Writer's Block || 1

[kitty_fic]

I've been planning to do a discussion or essay on writer's block for a very long time, but I actually found this topic completely overwhelming and nervewracking. I'm certainly no expert and I'm sure that many people have written many more inspired things on the topic than I ever will. However, it's something I suffer from and is often on my mind. So, instead of writing up one huge post about it, I've decided I'll just share several bite-size bits on the subject instead.

I'm not sure how many of these posts there will be. I'll share tips or tricks or resources as I come across them. Some of this will be my own words but most of it will certainly be things that I've seen or run across elsewhere. I claim no originality here and I'll try to share my resources when I can.

I invite you to share your thoughts and opinions and what works for you in the comments as well. My hope is that even one of these posts or tips will help you :)


Some common causes of writer's block:
- Anxiety
- Unpreparedness
- Unhappy with your story or idea/Revisions went horribly wrong
- Fear of failure
- Distraction
- Lack of ideas/inspiration
- Too many ideas
- Stuck on one part/No idea what happens next
- Bored with your story/idea
- Can't find the right words/emotions/etc

Share: Which of these defines your block most accurately? Or is it something else entirely? Figure out what's specifically blocking you and try to rationalize it. Find something that works for that specific problem. It's much easier to think about the specific problem rather than to consider writer's block as a black hole.


Some things that may help:
+ write down everything clogging your mind (free flow writing/mind mapping)
+ breathe deeply (meditate/concentrate)
+ take a walk/connect with nature
+ exercise
+ sing out loud (in the shower or car or anywhere)
+ talk it out with someone who is willing to listen
+ draw, cook or craft (shift your creative energy)
+ laugh
+ hug
+ find quiet

Share: Which one of these will you try today? What has worked for you in the past?

Comments

[kitty_fic]

Mine is caused by several things and not just one which makes it complicated!
- Anxiety
- Unpreparedness
- Unhappy with your story or idea/Revisions went horribly wrong
- Fear of failure
- Too many ideas
- Stuck on one part/No idea what happens next
- Can't find the right words/emotions/etc

BUT I'll just pick one to focus on at a time... Today I pick:
-Too many ideas

Now to rationalize it... I always have so many ideas and projects I'm working on or wanting to work on that combined with my writer's block and the other causes of my block I've gotten completely overwhelmed and gone into shut down mode! So today I promise myself I will work on one thing at a time and not even think about the others until each task is done. I'm going to make a list of 3 and only three things that need to be worked on the soonest. Everything else can wait... and from those three I will only do them one by one!

That thing for today is to edit and finish this ONE story! If I can finish a thing I hope that will encourage me to move on to the next thing on my list with a more positive attitude.

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And from the help list, my goal for today is:
+ breathe deeply (meditate/concentrate)

I'm going to take a moment and center my mind and just focus on the quiet and breathing before I sit down to try and write.

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Good luck everyone on your writing and breaking your blocks!