We will all suffer from Writers’ Block.
We take a seat and look at our screens, and force ourselves to write. Anything. Words still don’t appear. It becomes more likely that we won’t write anything at all the longer we sit there feeling frustrated that we’re not writing.
We will all eventually experience this.
We believe that we have run out of options or that we are overanalyzing Google’s new algorithm and fearing that we will offend its updated notions about what we ought to be offering.
What things can cause writer’s block?
Common Causes of Writers’ Block?
Fear; not having enough ideas or indecision about what to write, which can be just fear. The fear of putting our ideas out there and the fear of rejection. We fear people criticizing our work and judging what we write.
Too many ideas; You have too many ideas jumping around in your head, so you don’t write anything. You don’t know which are the best ideas to put in and the best ideas to leave out. You are suffering from FOMO, the fear of missing out. You are scared you will choose the wrong subject to write about.
Perfectionism; You want to make your content perfect and are on the never-ending cycle of revising your content. you continually change little bits here and there, but ultimately it is again fear. There is a sentence about perfectionism that rings true for me. “Perfectionism is fear masquerading as a commitment to craft”
Negative self-talk; You have the little gremlins on your shoulder saying that your content is not good enough and nobody will want to read it. Negative self-talk is one of the most detrimental forces to effective writing and we should cancel these thoughts straight away.
Easily Distracted; You are easily distracted and become involved in other discussions on social media. You are interrupted by news alerts or other messages that distract you from your purpose. Studies have shown that it takes 20 minutes to refocus after you have let your mind wander onto other topics.
Reignite the Flame.
The problem of writer’s block is probably as old as writing itself. And it is not just authors who experience it. It can affect anyone with some creativity from all walks of life, including musicians, poets, and business owners.
Sometimes our creativity just isn’t there and takes a holiday. How do we reignite that creative flame and focus on our content? Here are a few ideas.
The Secret to Overcome Writers Block.
The secret to overcoming writers block is not a secret. All you have to do is sit down at your computer and write. If you wait until you are inspired nothing will ever get written.
However, there are some things that can help you overcome the worst features of writers block. These are.
A Dedicated Workspace.
Have a separate study space in your home where you can shut the door and concentrate. Make your surroundings a place you want to be, no matter what. Organize your space how you want it. This is your space and nobody should be allowed to interrupt you while you are there Personalise your space with fresh flowers or a photo of a loved one or something that inspires you.
The Pomodoro Technique.
According to Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro technique’s creator, people are most productive in blocks of 25 minutes.
Don’t allow yourself to be disturbed for 25 minutes after setting the timer on your phone. Make all the necessary preparations so you can give your 25 minutes of work your full attention. There should be no phone calls, WeChat messages, or other social interruptions. After 25 minutes, take a 2 to 5 minute break from your job before starting over.
Work smarter, not harder.
Make it a Habit.
When you start to include writing as an everyday event you will miss writing once it has become an ingrained habit. At first, it is a chore then it becomes a discipline and eventually you will miss your ingrained habit if you don’t write every day.
The more you write the better you will get and the easier it will become. Ink will become the blood in your veins and you will miss writing if you don’t get your daily fix.
No Need to be Perfect
Give up on the idea of perfectionism. It will never happen and the time you waste trying to achieve said perfectionism will be better spent on writing another article, chapter, or blog for your website. With your first draft, you don’t even need to worry about spelling or grammar. There are now apps for checking your content like Quillbot and Grammarly.
Being a bit flawed also puts the humanity back into your content, so don’t be scared to be real.
Take a Break.
If you feel stuck, take a break. Read a book or have a coffee with friends and talk. And exercise. There is no greater help than going for a walk or doing some form of exercise to help the brain reset and refocus.
We can not be “on” every minute of the day. Some of the best ideas come when we are completely relaxed. and if you still feel stuck after this, choose a topic and write about it. It is a great way to kickstart your “content engine”
5 Tips For Overcoming Writers Block Video.
Final Thoughts.
Writing should be fun and it is ok to be flawed as we should be writing for progress, not perfection.
It is ok to be bored and to let the mind wander as recent research has found that “mind wandering or daydreaming is a highly engaged brain state that uses the same processes of the brain that foster imagination and creativity.”
Source; opencolleges.edu.au
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