How Do You Get Past Your Writing Road Blocks?
Sticking with your writing goals requires tenacity. Doggedness. Persistence.
It means finding a way past the road blocks that appear in your way.
We probably all have slightly different blocks.
It might be lack of time, or lack of focus.
It might be someone else talking you down. It might be your inner critic running rampant.
And we probably all have slightly different ways of getting round them: ways that others could learn from, experiment with, borrow, copy or deploy.
Please do share what works for you… however weird!
I’ll post a round up of the best tips and tactics culled from comments, responses and tweets – with attribution, of course.
What are the road blocks that are most likely to get in the way of your writing?
What do you do to get past them?
Photo Credit: Road Blocks by s myers on Flickr
There are two ways I have worked myself round those writer blocks:
1.) I do something completely different : going for a walk, listen to music, watch a candle. Suddenly the idea comes my way.
2.) I sit down and take the time to brainstorm and write down everything that comes to my mind. Not everything that gets written down can be used, but some ideas are worth working on.
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..A Song of Love and Hate
writing badly just grabbing a pen and scribblingon the back of an envelope. When I was really stuck writing my website copy. I took myself to a cafe and wrote there – sometimes moving locations helps !
For my non-fiction, I let it sit in my subconscious while I do other things. It always comes out sooner or later (and fortunately always before a deadline
)
For my fiction, however, it’s not just a matter of letting the ideas come floating up. There’s all the nasty masochistic writerly stuff going on. So I’ve decided to get structured about my writing, following The 2 Year Novel program by Lazette Gifford – a little bit each week that keeps me going. Plus for another stalled novel, I’m going to move through the program more quickly on my own as a way to get unstuck.
Plus I track my goals daily with a group of writers on http://www.fmwriters.com – a great resource!
PS Funny you should ask this as I wrote pretty much the same comment on my in blog in response to the “homework” I gave my readers.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndromes last blog post..Get out of that hole: Someday-busting lessons from Take That
I sit down, open Google Docs and take my time to choose the weirdest background and font-color I can find. Colours that really hurt the eye and don’t match. Then I write down the exact thoughts moving through my brain, however strange or senseless they may seem, as fast as I can. Most of the time I manage to get into a flow – and I can work from there.
Detlefs last blog post..No Mission, No Vision, No Clue
I have an accountability buddy and for the past 26 days have followed Liz’s advice and written a post every day. this has given me both joy in writing and inspiring others.
Suzie Cheels last blog post..Law of Attraction Inspiration #2: Words Send Vibrations
Joanna, When I get stuck, it’s usually trying to develop topics for my various blogs or coming up with cartoon gags. What usually works for me is to get away from the computer and phone. I go to Starbucks and find a comfy chair, get some tea, and open my notebook. Somehow I always wind up with anywhere from 5-20 topics.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Put a Little Love in Your Marketing
I take a shower, do 10 minutes worth of yoga, then sit down and just write anything at all (even “I don’t know what to write” ) until something usable appears. Works every time.
Jean Gogolins last blog post..Why Sound Bites Rock – And How to Write Them
Writing for business has forced me to learn to deal with those blocks differently than I do with my own writing because of deadlines. The blocks I encounter in business writing are: Lack of excitement about subject matter and not getting the message quite right (the copy must engage, have warmth but also sell and sometimes the words simply won’t come). To work through lack of excitement, I try to find something other than the subject to get excited about – the excitement of discovery, the challenge of making boring fun for the reader, etc., this takes the focus off the words and always helps me to break through. When the words simply will not come, I turn to my swipe file and writing books (Words that Sell, Phrases that Sell, Writing Magic, Writing Down the Bones) to find inspiration. Often just reading aloud other ideas sparks my creativity.
Karen Swims last blog post..Love is Not on My List
I use a few aproaches to combat writer’s block. Free writing is often helpful since I’m often obsessed with structure and flow. Another is to jot down thoughts about another topic that personally interests me. If necessary, I’ll reward myself for completing a smaller phase of the overall written project. Rewards vary, but often include sweets
Gennaros last blog post..Wilderness, Where Art Thou?
With me it’s usually “How do I make myself stop?”
But sometimes… I like to use meditation. I sit with the part of me that’s struggling, and accept it completely. It can take time to do this.
I go for walks. I read books. I do anything else until the ideas flow.
Joely Black (@TheCharmQuark on Twitter)s last blog post..Processing out loud: the website, the little girl, and the email
Ulla those are both great suggestions, thank you. I recognise some emerging in your blog too – like watching the flickering light of a candle. Nice.
Creative Voyage scribbling on an envelope – yes that one’s a life saver. And as you say, often happens when we change locations.
Alex it’s interesting to hear the difference needed for non-fiction and fiction – from Karen Swim too. Thanks for sharing the approach you’re using for your fiction writing – I’m sure there’ll be lots of others who are interested in that
Detlef that sounds like a great way to break through resistance – thanks for sharing it
Suzie thanks for making me smile at writing being joyful. That’s a wonderful reminder, and something that I think I’ll use to get me out of my own holes in the future
Bradthanks for sharing that – interesting how it’s not just the change of location but change of location to a cafe that seems to make a key difference, isn’t it?
Jean writing where you’re at, even writing that you don’t know what to write, is a good way to get past resistance. I’ve not tried yoga in this context, but I can see that would get you into a different kind of place too. Thanks for joining in.
Karenthanks for drawing the distinction between fiction and non-fiction – I think they do throw up different kinds of blocks. ‘Excitement’ is a good way to think about approaching non-fiction – esp when it’s not yours, but maybe works when some of our own work gets bogged down too. I can picture all sorts of creative ways you’d find to add pizzazz to your writing… and given me some ideas, thanks!
Gennaro, free writing is coming through as a useful strategy. I also like your suggestion of writing about something you’re interested in in a more personal way – to find the spark of interest or engagement. I know what you mean about rewards… but try to avoid too many of them myself!
Joely thanks so much for sharing that. I think this is probably what I’m needing to hear just now, because each time I read your words I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Something to do with… acceptance. Thanks.
Often I head to the nearest spot of nature, always with a few index cards and a pen in my pocket. When I try to force an idea or just the right words to come, I will draw a blank. But when I relax a bit and immerse myself in the natural world, I often find the ideas start to flow naturally. Then I plop myself down on the nearest log or dry space, and scribble as fast as I can.
Bos last blog post..Strength
I go away from the house with just a notebook and pen. I stay out, doing whatever, until I’m itching to pick up my pen.
I’ve also found some success with refusing to write for a few days. I let words build up until I’m choking on them, and then free write them out over a day or two. Sometimes all a log jam needs is a big wave from upriver.
B J Keltzs last blog post..Transparency & Confidence
Bo, that makes so much sense, as a way of getting into the flow, not just of your own words but the wider world. Thanks for sharing it.
B J , hi, and thanks for sharing those two approaches. Refusing to write for a few days is an interesting one – I could see how that one would work. Will give that one a try myself next time the inner critic comes over my way.
While struggling through the final stages of my thesis, I frequently found blocks to my progress. Largely they were caused by moments of panic when all I could think was, ‘You’re not going to make it. You’re going to miss your deadline.’ When the panic struck, the words did not flow. My tactic was to have a shower. Something about the movement of the water would relax my mind, connections would begin to occur, sentences would leap into my head fully formed, just waiting to be committed to the page. As a tactic for breaking through those writing road blocks, it never failed!
Amy
xx
amypalkos last blog post..E-Book Review: The Complete Guide To Vision Boards
My roadblocks have always tended to involve other projects. As in, I always want to have several things on the go at once, and as a result I never give as much time as I should to any one of them. That’s change in the last couple of years and I’ve learnt how to prioritise and really think about what I want to do long-term, rather than what might seem like a good idea for five minutes.
So my roadblock removing device is my recently-found ability to prioritise projects and think about what I want to be doing this time next year, and not just in the next ten minutes.
Iain Broomes last blog post..Recommended reading for writers – January 2009
I do all that I can to get around my road blocks. But the main two things that seem to work for me is as follows: One, Workout; Two, meditate; Three, go some where inspiring and quite. If none of the three works I have a few drinks so that my mind can relax and allows me to write.
To be honest, Joanna. I discovered most of my writing topics from the movies and dramas (You can call me the “Drama King” lol) When I’m lacking of ideas, I’ll spend hours watching movies or documentaries…
wilsons last blog post..Your Body Type Determine Your Healthy Condition
Amy, what a great idea for getting back into the flow! Your words remind of something I’ve read about the importance of moving water for writing – perhaps in ‘write it down, make it happen’ that you recommended to me? I’m so glad you got past your blocks and proved the voices wrong – you made it, with weeks to go.
Iain, that’s an ability that I think many of us would envy. Sometimes I’d encourage people to narrow their focus and look down so they don’t get scared by the distance ahead or precipice below… but yours is an example of the importance of throwing your focus forward to where you want to be. Thanks for sharing that.
Alexander thanks for sharing those techniques. I heard a number of people over the weekend talking about meditating on ideas and words… and how it helped to still their mind before writing. It sounds very powerful.
Wilson what a great and practical suggestion – thanks!
One of my common roadblocks is “Excusitis”. My inner critic is always trying to find an excuse for me not to get started on my blogging.
What I find works for me is to just get up and do 20 mins of Tai Chi after that I’m 100% focused and ready to go.
David Atkinsons last blog post..3 Bloggers I Would Love To Meet
hi Joanna
I’ve recently stumbled on your blog (as one tends to do in the vast maze that is the world wide web!) …and it feels like I tripped over a rainbow and found the pot of Gold!
I am an aspiring writer who is seriously lacking in that vital ingredient – confidence! So I am excited and delighted to have found you and this wonderful community of writers.
Thanks for all the inspiring and practical ideas to get past STOP and onto the road that leads to my authentic voice.
kathleen
x
David, really we need to kick these critics into touch! I’ve never tried Tai Chi (yet) but as I said on Twitter I’ve heard great things about it, and can see like other suggestions made here it would be a great way to get back into the flow.
Kathleen, thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment. Your feedback means the world to me, and was a wonderful way for me to finishin off the weekend. I hope you’ll be back soon – and more importantly, that you’ll be off writing with confidence!
I stare at the screen till blood runs down my forehead. That was actually from a New Yorker cartoon a long time ago–so long, it was a typewriter and not a computer. If I’m stuck, I usually do some reading–of good writing. As far as actions, writing everyday makes you good at writing everyday.
QuinnCreatives last blog post..Automated, but Not Working
Hi, thanks for that quote – seen various attributions of it, probably because it’s such a good one
Reading, and writing every day are sound additions. Thanks.
[...] Starting with such a practical, block busting suggestion seemed like a good way to open this compilation of tips, suggestions and strategies for getting round your writing road blocks. [...]
I try not to let myself get stuck with roadblocks. I’ll do something else. I’ve done a lot of research into thinking/processing styles, and I’ve applied this information to writing. Briefly, most of us were taught to do idea generating and brainstorming through outlines. That’s great if we think in a logical, linear way, but if not…
Plus, even if we do think in a logical, linear manner, outlines might not always do the trick. So, I’ve been working on dozens of different strategies, corresponding to Howard Gardner’s seven multiple intelligences, to help people brainstorm.
I’ll just pick one and work with it. I might spend a few minutes doing a mind map, a Venn diagram, a graph, a map, power words… Full sentences and paragraphs don’t necessarily get written during that time, but after, they certainly do.
People get stuck with the idea of being stuck. Thinking, ruminating, drawing, making diagrams, drawing graphs… all that is part of writing.
What if we said there is no stuck?
Dawn Goldbergs last blog post..Can’t Do It Anymore
Hi Dawn, good to see you. Thanks for sharing those suggestions, and I agree they’re all good approaches for getting round the initial resistance or need to find structure. I think doodling and mind mapping are great ways to generate odd words, and to find the ones that resonate.
I can imagine situations where that wouldn’t help a bad case of stuckness (like an assault of the critic)… but ‘do something else’ generally helps. I also like the idea of saying ‘what if there is no stuck?’. I’ve been trying not to focus on stuckness but instead smile and thank my unconscious mind for the solution it’s going to come up with… when it’s ready. We’ll see how that one goes…
I go around the road block. As a novelist, chances are good there’s a chapter later in the story I’m aching to write but the chapter I’m struggling with is in the way. So, I work on the chapter (or scene) I really want to be working on. By doing this, I usually discover one of two things – either I see what needs to happen in the blocked chapter and it becomes easier to write, or I realize the blocked chapter isn’t needed, which is why I couldn’t get it written!
Hi Cindy, nice to meet you! I love the simplicity of this approach… focusing on the bits that you want to write, and trust that the rest will sort itself out
I think I will remember and apply this one.
[...] How Do You Get Past Your Writing Road Blocks? [...]