Coffee and writing
Revised 12-06-2021
Writer’s block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. This creative stall is not a result of commitment problems or the lack of writing skills.
Common causes of writer’s block
The reasons for your block may vary, but some common ones include:
- Timing: It’s simply not the right time to write. Your ideas may need to stew a little longer before writing them down.
- Fear: Many writers struggle with being afraid, with putting their ideas (and themselves) out there for everyone to see and critique. Fear is a major reason some writers never become writers.
- Perfectionism: You want everything to be just right before you ever put pen to paper or touch a keyboard. You try to get it perfect in your head and never do, so you never begin. To help you through this, we created Don’t Hit Publish. It’s a free tool that tells you if your blog post is good enough to publish and also give you tips on how to improve it.
So how do we vanquish this enemy?
It’s a tough question to answer, and I’m afraid I don’t have a great solution. I’ve wrestled with writer’s block on many occasions, and each victory looked different.
That’s the thing about writing: it’s an art, not a science. And you’ll have to approach it as such. There is no formulaic fix, no “7 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer Now.”
Except one. But you already know what it is: Start hacking away. Begin trying stuff. Sometimes, the quirkier, the better. The trick is find something that works for you.
Creative solutions to writer’s block
Here are a few ideas to help you work through your creative constipation:
- Go for a walk.
- Eliminate distractions (I use Ommwriter to focus on just writing).
- Do something to get your blood flowing. (I like running.)
- Play. (My personal preference is LEGOS.)
- Change your environment.
- Read a book.
- Freewrite.
- Listen to music (try classical or jazz to mix it up).
- Brew some coffee (my personal favorite).
- Create a routine. Many famous writers have daily routines to summon the Muse.
- Spend time with someone who makes you feel good.
- Call an old friend.
- Brainstorm ideas in bullet points.
- Read some inspiring quotes to get you started.
The possibilities are endless, but movement is critical. You need to generate momentum to get out of your funk.
Once you start heading in a direction, it’s easier to pick up speed. And before you know it, your block will be a distant memory and you’ll be doing what you once thought impossible. You’ll be writing.
How to not overcome writer’s block
And just for fun, here are some anti-solutions to this problem:
- You do not overcome writer’s block by refusing to write until you feel “inspired.”
- You do not overcome writer’s block by wallowing in self-pity.
- You do not overcome writer’s block by procrastinating or making excuses.
- You do not overcome writer’s block by watching TV.
- You do not overcome writer’s block by reading articles on how to overcome writer’s block. (Kinda shot myself in the foot there, huh?)
The Book – It all started with a conversation with my daughter about writing a book. Little did i know that she would buy the “Writing the damn book” as a gift for the holidays.
Nonfiction is any document or media content that intends, in good faith, to present only truth and accuracy regarding information, events, or people. Nonfictional content may be presented either objectively or subjectively.
I will write the book, let many people told me to do. The photograph below is of a painting called “The Book” by Robert Louie aka Robert DelPara. Another mentor of mine Steve Greer also encouraged me to write a book.
Why?
Writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.
–Charles Bukowski
It happens to every writer. It’s inevitable. Your prose has turned to mush, you don’t have a creative bone left in your body, and you want to throw in the towel.
Common causes of writer’s block
The reasons for your block may vary, but some common ones include:
Timing: It’s simply not the right time to write. Your ideas may need to stew a little longer before writing them down.
Fear: Many writers struggle with being afraid, with putting their ideas (and themselves) out there for everyone to see and critique. Fear is a major reason some writers never become writers.
Perfectionism: You want everything to be just right before you ever put pen to paper or touch a keyboard. You try to get it perfect in your head and never do, so you never begin. To help you through this, we created Don’t Hit Publish. It’s a free tool that tells you if your blog post is good enough to publish and also give you tips on how to improve it.
So how do we vanquish this enemy?
It’s a tough question to answer, and I’m afraid I don’t have a great solution. I’ve wrestled with writer’s block on many occasions, and each victory looked different.
That’s the thing about writing: it’s an art, not a science. And you’ll have to approach it as such. There is no formulaic fix, no “7 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer Now.”
Except one. But you already know what it is: Start hacking away. Begin trying stuff. Sometimes, the quirkier, the better. The trick is find something that works for you.
Creative solutions to writer’s block
Here are a few ideas to help you work through your creative constipation:
Go for a walk.
Eliminate distractions (I use Ommwriter to focus on just writing).
Do something to get your blood flowing. (I like running.)
Play. (My personal preference is LEGOS.)
Change your environment.
Read a book.
Free write.
Listen to music (try classical or jazz to mix it up).
Brew some coffee (my personal favorite).
Create a routine. Many famous writers have daily routines to summon the Muse.
Spend time with someone who makes you feel good.
Call an old friend.
Brainstorm ideas in bullet points.
Read some inspiring quotes to get you started.
The possibilities are endless, but movement is critical. You need to generate momentum to get out of your funk.
Once you start heading in a direction, it’s easier to pick up speed. And before you know it, your block will be a distant memory and you’ll be doing what you once thought impossible. You’ll be writing.
How to not overcome writer’s block
And just for fun, here are some anti-solutions to this problem:
You do not overcome writer’s block by refusing to write until you feel “inspired.”
You do not overcome writer’s block by wallowing in self-pity.
You do not overcome writer’s block by procrastinating or making excuses.
You do not overcome writer’s block by watching TV.
You do not overcome writer’s block by reading articles on how to overcome writer’s block. (Kinda shot myself in the foot there, huh?)
how-to-overcome-writers-block
On the street in Aug 26,2021
Black and white photograph of a writer drinking coffee on a quite morning, not many people still use pen and pencil to write, I wondered what she is writing.
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