Let’s get one thing straight right up front: I don’t believe there is such a thing as Writer’s Block. I believe it is a mythological beast that we’ve created. In reality, there’s only a state called “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.
Writer’s block is really only a resistance to writing. Today, I’ll recommend a great resource. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a highly-recommended and very powerful book that can help you break through the myths of writer’s block.
What are some practical tips you can use to break through that resistance, get past Writers Block and get writing?
These three tips can help you end writer’s block so you can start writing again:
Sit down and write. Anything. This sounds ridiculously simple, but I’m not joking. Write anything. It may not be the project you’re supposed to be working on. It may be a note to your mother, or it may be a greeting card to a friend whose birthday is coming up soon, or it may be your grocery list. Often you’ll find that the very act of writing will help you break through the myth we call Writer’s Block.
Change your emotional state using tips from Tony Robbins. Pay attention to your focus, physiology, and language.
Since Focus is what you choose to put your attention on, don’t focus on your Writer’s Block. Focus on something else. Focus on writing something different, like we mentioned before, or focus on the state of your health, and how great you feel. Focus on reading through the notes you have on your project – even though you’re not going to write – just read them.
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!
The language you use in your head affects how you feel about a situation. Most people think that is backwards, but it’s not. Perhaps the dialogue inside your head goes something like this: “I’ve got writer’s block, so I must be lazy. I just don’t have the discipline to write, and this proves how lazy and bad I am”. STOP! Torturing yourself never helps. You must change your language, the words you use in your self-talk. What you are experiencing is resistance to writing, and that resistance comes from many sources. Use the tips in this article to help end that resistance and get writing again.
Jot down all those reasons why you aren’t writing. Grab a pen and paper, or sit at your keyboard, and write down all the excuses you use to get out of writing. Perhaps you don’t feel like writing because you are tired, or perhaps you argued with your friend. Whatever it is, write it down. Then look honestly at those reasons. Don’t they look kind of silly? Often, when I perform this exercise, I have to laugh at all those reasons – they seem so logical in my head, and yet on paper they look ridiculous! I start to laugh, and my writing flows again.
Why do these tips work? Because in my opinion – and in my experience – your “Writer’s Block” never existed to begin with!
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