I've been giving myself a hard time about not meeting my writing goals over the last few months. As you may know, I've been working on a comedic fantasy novel (I did a podcast episode about it on Writing Club).
This book's been my passion project, something I spend hours daydreaming about and making Pinterest boards based on, so I was stumped by why I couldn't just find it in me to…write. It felt bizarre needing to strong-arm myself into doing the thing that's supposed to be my passion.
Change Your Space
I recently posted a reel about the Cathedral Effect which suggests that open spaces with high ceilings increase your abstract thinking and creativity.
Whether this works for you or not, sometimes just changing your space helps you to change your mindset into focus-mode.
If you work in public (e.g. libraries, coffee shops, or even with your friends) you might also feel less inclined to scroll on your phone.
Read Your Last Good Page
I tried out Stephen King’s writing routine and found a lot in there that I liked. One thing that stood out was that he revises his last good page at the start of each writing session. This helps to immerse you into your story’s world and it feels a little more gentle than abruptly sitting down and writing 1K words right off the bat.
You can hear more about my experience trying King’s writing routine on Writing Club. Here's a link to the episode.
Freewriting
Often when we say we have writer's block, we mean we can't write anything good. Freewriting takes some of the pressure off. The goal isn't to write something great, it's just to write…something.
You can use a website like writeordie.com (it's only for the brave – it deletes your work if you pause for too long) or cowards like me can just open a Google Doc, set a timer, and write anything you want. No pressure.
Take a Break
Hard if you’ve got deadlines, but for many of us, writing is a hobby. Creative burnout is real.
Of course results require work, but I don’t think we should be punishing ourselves with our own hobby. Sometimes all it takes for inspiration to come back is a gentle step back.
Definitely balance this with a healthy level of discipline, but know that breaks are normal and often very necessary. They also help you to approach your work with fresh eyes when you’re ready.
For more tips that helped me with my writer's block, you can listen to the whole episode here. If podcasts aren't your thing, grab these freebies:
