GUEST AUTHOR BLOG POST SERIES
In this series, we hear from other authors traveling on the writing journey.
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Have you ever had writer’s block? Then you will enjoy today’s blog post by Mari McCarthy, author of Heal Your Self with Journaling Power. Mari offers three easy strategies on how to deal with writer’s block and get back on track. Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
When you were starting as a writer, you might have thought writer’s block was something you would outgrow. Now you know better. That dreaded invisible barrier that traps brilliant ideas and keeps them hostage from the page isn’t just for newbie writers. It’s something we all struggle with from time to time.
So why does writer’s block strike when you least expect it? Here are a few reasons:
- You’re feeling anxious or insecure about your work
- You’ve lost momentum or focus on your project
- You’re tired, distracted or bored
- Your high expectations and perfectionism are hindering your progress
If you’re experiencing one or many of these sources of writer’s block, know that this situation is only temporary. You can and will overcome it. Think of these strategies as a toolbox you can use the next time you get stuck.
Switch Gears
If you’ve been laboring over the same paragraph for the last hour, give your brain a break. Move your body or get some fresh air – by stretching, doing yoga poses, or taking a walk. Then come back and write something completely different than what you were working on earlier. Brainstorm new ideas or dust off an old draft. Return to your original project with new energy.
Face your fear
Another name I use for writer’s block is “page fright.” It is often rooted in fear, though it can reveal itself in different ways – like perfectionism, self-criticism, anxiety, and stress. But if you hide from your fear and pretend it’s not there, it only gets stronger. When you face your fear and give it a name, you take back control. In a journal or notebook, write, “I am afraid…” at the top of a new page, and jot down anything you think of, no matter how silly or off the wall it seems. Just defining that you are afraid of failure or judgment helps you chip away at the page fright.
Write through the block
Do a short sprint of writing to hurdle your stumbling blocks and build up creative momentum. Set a timer for a few minutes, and commit to writing the entire time – no distractions or breaks. Then write! Keep going until the timer sounds, and celebrate this small but important victory.
