work to a Friend!
Often, sharing our work with someone else can help us to see areas where we need to offer our reader more information or where things need to be phrased differently. This can be especially helpful if your friend comes from a different perspective than your own, as she may require explanation of topics that are common in your field. As I mentioned in the intro to this post, reading, writing, thinking, and speaking are all related in the brain, so just talking about your project may kickstart the process of writing down your ideas.
Treat Yourself!
I use this trick when I am having a hard time starting a practice that I want to adhere to regularly. It’s very effective for me to schedule my writing before a treat that I have to earn after I work. Be sure to choose your treat carefully, as too many ice cream cones combined with sedentary activities like writing can really add up. (Been there, done that!)
Hopefully, these tricks will get you started on your writing again. If you are still having trouble creating new text, drop me a line. I have lots of ideas to get you going.
Until next time, Friends, keep sharing your Magic with the world, and keep on writing!
Dr. Zhenya
