Around the Writer's Block

1. Recognize and Understand Writer's Resistance

"Resistance is normal. It's not comfortable, but it is normal. Resistance is part of the writing life."

Resistance is universal. All writers experience some form of resistance, regardless of their experience or success level. It manifests in various ways, including:

• Writer's block
• Procrastination
• Perfectionism
• Distraction
• Hypercriticism
• Denial and excessive optimism
• Overscheduling

Neurological basis. Resistance often stems from a limbic system takeover, where the brain's emotional center overrides the rational, creative cortex. This survival mechanism can interfere with writing, as the brain perceives the act of writing as a potential threat.

Awareness is key. Recognizing resistance as a normal part of the writing process is the first step in overcoming it. By understanding its origins and manifestations, writers can develop strategies to work through resistance and maintain their creative momentum.

2. Develop Three Key Habits: Process, Product Time, and Self-Care

"The three habits I encourage you to cultivate are Process, Product Time, and Self-Care."

Process: Creative play. Engage in activities that put you in a creative flow without expectations of outcomes. This could include:

• Freewriting
• Doodling
• Listening to music
• Coloring

Product Time: Focused writing. Dedicate time specifically for writing-related tasks, including:

• Drafting
• Researching
• Editing
• Outlining

Self-Care: Nurture yourself. Prioritize activities that support your overall well-being:

• Adequate sleep
• Regular exercise
• Meditation
• Time for focused attention
• Play and relaxation

By consistently practicing these three habits, writers can create a sustainable and enjoyable writing life. The key is to start small, with commitments of 15-30 minutes per day for each habit, and gradually build up as they become ingrained in your routine.

3. Harness the Power of Neuroplasticity to Overcome Resistance

"Neurons that fire together, wire together."

Brain adaptability. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to form new neural connections and reorganize itself throughout life. This means that writers can literally rewire their brains to reduce resistance and enhance creativity.

Creating new pathways. By consistently practicing writing habits and rituals, you strengthen the neural pathways associated with writing. Over time, this makes the act of writing feel more natural and less daunting.

Overcoming old patterns. While ingrained habits can be difficult to break, neuroplasticity allows for the creation of new, more beneficial patterns. This means that even long-standing resistance can be overcome with persistent effort and the right strategies.

4. Create Rituals and Routines to Support Your Writing Practice

"Writers have long known the power of ritual to reduce anxiety, increase confidence, and initiate and sustain their writing."

Personalized rituals. Develop writing rituals that work for you, such as:

• Lighting a candle before writing
• Using a specific pen or notebook
• Writing at a particular time of day
• Listening to certain music

Neurological benefits. Rituals help create neural associations between specific cues and the act of writing. This can make it easier to transition into a writing state of mind.

Consistency is key. Regular routines help reinforce the habit of writing and reduce resistance over time. Aim to write at consistent times and in consistent places to strengthen these neural pathways.

5. Track Progress and Reward Yourself to Reinforce Good Habits

"Recording also increases your awareness, motivation and the likelihood of repeating the desired behavior."

Keep a writing log. Track your writing activities, including:

• Time spent writing
• Words or pages produced
• Goals achieved
• Challenges faced

Celebrate small wins. Reward yourself for meeting your writing commitments, no matter how small. This could include:

• Treating yourself to a favorite snack
• Taking a short break to do something enjoyable
• Adding a gold star to your calendar

Reinforce neural pathways. Tracking and rewarding progress activates the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine and strengthening the neural connections associated with writing.

6. Identify and Combat the Saboteur Within

"The Saboteur is never going to go away."

Recognize the Saboteur. The Saboteur is the internal voice that undermines your writing efforts. It can take various forms:

• The Attacker (harsh critic)
• The Enticer (procrastination enabler)
• The Protector (fear of failure)
• The Innocent (feigned helplessness)
• The Unlucky (victim mentality)

Saboteur characteristics:

• Always lies
• Never satisfied
• Targets vulnerabilities
• Persistent

Combat strategies:

• Recognize Saboteur thoughts
• Don't engage or argue
• Refocus on your writing goals
• Practice self-compassion

7. Implement the Four Steps to Resolve Resistance

"Recognizing and relaxing wasn't a mutiny; you don't need to throw your limbic system off the bus. You want a whole-brain solution that comes with getting your limbic system and cortex to cooperate."

Four-step process:

1. Recognize resistance when it appears
2. Relax to disengage the fight-or-flight response
3. Respect the wisdom behind the resistance
4. Redirect energy towards writing

Practical application:

• Identify resistance symptoms (procrastination, anxiety, etc.)
• Use relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation)
• Explore the underlying concerns behind resistance
• Refocus on small, manageable writing tasks

Whole-brain approach. By addressing both the emotional (limbic) and rational (cortex) aspects of resistance, writers can create a more harmonious and productive writing practice.

8. Embrace the Journey to Writing Mastery

"The only way to achieve mastery in your writing is to practice. You have to show up and keep showing up day after day, no matter what."

10,000-hour rule. Malcolm Gladwell's concept suggests that mastery requires approximately 10,000 hours of dedicated practice.

Progressive improvement. Writing mastery is a continuous journey, not a destination. Each writing session contributes to your growth as a writer.

Neurological changes. As you accumulate writing experience, your brain adapts:

• Increased efficiency in processing writing-related tasks
• Enhanced ability to see patterns and solve writing problems
• Greater activation of both brain hemispheres during writing

Persistence pays off. Consistent practice, even in small daily increments, leads to significant improvement over time. Focus on showing up regularly rather than achieving perfection in each session.

9. Build a Supportive Writing Community

"Allies can give you encouragement, inspiration, ideas, suggestions, acknowledgment and validation."

Benefits of community:

• Accountability
• Emotional support
• Constructive feedback
• Shared knowledge and resources

Finding writing allies:

• Join or form a writer's group
• Participate in online writing forums
• Attend writing workshops or conferences
• Connect with other writers on social media

Effective group dynamics:

• Set clear expectations
• Establish regular check-ins
• Provide constructive, respectful feedback
• Celebrate each other's successes

By cultivating a supportive writing community, you create a network that can help you overcome resistance, stay motivated, and continue growing as a writer.

Last updated: November 16, 2024