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There’s No Such Thing As Writer’s Block

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I used to be the Queen Procrastinating Writer. I claimed writer’s block for years. I used it as an excuse not to do the writing I knew I wanted to be doing.

But once I finally dug deeper into what was really going on, I was able to make a discovery: there’s no such thing as writers block.

Writers Block is actually a surface problem. The roots go much deeper.

NY Times Bestselling Author, Jerry Jenkins, has narrowed down exactly where “Writer’s Block” comes from:

  1. Fear
  2. Procrastination
  3. Perfectionism
  4. Distractions

In his article, How To Overcome Writer’s Block Once and For All, he shares his solutions for dealing with these four underlying issues that bring about “Writer’s Block.”

>> Read the article here

Jerry has written and published 190 books!! Twenty-one of which have been NY Times Bestsellers. If there’s anyone who can help you overcome your struggle with the underlying issues that cause “Writer’s Block,” it’s him.

How do you deal with Writer’s Block? Share in the comments. 

How To Navigate An Episode of Writer’s Block

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This is a guest post from David Villalva of StoryandCraft.net 

I look like a rabid beast when I dance.

My legs twitch. Elbows fly. Hips don’t lie.

What’s crazy is that I actually feel the music. Unfortunately, my feeling translates into body movement that could hurt someone. Enter the dance floor at your own risk.

Also, I look stupid dancing. I hate looking stupid. So I don’t dance anymore. Never loved it. Don’t miss it.

But get this, my writing looks really stupid sometimes. Except I could never give it up. I’d miss it too much.

I love writing. I get to create new worlds and people. I love rearranging words, even punctuation. Yep, I’m a writing geek.

Maybe you’re a writing geek, too?

If that’s the case, why do we still get stuck with Writer’s Block?

Mind Games

If you’ve never experienced Writer’s Block, drop a comment below and tell me how your prevented it. I’m not kidding, I need your counsel.

For all others, you’re not alone when your creativity hits this road block.

Ever sat down for butt-in-chair time, fired up your computer and experienced any of this:

  • Just stared at a blank screen?
  • Wrote several sentences, but immediately deleted them all?
  • Suddenly decided to search the Internet for just one important thing?
  • Re-read previous writing, only to reinforce the Writer’s Block?

Writer’s Block deserves an immunization every few weeks. You can find plenty of cures out there with a quick Google search.

Common Cures:

There are many more out there and they contain great advice. But I suggest we need to know exactly what we’re curing before applying these prescriptions.

Why do we still get stuck when we have all these resources so quickly available? What does Writer’s Block stem from?

The Underlying Cause of Writer’s Block

For most people, Writer’s Block blossoms from one initial thing — Fear. This whole creative writing thing is a major head game.

The fear is there to try and keep you safe. It often manifests itself with these questions:

  • What if I can’t translate my ideas onto the page?
  • What if I get them onto the screen, but my writing looks like David’s dancing?
  • What if people read my creation, and hate it?
  • What if my newest stuff doesn’t live up to previous writing?
  • What if I can never write as good as published authors?

Our doubts lead us to lose confidence in our ability to produce new artwork. Most storytellers want their writing to connect with people. But if we can’t connect with our own writing, how will it ever connect with others?

Dance With the Fear

Seth Godin said we need to learn how to “dance with the fear.” That doesn’t mean you must accept that your writing will suck. I’m also not telling you to just get over it.

I’m encouraging you to embrace the fear, and dance with it. Even when it makes you look stupid. Or really stupid.

I stopped writing several times while creating this very article. I paused to ask myself:

  • Does anyone really care about the words I’m writing?
  • Am I the only one who feels this way?
  • Will I look stupid?

I believe the fear is confirmation that we’re creating something worth stressing about.

You know that creating something new allows it be judged someday. People may point at it. Call it names. Laugh at it. That’s scary as hell.

But assuming you love to create like I do, there’s really no other choice.

You must continue to create with the fear at your side, knowing that it wants you to stop. Because it knows your creation could become something some day.

Something people may point at with pride. Calling it artwork. Smiling with it.

That’s worth dancing for.

So acknowledge fears existence and continue to create when it gets in your head.

I recognize it’s easier to say and hear than actually process and implement. But it needs to be said and heard more often. I wish someone would have screamed it louder when I began my writing journey.

It Never Ends

Some people may interpret this approach as empowering our insecurities. I look at it as a coexistence.

The fear will likely remain no matter what so why not bear-hug it before it drop-kicks you in the Spacebars?

Moving forward, I’m hoping you know where to look first when Writer’s Block hits. Don’t look for an Internet free writing app or a better playlist. Look inside the Why?

The fear can’t be killed forever so I recommend you agree to (slow) dance with it. Then go through the fire by writing and creating something (even if it looks stupid).

Just know that I won’t call it stupid. Nope, not me. Because even I’m dancing again.

The next time you experience Writer’s Block, put on your protective dancing gear and ask yourself these questions:

  1. Am I not writing because of an unproductive fear-based thought?
  2. Am I committed to dancing with the fear and going through the fire?
  3. Can I continue by writing something today, even if it looks stupid?

Share With Us

How do you dance with your fears?

 About the Author: David Villalva supports aspiring, structured novelists by sharing visual   blueprints, case studies and articles. His eBook, The Storytelling Blueprint, illustrates the plot formula used in Bestselling novels. Get it for free at: http://storyandcraft.net/

Main image courtesy of Andrew Smith

How A Tragedy Inspired Me To Hit “Publish”

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One year ago today, I lost someone who meant a lot to me—my business mentor, Jeff Newland. A man who was as kind as he was inspiring. He was the first person who made me feel like I could create value for other people by focusing on doing the things I love.

At the time I was working on my new book—a project I’d had in mind for awhile, but hadn’t finished. I was almost a month past the initial launch date, because I just didn’t have the confidence to put it out there.

The month was winding down and I knew it was time to step up, finish the book and publish it. Then tragedy struck.

Jeff was found, shot dead in a corn field.

My world came to a halt. Everything I was doing no longer had meaning. All the projects I was working on I didn’t care about anymore.

Except my book. But I just couldn’t bring myself to finish it.

So I let it sit on my computer, collecting virtual dust.

Then a few months ago a thought occurred to me—if Jeff was still here, he’d be yelling at me for not having finished and published my book.

And so I finished it.

Creativity-on-Command-v5-1-2Creative On Command: Instant Inspiration Exactly When You Need It

In honor of my late mentor, today I’m so excited to share that my new book is now available on Kindle! 

Let’s get something straight—this book is different than other books on creativity and writer’s block you may have read. The foundational belief in this book is that creative energy comes from within, and that when you nourish yourself and your creativity, you’ll be unstoppable as a writer.

“If you’re finding yourself blocked or looking for ways to squeeze out some more creativity, I would recommend this book.”—J.J. Heiney

It’s easy to believe all the advice out there about how you have to “find the time of day that you’re most creative” or “skip your writing session when you’re feeling blocked.” But that’s a bunch of hooey.

There is absolutely a way for you to have direct access to your creative well at all times, and to turn your creativity on instantly, whenever you need it.

This guide will help you become creative on command, by revealing:

  • How to eat for the things writers need most—energy, clarity and focus
  • The movement you can do to get unstuck and into a creative flow
  • Routines you can create to nourish your creativity daily

>> Grab Your Copy of Creative On Command

“This book helped me see creativity in a whole new light. My writing is significantly better because of it.”—Heather R.

How To Access Your Creativity On-Demand

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So you finally did it. You’ve freed up time in your schedule for writing. Except now you’re stuck.

Every time you sit down to put words on the page, a million other things become so much more important—cleaning the house, decluttering, watching TV. You find yourself saying:

  • I’m too tired
  • I have other things to do
  • I’m out of ideas
  • I’m too stressed
  • I have no focus

You think you’re blocked, but those are just excuses. And there’s a lot more to it than that.

A lot of times, what’s really keeping you stuck is you’re not doing two important things:

  1. Nourishing yourself
  2. Nourishing your creativity

You were born a creative being—we all were—but somewhere along the line, you lost connection to that innate creativity, the kind you can turn on whenever you want.

Nourishing Yourself

You are the core source of your creativity, which means you need to nourish yourself and fuel your body with things that are good for you.

Start by looking at your food. Are you eating a balanced diet or are you eating junk all the time?

What you eat determines how you’re going to feel every day—tired, rundown and lethargic or energized, clear and focused. The choice is yours.

Don’t believe that food changes everything? Just take a look at the word Creativity—it has ‘eat’ right in it.

When you’re fueling your body with the right foods, you’ll feel great and you’ll have what you need to put words on the page. No more feeling blocked.

To get started nourishing yourself, here are some things you can do:

  • Eat Breakfast—this one meal sets up your entire day
  • Carry Power Snacks—things like nuts or fruit make an easy snack that will keep you feeling energized
  • Get Rid of the Junk—remove processed foods from your diet, all they do is junk up your creative juices

Nourishing Your Creativity

Being able to access your creativity whenever you want also requires you to spend time nourishing the creative part of yourself. When you build creativity into your daily life, it will make it easy to be instantly creative.

The only difference between a person who’s super creative and a person who feels like she doesn’t have a creative bone in her body is this: the super creative person has made being creative a habit. You can do the same thing.

When you’re in the habit of creativity, it will come as naturally to you as breathing. And then when you have a problem to solve, need an idea or are looking for inspiration, it will be right at your fingertips.

Here are some things you can do to nourish your creativity:

  • Maintain A Creative Practice—the more regularly you use your creativity, the more it will become second nature to you
  • Morning Pages—created by Julia Cameron, Morning Pages are three hand-written, stream-of-consciousness pages you write first thing in the morning before you do anything else. This practice will help unblock you so your creativity can flow freely
  • Add In Some Self-Care—sleep, sex, taking a bubble bath, watching a movie, laughing … anything that makes you feel awesome counts as self-care. When you add self-care into your life, you’ll fill your creative well to the tippy top so it’s always ready to spill over.

When you combine nourishing yourself with nourishing your creativity, you’ll unlock the door to being creative on command.

Image courtesy of Tanya

5 Ways to Boost Your Creative Juices Using Your Nose

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This is a guest post from blogger Cindy Coons. I asked her to write this post after she approached me with the idea of using scents to unblock yourself and get inspired to write again. Cindy is going to share her top 5 scents for helping you to boost your creative juices. Enjoy!–jen

By Cindy Coons

As a relatively new writer, I have been thinking about various ways to get the proverbial juices flowing. Many writers use certain triggers to create ambiance for the perfect masterpiece. They will listen to music that assists in the flow of their words.

Others will write with a specific pen. The touch of it provides assurance that there are hidden words in there just waiting to be released. Still others need set the stage, whether the beach, or in a park or in the mountains so when they look up, they can see their words come alive in front of them.

Some of my favorite writers are those who eat chocolate or drink a special tea or coffee to extract the creative juices. As a lover of essential oils I started thinking, hearing, tasting, seeing, touching….what about scenting? As in scenting your writing space?!

Making Sense of Smelling

Part of the reason people may go to the beach or hang out at their local bakery or cafe isn’t just that it makes them happy or the food is really good.

Unknowing to most, the sense of smell, seemingly so innocent, is amazingly one of the most mind-altering. It is one of our most primal senses, so we often dismiss it’s abilities and focus on the other senses to get us through the day.

So the questions remains, can the sense of smell be the key that unlocks the creative part of your brain?

Without going into too much science, when you smell something, it travels up your nose through some 50,000,000 receptor cells, hits the olfactory bulb and is translated into a message. The message can be transcribed differently based on your genetics.

During translation, the smell affects your limbic system, which has a direct and indirect influence on so many of our body systems, such as the regulation of the fight-or-flight and stress response, as well as behavior and motivation.

So, can certain scents can affect the way you feel, how motivated you are, as well as reduce your stress and perhaps unlock amazing ideas hidden in your head? Yes!

5 Scents for Boosting Your Creative Juicing

1. Linguistically Gifted Lavender

If you are having trouble getting your words out, lavender is the queen of oils. Lavender is the oil of communication, and by diffusing this oil, you will open up your ability to get the words out, as well as decrease your stress associated with not being able to write. It helps to unleash your innermost thoughts and feelings, allowing you to connect with your true self.

2. Lift Up Your Spirits Lemon

Besides smelling like a Starburst, lemon oil is the oil of Focus. If you are having a tough time sitting down and writing, or you have a deadline you have to meet, lemon is your go-to oil.

Lemon will help to clear out the self-judgment that oftentimes holds you back from living up to your true writing potential. It also helps to balance mental fatigue and restore your energy.

I call it sunshine in a bottle! Vitamin D has nothing over lemon oil.

3. Believe In Yourself Bergamot

If you tend to be overly judgmental about your writing or are having a tough time being optimistic about how amazing your writing will be, you need some bergamot oil. More commonly known at the flavor in Earl Grey tea, bergamot is the oil of self-acceptance.

It will awaken your emotions of hope, love, and help give you confidence in yourself.

4. Peppermint the Powerhouse

Similar to bergamot, peppermint oil will help you get past yourself. This oil brings joy and light to your heart and soul.

It has the power to invigorate, stimulate and help keep you awake!

If you are in need of something as an afternoon pick-me-up to keep writing, peppermint is your go-to oil.

This is also a great oil to diffuse during brainstorming sessions, as it will allow your memories to be recalled easier.

5. Wealthy and Wise Wild Orange

Last, but certainly not least, is one of my favorites, and what I am diffusing as I write this blog post, wild orange. Orange is the oil of Abundance.

If you need to spark your creative juices, and want to believe in spontaneity, fun and joy, diffuse wild orange oil. This will help inspire you to solve writing problems, such as how to start a chapter or figuring out the perfect ending be.

Wild orange oil gives you confidence that you have the answer inside just waiting to come out.

Whenever you feel stuck or like you’re not writing up to your potential, use these common scents to get your juices flowing!

Share With Us

Have you ever used essential oils? What was your experience like? If not, which scent are you most interested in trying?

About the Author: Cindy Coons is a corporate convert, natural healthcare advocate, mother, wife, lmt and overall free spirit trying to find her way in the world and share her gifts. She is currently working on her first book. She believes anything is possible and she enjoys educating and mentoring others on how to achieve the naturally abundant life they always dreamed of. Cindy lives in Rochester, NY with her family. You can follow her at http://cindysessentials.com or https://www.facebook.com/cindy.coons.714. She personally recommends that you use doTERRA CPTG Essential Oils.

Image courtesy of Dennis Wong