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Tag: writer’s block

  • 4 Ways to Develop a Unique Writing Voice

    4 Ways to Develop a Unique Writing Voice

    Are you a writer?

    Do you find there are times when you come to write and only get as far as a few pages in, read it back and  don’t know how to carry on?

    Your words  look bland on the page, you feel nothing for them.

    You sit in front of your computer screen for a while and stew, maybe you put the lack of success down to that all-consuming writer’s block that you’ve heard about?

    Spoiler: It’s not writer’s block. You just haven’t found your voice yet.

    Voice is the distinct personality, style or point of view of a piece of creative writing, poetry or

    even journalism, and it’s specific to you as the author.

    Your voice is what makes the writing flow and it’s what will get your recognized, so it’s important to know how to develop it.

    The idea of trying to develop a voice is quite daunting and can inevitably become a massive obstacle for you. We’ve all been there.

    The first step to find your voice is to start testing techniques.

    Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

    It’s going to take trial and error and it won’t be the same for every writer, but here are four of my own techniques to get you thinking.

    1. Start writing in a journal

    This technique first came to me a couple of years ago while I was reading Virginia Woolf’s Selected Diaries (which, if you want to read a writer with a profound sense of voice, I would highly recommend you buy and read!) The way Woolf talked about such simple, mundane moments in her life with such attention to detail inspired me to do the same.

    Your journal entries will never sound like Woolf; her style is personal to her, and if you tried to imitate it your writing will be nothing more than that.

    Take the time to sit there and really focus on you. Your thoughts, your feelings, what you see, and describe it in your own words. Talk as freely and openly as possible. After all, this is your journal, only you have to see what you write. Maybe make it interesting and start experimenting with first, second and third person to see how your voice changes.

    Making journaling a daily habit will undoubtedly help develop your voice, especially if you start your creative writing straight after you’ve completed your journaling.

    writing voice2. Read out loud

    As you write, the more you get caught up in word count and how to describe the cracked coffee cup your character is holding in a new and interesting way, it becomes very easy to lose your voice. This is normal and it can be remedied.

    Reading out loud can highlight the parts of your book when your voice sounds choppy and unnatural. If this is the case, throw in a couple of everyday phrases that you hear from people passing on the street.

    Another thing to be cautious of when you read out loud is that you’re not sounding like your favorite writer.

    This is something that may not immediately make itself apparent to you when you’re proofreading your work, so make sure you take the time to read out a couple of samples to make sure that you’re keeping to your own voice.

    3. Free write

    A great way for a writer to find their voice is to free write. It empties all of your inhibitions, all the doubt, and every wall that you subconsciously put in place. That voice that is constantly question your every move or word will slowly slip away.

    You literally just have to projectile vomit words onto the page. They don’t even necessarily have to make sense at first. After all, the beauty of free writing is write now, edit later.

    The point is that it gives you the opportunity to empty your subconscious and scatter it all over the page. Your subconscious is your voice, nobody else’s.

    Take an hour as often as you can and just write.

    Write about anything and everything and later you can edit what you’ve written into something more refined and pretty. As long as you don’t over edit and let the critic in you take over, your voice will be there.

    4. Ask for feedback

    So far you’ve been doing everything completely on your own. You’ve spent hours journaling, free writing and reading to yourself and quite frankly your words are beginning to sound like slush in your ears.

    At this point you need to do the scariest thing that a writer will ever have to do in their whole existence. Get someone to read your work.

    I know, it sounds crazy and your palms are probably doing that unattractive sweaty thing so you

    can’t hold your pen anymore, but trust me, you may not like it, but feedback is essential.

    You can very easily ask yourself “does this sound like me?” but your answer to that question may not always be the most reliable. Someone who talks to you regularly or reads your work regularly will be able to answer almost instantly.

    For all the introverts out there, this doesn’t have to be done face to face, you can do it over email, but don’t disregard the benefit of watching someone read your work and underline the problems with it first hand. Sometimes you need to see it to believe it.

    Will these four techniques magically solve all your problems and help you find and maintain your voice? Not necessarily,every writer has a different creative process, but these techniques will certainly help give you a sense of authority over your writing.

    It’s inevitable for your voice to slip at times and this can easily be fixed in the editing process.

    Being a writer is never easy, you constantly have to learn and develop, and finding your voice isn’t going to be any different. But the point is you can do it!

    So, sit down, put your positivity hat on and start trialling techniques.

    This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

  • Playing The Sims Could Help You Beat Writer’s Block — Here’s How

    Playing The Sims Could Help You Beat Writer’s Block — Here’s How

    As a writer, I have two extreme moods.

    One is that I’m feeling incredibly inspired, where it’s difficult to just write down every single idea I have, and even more difficult to actively pursue them all. The second mood is one all writers know too well: Writer’s block.

    I’ve been writing for over a decade, so I’m not new to the uninspiring feeling of staring at a blank Word document for hours without having anything to say.

    But, I do have a unique solution: Whenever I felt a particular lack of creative energy, I turn to video games: specifically, The Sims.

    Video games can provide inspiration when you feel like all hope is lost. Here’s how they can help you conquer writer’s block.

    1. They teach you about plot

    Science fiction and fantasy writer Benjanun Sriduangkaew has most recently been inspired by Masquerada, NieR: Automata, and Transistor as well as older games Silent Hill 2 and 3.

    “I was absolutely obsessed with [Automata] for at least a month after completing the game, and a lot of the story beats, themes and imagery have stayed with me,” she explained. “I like to say that writers can learn a lot from its opening, where protagonist 2B contemplates the ‘spiral of life and death’ and her speculation on whether she will have a chance to kill the god that created her one day. It sets the theme and, fitting with 2B’s musing that everything that lives is designed to end, we see her entire squad quickly slaughtered with 2B as the lone survivor.”

    Different plots will expose you to different storylines, whether they’re complex or simple, entertaining or boring, and good or bad. Either way, there’s something to be learned from all of them.

    2. They tell you how not to write

    Comic illustrator and writer Victoria Chu turned to Japanese role playing games, such as the Final Fantasy Tale of- series, to learn how to “flesh out” narratives and tell a detailed storyline.

    However, oftentimes, she noticed the plots were often extremely complicated and convoluted, which encouraged her to shy away from that type of narrative arc.

    “With Final Fantasy, the original art style helped me shape what kind of aesthetic I want in my stories/ worlds,” she explains. “The narrative I find is recycling the typical one true hero archetype so I tend to not use those games for examples in writing.”

    3. They help you sort through emotions

    “The last time a game helped me was when I played Persona 5 and SMT4 Apocalypse,” Chu added. “Having to deal with dark feelings was refreshing because it was making me uncomfortable in a good way.”

    While the content wasn’t emotionally triggering, the plots allowed her to understand the weight of a story conflict in a much deeper way. She learned that dark narrative themes don’t always have to equivocate distressing content.

    Additionally, when I played the Sims, it was the first time I emotionally processed what it was like to have siblings. I grew up as an only child and never had to share any of my belongings or spaces in my household, so when my characters had big families, it helped me gain a little insight — but admittedly not that much — in how I’d write about siblings. For instance, when there was only one computer in the household and a child was playing on it, I saw the other child’s fun level go down.

    4. They make you pay attention to details

    While video games haven’t completely helped Sriduangkaew out of writer’s block, she mentions that playing video games help her pay attention to small details, such as lighting.

    “I was stuck in a military science fiction story,” she explains. “Something in XCOM 2 nudged me with a little detail that let me finish writing an atmospheric description. I think it was something as random as the lighting in a mission.”

    Oftentimes, a video game’s minor details and touches can help us spark the small touches to add to our own stories, whether it’s lightning bolts in the background–or the Simlish language, the fake language Sim characters speak.

    5. They have stellar soundtracks

    If you’re like me, you can easily find yourself consumed and distracted by music when you’re supposed to be working. (Since I work from home, I don’t have any colleagues to disrupt when I burst out into song.)

    Fortunately, many video game soundtracks are instrumental.

    “Many games have music that’s intrinsically linked to individual scenes or moments,” Sriduangkaew explains. “They’re much better than most at putting me in specific moods.

    Plus, you don’t even have to play video games to listen to their soundtracks.

    To help you get in the zone, pop up your preferred music streaming app of your choice, search for a popular video game soundtrack, and get your pen and paper ready.

    The next time you’re feeling stuck, pick up a video game and allow yourself to get lost. You may soon find yourself inspired by the game’s storyline.

    Do you have a go-to game you play to foster creative energy?

    This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

  • 4 Everyday Events That Inspired Famous Authors

    4 Everyday Events That Inspired Famous Authors

    If you’re struggling with writer’s block, you’re not alone.

    We all experience writer’s block from time to time, but one major cause is failing to see the rich possibilities for material in your own backyard. Some writers fear their lives are too boring, giving them little fodder for stories.

    In truth, most people (and writers in particular) lead rather simple, boring lives, but the small details of our lives can lead to great inspiration.

    Fortunately, you don’t have to backpack across Spain or attend a pricey workshop to be inspired to write.

    Read these stories of famous authors who found inspiration in small aspects of their everyday lives.

    1. Watching a baseball game

    Haruki Murakami, author of best-selling books like The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and 1Q84, writes about men obsessed with boring stuff like cats, making spaghetti and listening to jazz, who suddenly get thrown into surreal situations. For example, they discover a well or a closet or a flash of light that causes them to fall into a crazy dream world.

    This juxtaposition of realistic and zany makes Murakami as relatable as he is fun.

    Unlike some novelists who began writing as preteens, Murakami opened a jazz bar after school. It wasn’t until he was indulging in one of his favorite pastimes (a game by a local baseball team) that he saw a player hit a double. Not even a home run – just a double. The baseball player’s achievement suddenly inspired him.

    For the first time in his life, he decided he could write a novel. Murakami says the idea never occurred to him before.

    writing inspiration2. Making a bet with J.R.R. Tolkien…and winning

    Aside from his nonfiction, C.S. Lewis is probably most famous for his Narnia books, which are full of curious kids, cute talking animals and serious villains. He wrote another series of books, this time for adults, called The Space Trilogy, and it was inspired by a bet with a friend.

    Lewis and his friend J.R.R. Tolkien (of Lord of the Rings fame) were having a discussion about writing when they decided to make a bet where one of them (Lewis) had to write a space travel story, and the other (Tolkien) had to write a time-travel story.

    Lewis finished his story, though Tolkien (who took 12 years to write Lord of the Rings) did not.

    3. A first date

    One of the most praised, and perhaps least read, famous novels of the 20th century Is James Joyce’s Ulysses, a story of one day in the life of a couple of guys named Stephen Daedalus and Leopold Bloom — and that day was, specifically, June 10, 1904.

    The anniversary is celebrated every year in Dublin (and elsewhere) as Bloomsday — which is a good excuse to have a beer even if you’ve never read the book.

    Rumor has it that this was the night of June 10, 1904 that he met his future wife, Nora Barnacle.

    In the novel, Leopold Bloom’s wife is also supposedly based on Nora.

    First dates, whether sublime or terrible, have the potential redeeming quality of being writing inspiration.

    4. Watching a rotor-cutting machine at GE

    According to an interview with the great Kurt Vonnegut, his tech-oriented writing job helped increase his desire to write about science fiction.

    Vonnegut worked in public relations for GE before he began writing novels, but instead of disregarding his surroundings as a bunch of boring machines, he listened to the scientists he worked with. Out of the minor details, he developed a strong interest in the fact that tiny boxes were going to take over the world by doing everything for us.

    Cutting rotors was only the beginning!

    Vonnegut said that this realization led to his first novel, Player Piano, which was in part about the dangers of machines. Vonnegut stuck with sci-fi, twisting and playing with the genre as he wrote his many other novels.

    If these writers could find inspiration in a sports game, a friend, date and a boring day job, then so can you.

    Be more mindful as you go about your day, and listen to the people around you. Inspiration could be lurking anywhere, from the dog park to a Facebook post to the evening news to a trip to the store.

    So go out (or stay in!), notice how fascinating your life really is, and keep writing.

    Has a mundane event ever inspired your writing? Share in the comments below.

  • Get Out of Your Own Way: 6 Creative Tips to Crush Writer’s Block

    Get Out of Your Own Way: 6 Creative Tips to Crush Writer’s Block

    Let’s be honest — being a writer can be torture, right?

    You know what you want to write and the goals you have are real, but sometimes life, excuses and your own fear can get in the way of success.

    There is no magical unicorn that will make the process any easier, but if you make writing a daily habit where you allow room for mistakes and curiosity, you’re on your way to winning the battle.

    How can you make writing be something you don’t dread when you stare at your computer?

    1. Let your words be vomit on the computer

    You have brilliant sparkling ideas dancing around in your head that you envision in such a glowing, perfect spotlight. You sit down to put human, imperfect words to those fantastical ideas and…barf.

    You put barf on the screen.

    You know what? That is the BEST place to start.

    I enjoy writing the most when I give myself permission to let my words be projectile vomit on the computer screen.

    You have an idea in your head right now of what you want to write about, don’t you? It’s so easy to ignore those ideas and convince ourselves they’re just ideas that wouldn’t lead to enough material to write about.

    But you don’t know where the ideas will lead if you don’t try to find out. And finding out means a very messy drawing board and permission to majorly junk it up.

    Instead of pressuring yourself to find perfection,I take a backseat and see where my writing goes. I write very incomplete, incoherent lists, ideas and images. Sometimes I’m able to go back and polish it up relatively quickly. Other times, I’m not, so I walk away and let it simmer, trying not to stress at the huge pile of incomplete garbage I just created.

    The cool thing about ideas is that they evolve from day to day. I’ll be in the shower or driving to work, and the vomit I laid down on my computer soon starts to turn into something more cohesive. Sometimes it matches what was in my head, and sometimes it’s even better if I stay with it.

    2. Quit playing the “writer’s block” card

    Writer’s block is code for “I’m too intimidated I won’t crank out perfection, so I’ve decided to watch Netflix and eat ice cream instead because I know I won’t fail at that.”

    No more. I won’t have it. You can do better.

    If you follow step one of not caring that you have vomit on your computer screen, you will not be blocked.

    The pressure is gone, and you’re left with you and your ideas, working together happily instead of scowling at the screen, wondering why you just couldn’t be something normal like an accountant.

    Writer’s block is saying you’ve put the bar too high, and you’re afraid of not measuring up. Take the bar and put it much lower for the first writing session, so you have permission to simply play with your ideas and words instead of trying to whip them into submission.

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    3. Put some fire in your belly

    Although writing should be an activity you look forward to, it’s not a bad idea to put some pressure on yourself to complete projects.

    You have to put deadlines in place or else everything else will always come first like family, friends, work, binge-watching Top Chef — the list goes on.

    I don’t have the luxury to be able to write all day, so I give myself an hour.

    It cuts out the wiggle room to check Facebook or pet the dogs. The hour is my precious time to get to it without second-guessing myself. I almost never get done what I wanted to, but it leaves me hungry for more the next day, and hungry for writing is what I need to be when the alarm goes off at 5 a.m.

    4. Stay organized before your ideas drift away

    Part of holding yourself accountable is making sense of and organizing all the ideas bouncing around in your head.

    Try using Trello to track your ideas and keep you on a solid, tangible path to completion rather than being overwhelmed by all you want to do. If you’re a visual person who likes to see how much you’re completing, this might really work for you.

    And don’t let whispers of ideas get away from you. I jot down everything that zips through my head and go back to it. The other day I wrote “Facebook friends–not really even friends” in my Google docs document. I went back to it later in the week and started fleshing it out and quickly had a very successful blog post on my hands called,  “If I Die Tomorrow, Would My Facebook “Friends” Come to the Funeral?”

    I didn’t know exactly where the piece was going, so I just jotted down the messy, imperfect ideas as they came to me, and eventually the ideas turned into solid sentences and new ideas I didn’t have when I started.

    It was a thread I kept tugging at that started with an idea I had at my day job, but had I not started with the simple act of jotting down my ideas, the piece wouldn’t have been born because it would have remained trapped in my brain that is easily distracted and pulled.

    5. Stop devoting all your time to reading books about being a better writer

    It’s so great to learn from people who have more experience that they want to share with you, but constantly reading books on how to be a better writer is yet another excuse to not write.

    Writing conferences and networking are important to keep your head in the game, but in order to be a part of that game, you first have to write.

    There is no way around simply putting your butt in a chair to write.

    6. Don’t wait for the perfect time to start writing

    I used to be the master at doing everything under the sun before I would park my procrastinating butt down to write.

    I would make excuses like, “I can’t focus on writing if the house isn’t clean.”

    The truth is, there will always be something to pull us away from writing if we let it, but at the end of the day, if we do let it, it means we’re not making writing be an important part of our lives. And that means we won’t succeed.

    The perfect time to write is right now because you are the only you in this world who will put your spin on ideas. We’re not looking for perfection — just you and your ideas you’ve given permission to dance imperfectly onto the screen.

    These steps won’t magically lead you to a land of daily effortless writing. Writing is hard because you care about what you want to say and how you want to reach people. If you didn’t care, it wouldn’t be hard, and you wouldn’t be a writer.

    Now, sit that butt down, write some garbage and keep coming back to it with patience and an open mind. Do the same tomorrow and the next day.

  • The Real Source of Writer’s Block (And an Exercise to Beat It)

    The Real Source of Writer’s Block (And an Exercise to Beat It)

    Do you remember how easy it was to tell a story when you were a kid?

    All you had to do was pick up two mismatched socks (at least mine were anyway) and create a simple, silly narrative around Mr. and Mrs. Stripey-Sock.

    And back in those days, you always had an audience sitting on the edge of their seats.

    That’s right: good old mom and dad believed you were a best-selling novelist even at age five. In fact, my parents would still give me a standing ovation at 27 even if I used Mr. and Mrs. Stripey-Sock to this day, bless their hearts.

    So, what changed? Your audience expanded beyond easy-to-please mom and dad. Your less forgiving, more intimidating audience feasted for a story far more satisfying than the romantic comedy ‘unfolding’ in the laundry room.

    That pressure caused you to scrutinize every word you wrote. And eventually, writing stories became complicated.

    Writers must experience growth, so ditching the simple “pair of socks” narrative is good for your craft. But should you completely abandon your childish impulses when it comes to storytelling? How can saving one specific childish impulse keep writer’s block at bay?

    The true source of all writer’s block

    If you’re anything like me (a writer with a tea IV), then you’ve experienced writer’s block before without understanding why.

    The root of all writer’s block comes from doubt.

    We doubt that our characters, our scene, our plot, etc. makes sense, and is likewise unique to the reader. Doubt keeps us from tackling the scene we’re struggling with, head on. The more we question our story, the more we abandon our true self.

    When we solely focus on writing a story that will satisfy the mainstream audience, we lose our connection to our unique voice and childlike freedom in creativity. And that’s the aspect of our childhood we need to keep very much alive.

    So how do we do it? How do we get back in touch with the fearless creative we once were and rediscover our unique writing voice?

    Through this one simple trick.

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    Five minutes of freedom

    Take out a piece of paper or open up a new word document.

    Set a timer for five minutes (but keep it out of your field of vision).

    For those five minutes, write every single thought that comes to your mind. Don’t edit a single word. Don’t allow your brain to automatically correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure or cohesiveness for a moment.

    That’s right: for five minutes, be a kid, and dump your mind onto the page.

    Write about anything from a grocery list, to a brand new novel. This five minutes is your hot yoga, baby, and you’ve got to get in touch with your most honest thoughts.

    But, you’re probably wondering, “How the heck will this help me unlock my creative self?”

    See, after five minutes have passed, you may read your work and realize it’s lunacy. You may scoff and toss this technique aside. Would you be right to do so?

    Resuscitate your unique voice

    When I first tried this trick, I admit I hated it. Yet over time, I became hooked. I discovered that fear of judgement buried my voice more than six feet under.

    See, as writers, we’re taught to structure our voice. But it’s all too easy to let fear of failure bury your unique writing voice, unintentionally. Try this process for at least a month and you’ll discover the voice buried deep within.

    Thanks to this technique, I reignited my passion for writing and rebuilt trust in my unique voice. I discovered that readers love honesty so I am happy to let my voice take the reins more often. Now, I can clearly sense when doubt and fear begins to cripple my creative flow. Creating unique fantasy worlds and interesting characters, is fun once again.

    And when doubt starts to suffocate my voice again, I take out that timer, open up that word document and do a little nod to that toothy kid with a pair of mismatched socks on her hands.

    What about you? Is there a technique you implement in your writing routine which keeps you connected to the page? Let me know in the comments section below, I’d love to try out your techniques!

  • You Got This! 5 Out-Of-The-Box Ways to Beat Writer’s Block

    You Got This! 5 Out-Of-The-Box Ways to Beat Writer’s Block

    Staring at a blank page for hours on end, willing the words to come.

    Most writers have faced this dreaded writing scenario from time to time: a case of writer’s block.

    Even the most successful and prolific writers can suffer from a lack of words at times.

    It seems like every writer has a few tricks up their sleeve to handle writer’s block. Some like to focus on outlining and sketching out novel chapters while others prefer to use apps, calendars and spreadsheets to hit daily word goals.

    But sometimes it’s good to shake up your routine a bit in order to find new creative energy.

    Try these tips if you find yourself with a case of the dreaded writer’s ailment.

    1. Go to clown class

    If you don’t have visions of red clown noses and funny wigs, you don’t have to literally go to clown school. But trying an activity that is out of your comfort zone and normal routine is a great way to shake things up and find your creativity.

    It doesn’t matter if you take a clown class, sign up for a curling league, go to comedy improv night or take a kazoo workshop. Whatever you do, you’ll end up with something new and exciting to write about afterward.

    After returning from your new experience, try writing about it as soon as you get home. Use your words to describe what you experienced, how you felt and who you met. Write a character profile of someone you met, describing what they look like, how they speak and what they wear.

    Be careful; there’s always a fine line between “shaking up your routine” and procrastinating.

    Make sure you use your new activity as a mental refresh and inspiration to get the words flowing rather than a distraction from writing.

    2. Use your hands

    Writers use their hands to type or scrawl notes longhand all day long.

    To shake up your routine, try using your hands in a different creative way. Sculpt clay, paint a picture, crochet a hat or make a collage to turn your brain onto a different type of creativity.

    You can even apply this creative technique to your projects.

    If you’re writing a novel, sketch out some of your characters visually. If you’re writing about a room, draw the room. What does the sofa look like? How is the table set? Is there a centerpiece? Are there placemats? If you’re drawing a landscape, what types of animals are hidden in the frame? Are there birds, squirrels, insects, or a friendly dog lazing about?

    You don’t have to write words to make progress with your story.

    3. Find natural inspiration

    I’m one of many writers who loves to work outdoors, but you don’t have to bring your laptop with you to find outdoor inspiration and break out from your writer’s block.

    Go for a walk or a hike, preferably out in the woods, but even a neighborhood park will do.

    Consider bringing a journal and freewriting about three different experiences you have along the way. Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to experience earth-shaking personal revelations to have something to write about on the trail. You can write about an interesting tree or a rain cloud or your experience with a blue jay that watched you eat your lunch.

    It doesn’t matter what you write about. The important part is spending time having experiences out in nature and putting those feelings and adventures into words.

    After you get your creative mind flowing, you might find the words on your blocked project come along easier, too.

    4. Find a prompt

    If you Google “writing prompts” you’ll discover more than 1.8 million results. And, if you’re more visually inclined, check out Pinterest’s collection of writing prompts.

    Wherever you find your prompts, don’t spend too much time trying to select the perfect one.

    Just pick one and start writing. Set a timer for 10 minutes (or whatever length of time you like) and write words. If the words don’t come, write about how they’re not coming. Describe your fingers sitting on the keyboard or tapping on the table. Describe yourself. Write about your desk.

    Prompts are great because your only goal is to write for a certain amount of time.

    Your writing doesn’t have to meet any standards and no one ever has to read it. But it’s a great exercise to help get your brain going.

    5. Read

    If the words still aren’t coming, grab a good book and start reading.

    But if you write about the book, it might be even more helpful. Read a chapter and then write about that chapter. Write about your favorite character or favorite scene. Describe your thoughts and what you might do differently. Hypothesize about a character’s motivations or what might happen next.

    But be sure not to compare yourself to the author. Just enjoy the story and, hopefully, it will help your own story keep spinning along in your mind and on the page.

    However you work to conquer writer’s block, don’t worry about it too much. It’s only a temporary ailment. These techniques should help you shake up your routine enough to get back on track with your writing.   

    How do you beat writer’s block? Tell us in the comments below.

  • Writer’s Block or Perfectionism? How to Figure It Out and Fix It

    Writer’s Block or Perfectionism? How to Figure It Out and Fix It

    My eyes crossed as I stared at the words I’d written. As they blurred and came back into focus, they looked different.

    A minute ago they flowed so smoothly, but now they seem ugly and awkward.

    Highlight, delete. Highlight, delete.

    I wondered why the blank page had become such a familiar sight — why writer’s block always followed close on the heels of each new inspiration.

    I was swimming in unfinished drafts, and a few finished ones that just weren’t good enough to ship. In fact, my writing was rarely good enough to leave the safety of a Word document.

    It’s that cursed, chronic writer’s block! Holding me back from creating the work I constantly daydreamed about, the work that was refined, brilliant. The work that was….perfect.

    It’s not just for neat freaks

    The word perfectionist easily conjures images of someone using Q-tips to dust tiny nooks and crannies, meticulously lining up their pencils in a perfectly straight row or feverishly hammering away at a piano concerto until their fingers are bleeding.

    This is why it never occurred to me that I might be one — I’m the stereotypical messy, absent-minded, slightly neurotic creative — and I know and accept that I’m far from perfect.

    But perfectionism is common among creative minds, and it is possible for artists to be perfectionists about just one thing — their art.

    After a careful examination of the habits and thought patterns surrounding my craft, I realized I wasn’t just suffering from chronic writer’s block…Perfectionism was causing me to have writer’s block. It was the root of it.

    So how can you tell if perfectionism is what’s holding you back from creating your best work?

    Here are a few questions to help you gain insight, and some advice for how to move forward.

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    1. What are my expectations?

    What are your expectations about your career and writing ability, and are they reasonable?

    When I first started writing, I knew I had a natural talent, and I also knew the kind of writing I thought was brilliant. But when I started clacking away at the keyboard, I became discouraged when my writing wasn’t measuring up to my own taste level. Are you comparing yourself to writers who have been working for 20-plus years, even though you’re just getting started?

    Criticism of my writing also hit me hard. When my guest post was rejected or never responded to, I immediately doubted my ability to ever be successful. Are you expecting to never fail or experience setbacks?

    Your favorite authors and bloggers didn’t become successful overnight — they’ve paid their dues through countless setbacks and thousands of “imperfect” paragraphs. The insights they’ve gained from their failures helped shape them into the amazing writers we admire. Failures aren’t roadblocks, they are part of the path we walk to improving our craft, and understanding this can help you move forward bravely.

    2. Am I holding back?

    How does it feel when you sit down and start to write? Do you allow your thoughts to flow naturally, and then go back and edit them, or are you trying to write perfectly on the first run?

    When you plan to submit your work for publication, it’s easy to type as if your audience is already reading it—and scrutinizing every word. I still catch myself doing this, and my work ends up sounding contrived and lacking authenticity.

    Write your first draft like no one will ever see it—just get your ideas on the page and don’t worry about “writing well.” After you’ve expressed your ideas, you can edit and mold it with your audience in mind.

    Also, make “free-writing” a habit. Free-writing, or writing your thoughts freely without the pressure of “creating” anything, can be a helpful tool to kick-start your creativity when you’re feeling stuck.

    3. How am I treating myself?

    What would you say to a dear friend who was struggling to write a novel and asked for encouragement?

    Would you say, “Well, if you’re struggling this much, it probably means you’re not a very good writer. You should probably give up before you embarrass yourself.”

    Of course you wouldn’t say that to someone you love — but do you catch yourself saying lines like this to yourself?

    This is the hallmark of my perfectionism: I am accepting of other’s faults, but ruthlessly judgmental when it comes to my own. How can you be creative in this negative mental environment?

    Self-abuse is a tough habit to break, but if you can catch yourself in the act of cruel and judgmental self-talk, you can stop the negative feedback loop. Rephrase your self-talk to be more accepting and compassionate. Even if you struggle with genuine self-love, just saying the kind words will help get you in a better frame of mind.

    Accepting perfectionism as part of you

    Perfectionism isn’t something that will go away — you’ll most likely be struggling with it for the rest of your life. But if you can recognize the ways it interferes with your creativity and productivity, it doesn’t have to stall your career.

    Submitting your cherished work to the public is terrifying, but it’s important to remember that your purpose as a writer is to inspire others.

    When you accept the natural imperfection of your work, you create the perfect opportunity to learn and grow–and to serve the world the best way you know how.

    Can you relate? In what ways does perfectionism hold you back? Share in the comments below.

  • How Anne Lamott Helped This Woman Beat Writer’s Block

    How Anne Lamott Helped This Woman Beat Writer’s Block

    I hadn’t written much this summer, yet the ache to write had been my constant companion.

    It hovered in my back as I packed and unpacked boxes and suitcases. It lingered in my legs as I tread water with my kids in the pool. It sat on my shoulders at family gatherings. It took up space in my head already crowded with too many thoughts about too many things that matter too little.

    So to relieve the ache, I wrote.

    I wrote in phrases during stolen moments of guilt while my kids stared at iPads; distracted moments watching Simone Biles and Michael Phelps be truly great at something; short moments when I thought I might find my groove. (I didn’t.)

    The result: a combination of phrases that alone are sentimental and cliched — taken together are paragraphs of sludge connected by a web of confusion. I’m trying too hard; a magician looking for a rabbit without my hat.

    The best stories are seemingly simple, but textured with subtle nuance and complexity. I have simple with no texture; texture with no story. I can’t find the story in anything.

    When writer’s block settles in

    I read.

    I read haunting stories about mothers losing children and stories of summer so rich in detail, I smelled the salt in the sea air without leaving my chair. How did they do that? How were they able to create scenes so vivid, stories so poignant, they STILL stick with me?

    I’ve been writing for a long time now. I’ve been here before. We writers know this spot well. Self doubt, self consciousness, jealousy, envy. These terrible friends lure you into the giant black abyss that swallows Great Ideas and Inspiration.

    I waited until I felt like I might drown in all the world’s noise and all the emptiness filling my brain. Things got quiet and I heard them, as I usually do — those rhythmic messages the universe sends at exactly the right time.

    Over the course of a few days, I heard it in a variety of forms, voices and manners: if you really want something, you’ll figure out a way to get it. The world was whispering directly to me, “If you want to create magic with words, Kathleen, stop looking for a rabbit and just write.”

    (Re)moving the block  

    I started writing this.

    And then stopped.

    No one cares. I don’t care.

    If you really want to feel validated as a writer, then just write.

    But is that it? Is that what I want? Why do I have this ache to write?

    So I did like any struggling writer does and decided it was suddenly and urgently time to take all the books off the bookshelves I hadn’t touched in years, and sort through ones to keep and ones to donate. Which lead to the dust; thick blankets of grey that needed to be removed and vacuumed. There were stacks of old magazines with no obvious reason for taking up so much shelf space for so long. Did I really think I might go through them again?

    Not five minutes into my new and very important project, there she was: Anne Lamott.

    “Writing can give you what having a baby can give you: it can get you to start paying attention, can help you soften, can wake you up. But publishing won’t do any of those things; you’ll never get in that way.”

    My old friend, Anne.

    I first read Bird by Bird as a lost and lonely twenty something. I’d started taking writing classes at a prestigious university in Cambridge. I worked a dead end job there during the day — sending emails on behalf of VIPs, ensuring copiers had paper, and wondering if there really was such a thing as a real job.

    But once a week, I’d stuff a folder full of my words and sit around a table with people far more intelligent, experienced and talented than I at the “extension school” (an appendage of prestige). I wrote terrible stories. I’m now not sure how anyone read them without wondering what in the world I was doing at that table. I needed a therapist, not a writing course. In retrospect, none of the feedback I’d gotten from fellow classmates or professors was genuinely encouraging, but I kept enrolling in class after class as if the shear amount of time spent might somehow equate to an increase in talent.

    The epiphany (all good stories have one)

    Anne Lamott made me feel like it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if no one ever read what I wrote. It didn’t matter if they did and hated it. It didn’t matter if it was terrible. And it certainly didn’t matter why I was writing. What mattered was that I felt better when doing it than when I wasn’t.

    This post has taken days. Weeks, actually. It started to come together when I stopped thinking where I might send it; who would want to read it; and what point I was trying to make. It started to come together when I forgot about universal truths about writing and ego and creativity and typed word by word.

    I don’t know if it’s any good. But I do know it felt good to write it, and maybe that’s all the validation I need.

  • 6 Reasons You’re Struggling to Overcome Writer’s Block

    6 Reasons You’re Struggling to Overcome Writer’s Block

    Having writer’s block means something different to every writer. For some, writer’s block is just procrastination. For others, it’s a lack of ideas or inspiration.

    What’s true for all writers is that writer’s block can be difficult to overcome.

    Difficult, but not impossible.

    By identifying the type of writer’s block you’re facing, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to get unblocked once and for all.

    1. You’re facing too much pressure

    Maybe you’re turning a molehill into a mountain. If you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders when you sit down to write, it can be hard to get anything on paper.

    Be it a deadline, a nagging agent, or a previous success, it’s possible that you feel like David fighting your Goliath of a project.

    Solution: Cut yourself some slack.

    When you’re facing too much pressure, cut yourself some slack. Although you can’t move a deadline or hide from your agent (well, you can, but you shouldn’t!), you can take breaks.

    For the sake of your writing, sometimes you actually have to step away from the keyboard. It may seem counterintuitive, but taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically, is important for staying productive.

    Without maintaining the vessel that is the writer, writing is impossible.

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    2. The stakes aren’t high enough

    Alternately, it’s possible that you aren’t facing any pressure, internally or externally.

    When you’re unmotivated, writing anything seems like an impossible task.

    Solution: Establish motivating factors.

    Whether it’s setting a deadline, making a promise to someone, or participating in a challenge like this one through Scribendi, setting up an external motivating factor is sure to cure your writer’s block.

    If external motivation doesn’t work, get introspective: what is your goal, whether short or long-term? Big or small? Consider writing it down and posting it nearby as a reminder.

    3. You’re being too hard on yourself

    Most writers are critical of themselves.

    There’s an editor in all of us. We’re afraid to fail, both ourselves and to our readers. In a cycle of self-doubt, it’s difficult to remain creative.

    For many writers, writing becomes a chore when they’re too hard on themselves.

    Solution: Make something for yourself.

    To stop being so hard on yourself, you have to block out thoughts about how your readers might react to your work, and just focus on the writing.

    While you’re writing for your readers, you’re also writing for yourself. Try switching projects, starting a new project, or freewriting.

    4. You aren’t making writing a priority

    When you live a busy life with a long list of things to do (and not a lot of time), it’s easy to lean on writer’s block as an excuse. You might think you’re unable to write because inspiration just hasn’t struck yet.

    I have news for you: Inspiration is a myth.

    Solution: Force writing into your schedule.

    In this busy world, you have to fight for your right to write. Writing should be at the top of your to-do list. By making writing a priority, you lose the excuse of waiting for inspiration to strike.

    Writer’s block simply isn’t allowed! You have to sit down and put something on the page.

    5. You just don’t have any ideas

    Often, writers explain writer’s block as a lack of ideas. Every writer is familiar with the scenario of staring down a blank page and waiting and waiting and . . . nothing. Now what?

    Solution: Absorb new information.

    If the well has run dry, then you have to drill deeper to uncover new sources of inspiration.

    Make sure you’re reading at least as much as you’re writing. Consider attending writing groups, book clubs, or poetry readings. If those aren’t accessible, you can brainstorm in online forums or try a few writing prompts.

    6. You’re making writing into a big deal

    Writer’s block is such a scary feeling, right? At times, writers make common problems — such as fear of failure and a lack of ideas — into huge problems.

    When a problem looks so gigantic, it feels impossible to solve, and it’s easy to give up.

    Solution: Write anyway.

    In the end, writing is just writing. It’s as simple as putting one word after another. While it is difficult to write well, writer’s block is often an excuse to not write anything at all. When it feels like you can’t write, there’s usually another problem at work. The only way to overcome writer’s block is simply to write anyway.

    Break writing into the tiniest, most manageable chunks.

    Write three words. Write for seven seconds. Then, work your way up.

    You’ll be unblocked in no time.

    Which one of these causes of writer’s block sounds most like you?

  • 5 Easy Ways to Fight Writer’s Block in Your Second Language

    5 Easy Ways to Fight Writer’s Block in Your Second Language

    Writer’s block afflicts all great writers.

    Suddenly the words just won’t come out and you’re stuck sitting in front of your notebook or computer screen full of frustration.

    There are plenty of great articles out there with general tips about how to beat writer’s block. Now think about writing not just in your first language, but your second (third or fourth).

    What do you do then? How can you get the words to form in your non-native language?

    The tricks for this type of writer’s block involve reorienting your brain to think outside the box of your mother tongue. Try these five steps to fight writer’s block in your second language:

    1. Sing along to a song

    Try listening to your favorite song in that elusive language and singing along by heart or by looking at the lyrics. Beyond the fact that singing (and dancing) are proven strategies to boost your mood, your brain will thank you too for a reminder that whatever language you are frustrated to write in can be fun!

    According to Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months, singing in another language has been shown to expand vocabulary, review slang and help with an accent when speaking.

    Now, consider how it can help motivate your writing too.

    2. Translate (and cook) a recipe

    Kill two birds with one stone — hunger and writer’s block.

    Try cooking a recipe written in your second language, maybe even one that stems from the culture. As you read and translate the recipe instructions, you will be forced to think and analyze your second language.

    Grab your computer or dictionary to look up words you don’t know and keep it close as you continue with the writing process.

    Next, as you eat that delicious meal, get yourself in the mood to produce the language in your writing.

    3. Write a journal entry

    Start with what you can definitely write about: your own day.

    Begin with basic sentences that simply chronicle your day or the day before. No need to add fancy transitions. Just focus on getting the words down and crafting cohesive sentences.

    If you’re still feeling stuck, start to elaborate on each activity with more and more detail. Test yourself with how much vocabulary and wordplay you can use to describe even the most boring activity.

    You never know, your next journal entry could turn into a masterful personal essay of its own.

    4. Brainstorm an outline

    Now it’s time to focus on your writing task. Maybe it’s an academic paper, cover letter or a bigger project, like a novel.

    Try first to break it down to a simple list and start generating that relevant vocabulary. This is a great opportunity to also use references from books, the internet or other sources to start you on the right path with phrases or terminology that is specific to whatever you want to write. Don’t forget to cite your sources!

    Next, organize the list into an outline that can quickly transform into a fluid piece of writing. Then just like with your journal, begin to expand and elaborate on each to create cohesive paragraphs.

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    5. Convince yourself with confidence

    The worst thing you can do is to deflate your own ability to speak your second language.

    Writer’s block is natural and is not a reflection of your mastery of whatever language you are attempting to write in. Think instead about all of the years you have studied this language and things you have written in the past to get to this point.

    You can do this! Pretend you are a native speaker and get the words down on paper. You can always spend some quality time editing later.

    What are your strategies to beat writer’s block in a foreign language?