Writer’s Block is a sham!
We’ve all heard of it. Most of us have experienced it. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it really is, and why it seems so hard to avoid?
Here’s Wikipedia’s definition of writer’s block:
“a condition in which writers lose the ability to create new work, or their work experiences a creative slowdown.”
Clearly, they forgot to include the fact that it leaves you sobbing into your keyboard, screaming “why, why, why?,” and questioning your will to live! Ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but it’s definitely a top five story killer!
You may have tried to just power through writer’s block by writing something new, or reading other people’s books, hoping for inspiration, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “what is really going on here?”
Here’s the truth: overcoming writer’s block begins with understanding it!
By helping my clients (and myself) move past writer’s block again and again, I’ve learned there are three concrete factors stopping us from writing the story we were meant to write. They are:
Fear
Lack of knowledge
Lack of Clarity
If you’re feeling a lightbulb flickering on, you’re on the right track. Read on to learn how to tackle what’s really causing your writer’s block!
#1: Fear
When you really get down to it, fear is at the heart of writer’s block, and it can show up in many ways. You may fear:
· Not being able to write an engaging story
· Missing the mark with your readers
· Bad reviews and word of mouth
· Not connecting with potential readers and making sales
All these fears weigh on your confidence, making you question your ability to write the story well. And honestly, that fear has more to do with how others will see your writing, and nothing to do with how you actually view your writing.
The key to overcoming this kind of fear is reminding yourself of the value of your experiences. There is only one you! And how you handled (or didn’t handle) the challenges that have come your way is unique to who you are, and has shaped how you see the world.
Your story needs to be told because there’s someone going through those same issues right now, who needs to know how to pull through. After all, that’s why we read! Not only to experience fantastical worlds and characters, but to connect; to see a story that mirrors our own.
If you suspect fear as the culprit behind your inability to move forward on your story, ask yourself these questions and really consider the answers:
1. What is my ultimate goal/dream for sharing my story?
2. How will my life be different if I choose not to share my story?
3. What’s the worst that could happen if I share my story with the world?
4. What possibilities will open to me if I share my story?
#2: Lack of Knowledge
Another obstacle blocking the flow of your writing is simply not knowing how to share your message within the perimeters of story structure; a lack of understanding certain story concepts that keep you from “figuring out” what to do next.
For example, maybe you understand 3 Act Structure rationally, but you’re not sure how to actually put it in practice.
Or maybe you know your story needs complex, relatable characters, but actually creating them feels easier said than done!
Not knowing how to implement story concepts, or knowing “what to do next”, is a surefire way to end up with writer’s block. The key here is understanding exactly what you need for your story in order to move forward. Ask yourself:
· What story-specific issue am I having trouble with?
Your answers will reveal the exact areas/concepts that are tripping you up, and provide a starting point for breaking through them!
#3: Lack of Clarity
Maybe you’re saying, hey, I haven’t even started and I have writer’s block :)
The biggest complaint I hear from new clients starting new writing projects is that they don’t know what to write about. They spend weeks, or even months trying to decide on the story they’re going to tell.
For some writers, this process of marinating on lots of ideas leads to inspiration, action, and progress! But for the rest of us, it leads to more thumb twiddling, internet “research,” and blank pages.
The most important question to ask yourself at the start of a new story is:
Why do I want to write this story?
And don’t give that obvious answer of “I want to be on the best-sellers list”. There’s nothing wrong with having fame and fortune as a goal! It’s just not the kind of glue that will hold your motivation together, especially when you realize that only a small fraction of titles released each year actually make it to those lists. Especially when you realize the inherent bias saturating those lists!
Getting down to the bottom of why you want to write the story—to encourage someone, to start a conversation, to challenge an idea, etc.— is a key to beating writer’s block because it will reveal the truth you want to share. And knowing that is the springboard for writing with clarity.
And remember, knowing your why isn’t just important for getting started. It’s important when your motivation starts to lag, when you run into fear, and when lack of understanding story concepts blocks your path.
So, to recap: fear, lack of knowledge, and lack of clarity are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to writer’s block. Recently though, I’ve noticed one issue working its way up the list:
Bonus Problem: Rushing your process!
Have you been blowing past your self-imposed deadlines without hitting any of your targets? Have you become more invested in finishing for the sake of finishing, than you are in actually telling you story?
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with creating milestones and deadlines for your writing projects. In fact, you need them to serve as motivators and markers of your progress. The more you’re able to check things off, the more excited you are to continue!
The trouble happens when you get so caught up in those dates that you don’t allow yourself the time to properly address the issues. You breeze past problems just to reach the finish line, but then all those unaddressed problems come back to haunt your draft. And once you’ve locked in a chapter, or even a whole manuscript, the last thing you want to do is go back and make changes you know will “kill your darlings.”
While it’s never good to over-analyze and thus become “stuck” as well, rushing past obvious issues will lead you down the same path. The beauty of self-publishing is that you write as slow or as fast as you choose. It means you can take all the time you need to breathe and get clear on your project.
Now, that doesn’t mean I’m telling you to lounge around watching Anime all day! But I do want you to adjust your timeline if the story demands it. You want to create a story that connects, engages, and inspires, which is much easier to do when you give yourself the time!
So there you have it! Writer’s Block can be rooted in fear, lack of knowledge, lack of clarity, or the tendency to rush your process. Do you recognize any of these as the culprit behind your writer’s block?
If you’re ready to ditch the fear, find clarity, and start making real progress towards your writing goals, sign-up for your Discovery Call today and let’s get started!