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Have you ever figured out how to get unstuck from your writing obstacles? Check out a new no-charge video I’ve just created on the subject…
Are you the type of person who gets STUCK when you’re writing?
Being stuck can take many manifestations. It may mean:
- You feel consumed with guilt, fear and inadequacy, worrying that everyone else is a better writer than you’ll ever manage to be.
- You devote yourself to your research, always learning more information but never getting a word of your own onto the page.
- You become really good at doing everything else on your plate – your email inbox is at zero, your accounting is in terrific shape, heck, even your garage is well-organized.
- You put the writing out of your mind, never thinking about it until someone else brings it up.
For the last 20 years, I’ve worked to help writers from around the world get from stuck to unstuck — finally finishing their books, their dissertations or their otherwise long-ignored writing projects.
And I’ve recently produced an 8-minute video on getting unstuck. In fact, starting today, this video is a gift to anyone who signs up for my newsletter. (Regular subscribers will have received it via email. Look for a subject line reading “PW#898: How to get unstuck from your writing obstacles” and email me if you can’t find it.)
If you’re not a regular subscriber and you’re reading this post on my blog, please go here and enter your name and email address to receive a copy of the video.
If you want a quick peek at the content of the video, here are the first three minutes (481 words) of text…
The first thing you want to do is figure out WHY you’re stuck.
We’re all different people — with different personalities, different faces, different hair colours, different body types and, of course, different writing styles.
Over the last 40 years, I’ve helped thousands of writers understand their writing roadblocks.
Along the way, I’ve found there are some common challenges almost all writers face.
Incidentally, I started my professional life as a newspaper editor — and I was a really good one.
But I was also a troubled writer for some of that time, so I’m speaking from personal experience here, too.
Here are the nine main writing challenges I’ve either seen in others or experienced myself:
1-Lack of time:
If you’re overwhelmed with work, family responsibilities and other commitments, it can be really hard to find time for writing, and this can cause your project to stall.
2-Research overload:
You may get stuck in a cycle of excessive research, particularly if you’re doing academic writing or non-fiction work.
Either you LOVE your topic so much, you can’t seem to stop yourself. Or you hate writing so much, you use researching as a delay tactic.
3-A habit of procrastination:
Procrastination is just that — a habit. And if you’re in love with your cellphone or social media, it’s an especially hard habit to break.
4-Perfectionism:
If you’re overly critical of your own work, you may get caught in an endless cycle of editing and rewriting. If this is the case for you, recognize that the pursuit of perfection is your roadblock.
5- Blank-page syndrome:
If you find yourself staring at a blank page, unable to start writing or to generate ideas, you’re probably experiencing blank-page syndrome.
This can be the result of uncertainty about how to begin, lack of inspiration, or self-doubt about your abilities as a writer.
6-Mid-project block:
A mid-project block occurs when you get stuck in the middle of your work.
You feel unsure about the next steps to take, or you struggle with a lack of clarity and direction.
7- Worrying about rejection:
The threat of criticism or, worse, rejection from bosses, supervisors, editors, agents or reviewers can demotivate you and cause your project to stall.
The fear of negative feedback can hinder your progress and lead to a loss of self-confidence.
8-Burnout:
Working too hard and too long can lead to exhaustion, mental fatigue and a lack of creative energy.
9-Lack of motivation:
A creative slowdown or an inability to produce new work will leave you spinning your wheels.
You may feel as though you have no ideas, that there’s no point trying, or that some sort of mental barrier is preventing you from writing.
Do any of these nine challenges resonate with you? If so, you’re not alone, and I’m going to give you some suggestions for how to get yourself unstuck…
The rest of my video gives you five simple and concrete suggestions you can use to break through your writing problems. Again, this video is a gift to anyone who signs up for my newsletter. (Regular subscribers will have received it via email. Look for a subject line reading “PW#898: How to get unstuck from your writing obstacles” and email me if you can’t find it.)
If you’re not a regular subscriber and you’re just reading this post on my blog, please go here and enter your name and email address to receive a copy of the video.
Happy pain-free writing!
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My video podcast last week addressed how to deal with rejection. Go here to see the video or read the transcript, and you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.
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Need some help developing a better writing routine? Learn more about my Get It Done program. There is turn-over each month, and priority will go to those who have applied first. You can go directly to the application form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours.
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How do you get unstuck from your writing obstacles? We can all learn from each other so, please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the “comments” section below. Anyone who comments on today’s post (or any others) by July 31/23 will be entered in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. To enter, please scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the “related posts” links, below. Note that you don’t have to join Disqus to post. See here to learn how to post as a guest. It’s easy!
