Dealing with Writer's Block

I truly believe that writer's block can be seperated into two distinct categories:

1. Resistence

2. Fear

3. Motivation

Dealing with Resistence

Resistence can come from a variety of things, but it's often when the creative and the creation don't align. This could be from a plot moving too slowly, characters acting out of the ordinary, or even a sentence that doesn't seem right. With things not moving in the direction that we expect (and we always expect things to move in a direction, regardless of if we know where they will go), we find ourselves subconciously disapproving or pulling back from the unexpected. There are also cases that we resist even the creative process entirely; these cases often have additional reasoning aside from simple resistence, which involves additional tactics to go through.

Tips for dealing with Resistence

1. When was the last time you enjoyed writing? Was there a certain scene that you loved to write? Find that scene and reread it, and then, slowly, move forward in reading the parts afterwards. Look specifically for points in your manuscript that may be too slow, characters that no longer seem to be 'working' or other parts of the story that aren't 'right'. Finding these points may reveal that you're resisting writing because your goal is no longer being met in terms of content, and rereading them can affirm the resistence before you correct it.

2. If you're resisting your main project, take a break from what you're working on. Often times, we can find ourselves resisting the work we want to do simply because we are tired of it. Write a scene from a different's characters perspective, think over a backstory, or play with a new setting. Find something you're excited about and begin to write again. Even if you don't work on the main project, writing will help you to stretch your muscles and keep you in the habit.

Dealing with Fear

Fear is a huge motivator, either in the positive or the negative. Our brains wish to keep us safe, and if something feels dangerous, we will naturally shy away from it. Fear in writing can come from the unknown, expectations we don't want to miss, and even the worry of what we are supposed to be doing. Just like resistence, something feels off, but this time it feels more serious and often results in a lack of desire for any creation.

Tips for dealing with Fear

1. If you can identify the fear, you can actively work against it through self-talk and gentle practice. Often, fear will come from our lack of experiance or assumption of what will happen. It's okay to be afraid of the unknown! Take a few deep breaths and find some trusted friends or family. Speak to them of these worries, even if you feel that it's silly. Speaking those fears aloud is the first step to understanding and accepting that there is something that bothers you, and that in itself can help you move forward in conquering those fears.

2. Find a safe creative outlet, and slowly move into the writing. Trauma or hurt can cause us to stop creating as we process, and stepping into a once familiar space may no longer feel safe. Writing is very intimate and is often tied with emotions; stepping into that space after experiancing an upheaval in your life could very well come with fear that writing isn't a safe activity at the time. Start with something small with a treat at the end. Baking, drawing, singing, making music, or moving your body (even walking can open these pathways!) are all excellent ways to retrain your brain into trusting the creative process again. If it doesn't help, don't feel like a failure. This process takes time as it's just like healing an injury. Be kind to yourself!

Dealing with Motivation

Sometimes, you simply don't want to write. Seasons come and go, and that's okay. The frustration that comes from a lack of motivation is entirely understandable, though, and sometimes it can help to identify and try to move around that issue through a variety of other tactics.

Tips for Dealing with Motivation

1. Figure out what type of motivation best suits you. Simply Psychology  breaks motivation into two categories, and various subcategories from there. Personally, I am motivated by external means, such as people around me and the sociality expectations. Others may be motivated internally. The moment you discover what motivates you means you can find ways to motivate yourself. If, for example, you are motivated by external means, people telling you they're excited about your project is more likely to help you want to sit and write than if you were to convince yourself that you'll enjoy the project.

2. Set up your space for success. Change your enviroment for your writing space, and keep it dedicated to writing as best you can. Perhaps you light a candle while you write, or you turn on a specific playlist. Wiring your brain to understanding that sitting in a certain place means you are going to write can help motivation as you begin to grow excited about what you're doing.

3. Find a hype group! Support systems are everything, even if it's a parent, spouse, or child. Let them know you're working on a project and ask them to help encourage you. Having people around you to uplift you can act as sounding board and cheerleaders, and everyone needs those!

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