I recently read a terrific article about the problems writers face and what to do about them. Writer, life coach and therapist Dana Shavin–or the editors at The Writer Magazine–called the piece “15 of the Most Common Causes of Writer’s Block – and How to Cure Them.” I’m not sure I would lump everything in the article under the writer’s block label, but I suppose if you’re talking about how we block ourselves, it fits, especially considering the article’s subtitle:
Feeling stuck in your manuscript, craft, or career? Here are 15 of the most common problems that can stall a writer’s progress–plus key strategies for overcoming each one.
Semantics notwithstanding, I would highly recommend that you read the article, which I would have called “How We Writers Get in Our Own Way.” In the meantime, I thought I would provide the cliff notes, which won’t do the article justice but will hopefully get you thinking.
Shavin lists the first two most common writer problems as having too few ideas and too many. To conquer indecision or that sense of being shut down, play with your writing by listing 10 to 20 of the worst ideas you can think of and then take it from there, writing fast and sloppy. To figure out which ideas to focus on when you have too many, write them all down and then do a gut check.
For those of you who want to write but find that life gets in the way, Shavin recommends considering your options creatively and asking “What’s possible?” rather than just focusing on the challenges. Indeed, she suggests asking yourself, “What if it were easy?” If social media is claiming too much of your attention, do whatever you must to minimize distractions, including clearing your desk and shutting off everything but your word processing programs.
Don’t know how to turn your ideas into reality, whether in life or on paper? Hire or consult a mentor or a coach.
If you’re afraid to write what you know in your heart you must, scribble now and worry about whether or how you’ll make it public later. In short, put your editor hat away until you’ve written the thing. And while you’re at it (and this is my note, not Shavin’s), remember that if you’re going to spill your guts, you need to be nice to yourself. This is not the time for self-criticism, so shelve your inner critic. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for revision when you’re editing. For now, you have to feel safe enough to be vulnerable. By the way, as Shavin points out later on in the article, this also means no negative self-talk about your skill as a writer or your project’s viability, and no measuring yourself against other authors.
Sometimes, life gets in the way. If depression is preventing you from writing, it’s probably getting in the way on other fronts as well. Get the help you need. If you’re just in the midst of one of those times when everything else seems to be hitting and you’re forced to back-burner your writing, try to remain connected with it. (Linden’s note: Even thinking about your project for a few minutes a day will keep your subconscious engaged and make it easier to get that momentum back when you finally can devote yourself to writing again.)
Can’t seem to quit revising? Perfectionism (the impossible dream) stems from fear. Admit that you’re afraid. Understand your fear. And then set a reasonable end goal for your project and focus on that.
If you’re feeling bad about your writing being rejected or frustrated with the whole affair, remind yourself that this is all part of the creative process. It’s hard. But that doesn’t matter. Keep plugging along and pitching your work, and the odds will swing more in your favor.
Feeling stuck in terms of plot? Shavin suggests that being patient with yourself and with the process will also unlock the creative solutions that can sometimes seem so elusive. I’ve found that brainstorming with my writing coach clients is faster and yields more results on that front.
Finally, while I’ve left out a couple of Shavin’s list of 15 writing blocks and solutions, I do want to leave you with her conclusion:
Have gratitude for what’s working. Celebrate when you meet one of the small goals you set for yourself. If you don’t celebrate the small successes, it can feel hopeless, like you are having no success at all.
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