Three Ways to Obliterate Writer’s Block
Up front, I have to say one thing: I don’t think Writer’s Block exists. It is a fantasy that we have made up, a mythical fairy tale. In the real world, you are either “writing” or “not writing”.
Can you imagine seeking medical assistance, only to be told by the doctor, “I can’t help you today, because I’ve got a terrible case of Doctor’s Block”? Of course not. It would be silly. Writers are no different - you just may not feel like writing today.
What we call “writer’s block” is merely resistance to writing. Today’s resource is a book called The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It is a very powerful book, especially if you’re a writer. I strongly recommend you get it.
So how can you smash through those barriers to stamp out writer’s block? Are there any practical tips to get through this?
Here are three ways you can dissolve this resistance, and start writing:
Sit down and write SOMETHING! Anything, it doesn’t matter what. Fill out a card, send a note to a friend, or write really awful poetry - anything to break through the barrier. Suddenly, you realize that your writer’s block has magically dissolved, like the myth that it is.
Change your emotional state using tips from Tony Robbins. Pay attention to your focus, physiology, and language.
Focus - You can choose to focus on the positive, or you can focus on the negative. If you constantly focus on your writer’s block, that mythical beast will grow and grow. If you ignore the beast, it shrinks. So find something positive to focus on - your health, your family, or anything that brings you joy. Even if you’re not writing, you can choose to focus on reading up on your next project. Find something positive!
Physiology - Your body language affects your mood. If you are slumped over your keyboard, the very picture of defeat, you will feel defeated. Instead, sit up straight, take a few deep breaths, relax your shoulders, and get ready to write, write, write. Just try it - it works!
Language - Control those voices in your head! When you think about your writer’s block, do you fret that you are a poor writer, that you must be lazy and undisciplined because you have writer’s block? Well, that doesn’t help. Just as you must focus on the positive, you must also choose words that are positive. Your writer’s block comes from resistance, not laziness. Abusing yourself with harsh words only increases that resistance, and makes it harder for you to break through it.
Write about why you’re not writing. Get out your journal, or a legal pad, or your computer and start journaling about why you are not writing. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep, maybe you had an argument with your significant other…it doesn’t matter. Just start writing about why you’re not writing. In my experience, once you get those thoughts out on paper, you realize how ridiculous they are, you start to laugh, and you find that Writer’s Block is gone.
Can these tips really help? Yes, they can! You see, in my opinion, there really is no such thing as writer’s block. Use these tips to stamp it out for good.
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