“If I waited for perfectionism, I would never write a word.” – Margaret Atwood
Welcome to Episode 44: Ready To Kill That Blinking Cursor Nightmare?
It’s inevitable … it happens to every creative writer on this glorious planet! All our creative bones are feeling brittle, and we sometimes feel as though it’s time to throw in the towel! Including my team and I some days!
Writer’s block isn’t quite what you think. It is not a medical condition. It is not a disease. And it is definitely not a virus that takes control of your overall creative process and juices, rendering you useless and feeling stressed. The truth of the matter is … writer’s block doesn’t actually exist. (Shocked, right?!)
Basically, a brick wall that we’ve built -- which is actually made of air, not bricks. (Ha ha!) And when we are in full belief that this wall is standing tall and up-right (really just a lie we tell ourselves when our creativity is low or on staycation), it becomes real. Like really real! And when we are feeling that mind block, we then become actually creatively blocked.
Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ...
Are you ready?
Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!
“If I waited for perfectionism, I would never write a word.” – Margaret Atwood
Welcome to Episode 44: Ready To Kill That Blinking Cursor Nightmare?
It’s inevitable … it happens to every creative writer on this glorious planet! All our creative bones are feeling brittle, and we sometimes feel as though it’s time to throw in the towel! Including my team and I some days!
Writer’s block isn’t quite what you think. It is not a medical condition. It is not a disease. And it is definitely not a virus that takes control of your overall creative process and juices, rendering you useless and feeling stressed. The truth of the matter is … writer’s block doesn’t actually exist. (Shocked, right?!)
Basically, a brick wall that we’ve built -- which is actually made of air, not bricks. (Ha ha!) And when we are in full belief that this wall is standing tall and up-right (really just a lie we tell ourselves when our creativity is low or on staycation), it becomes real. Like really real! And when we are feeling that mind block, we then become actually creatively blocked.
Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ...
Are you ready?
Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!
It’s inevitable … it happens to every creative writer on this glorious planet! All our creative bones are feeling brittle, and we sometimes feel as though it’s time to throw in the towel! Including my team and I some days! What’s funny -- in its own sort of way -- is that I have been pondering for days on what to share with you in today’s special episode. I had a sort of “writer’s block” while trying to write notes about what to talk about when it comes to writer’s block. LOL!
Writer’s block isn’t quite what you think. It is not a medical condition. It is not a disease. And it is definitely not a virus that takes control of your overall creative process and juices, rendering you useless and feeling stressed. The truth of the matter is … writer’s block doesn’t actually exist. (Shocked, right?!) Well, not really. It is a “condition” (for lack of a better word) that exists entirely in our mind. Basically, a brick wall that we’ve built -- which is actually made of air, not bricks. (Ha ha!) And when we are in full belief that this wall is standing tall and up-right (really just a lie we tell ourselves when our creativity is low or on staycation), it becomes real. Like really real! And when we are feeling that mind block, we then become actually creatively blocked.
So, if you’ve ever felt like your writer’s block wall is slowly creeping up on you, remember to pause and take a deep breath, as this is more than likely what is really going on in that pretty mind of yours …
Okay, so now that you know this block is a figment of your wildly creative imagination, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of it and keep on your streak. Well, while struggling with my own writer’s block, I came across some really great “getting unstuck” tips n’ tricks to rid of that cursed writer’s block. So, let’s kill that nightmare of the blinking cursor, together …
TIP #1: STEP AWAY AND GO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE.
The key here is to keep exercising the creative part of your brain and eventually you’ll be able to tap back into the flow of writing.
TIP #2: ELIMINATE ALL DISTRACTIONS.
Yes, all distractions! Turn off your phone and your constantly beeping email. Even unplug yourself from the internet if you must. “Marie Kondo” up your workspace (a cluttered space can put your mind in a state of confusion). And truly carve out some time in your day just for writing. Giving yourself some time and space to be in solitude is important to staying focused. Personally, I try to do this at a minimum twice per week, as kind of a writing staycation.
TIP #3: TRY USING A DIFFERENT WRITING TOOL (OR STYLE).
It may seem silly at first but sometimes it’s the small changes that make all the difference -- and make writing interesting again. For instance, I always write at my desktop. I figured I paid huge bucks for it and created myself a nice workspace that I “should” be working in and on that space often as humanly possible.
However, when I ran into a few instances where my desktop had to be rushed to the “computer hospital” -- it gave me a whole new love for my other devices. Different device, different environment and feeling like my creative flow is just that … flowing like crazy!
That being said, if you don’t have the option of a secondary device, you could always try switching platforms. For example, if you usually write in Microsoft Word, try writing in GoogleDocs, or perhaps directly in your WordPress page post. Or if you like things the way they are as it’s in your comfort zone and you’re not quite ready to step out of it yet, then just try changing up your font style and size.
TIP #4: WRITE FOR YOURSELF FOR A CHANGE.
Quit it with the pre-thought-out post topics. (I’m very bad for this one as I tend to organize my writing thoughts 3-months ahead of time -- in case of those extra busy weeks). Sometimes this can suck the joy of writing right out of yah! And because, sometimes you just need to write about, what you want to write about. Even if it doesn’t fit in with your regular style. Just get it off your chest, why don’t yah?!
TIP #5: TAKE A MOMENT TO RE-READ YOUR BEST WORK.
Your talent didn’t go anywhere. It’s still inside you. You just need a little reminder (and perhaps a swift kick in the butt)!
… If you’re anything like me, there’s been a handful of times where you sat down to write your upcoming piece of content, to find yourself just staring blankly at your screen. Your Word doc is empty and you’re scouring your brain for the words you’re looking to spit out onto the page. But your brain is literally a pile of mashed potatoes, and you feel as though you don’t have a creative bone in your body! You’re ready to throw in the towel! Well, as a bit of in-your-face inspiration from someone super amazing and creative once said to me …
“Don’t think about the writing process too much.
Just do one thing: tell the motherfucking story.”
This is something that every writer struggles with from time to time. You could feel this mind block from things such as fear of putting your ideas to paper (virtual paper that is), perfectionism (wanting to get everything just right -- perfect in your head first), procrastination, or maybe you feel the timing just isn’t right and you need to let your ideas stew. I guess what I’m getting at here is … it’s really not about having said writer’s block BUT how you overcome it …!
Now of course there are endless solutions to overcoming this painful issue of which I like to call the “nightmare of the blinking cursor”. You just need some time to de-funk, regroup, and get back at what you’re good at. Writing.
And to do what we do best … help you “untangle” this horrible virtual nightmare, try some of these things to clear your mind:
And most important of all …
If all else fails, don’t give up!
Start somewhere. Anywhere. Even a few simple lines, short paragraph or a full on “bucket list” of all your ideas and see where that takes you.
As Margaret Atwood famously says …
“If I waited for perfectionism, I would never write a word.”
Now, the cold hard truth about writer’s block … Writing is friggin’ hard work.
So, you need to figure out what works for you. Write whatever, whenever and wherever you like. Live on the edge of crazy so you have fun doing it! Stand up to your blinking cursor the way you would to a bully and turn your fear into humility and humility into hard-earned, well-deserved work!
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If you’re looking for some help getting started with some daily writing habits, I encourage you to reach out to me so we can chat. I’d be happy to go over some ideas with you that fit into your regular business routine. And it won’t cost you a penny, as we offer FREE no-obligation 30-minute consultations. Which just so happen to include short chit-chats about stuff just like this!
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Now, let’s say you’re not having writer’s block, but you’re looking to improve your writing …
Learning a variety of writing skills isn't nearly as hard as you feel it may be. Truthfully, I think all aspiring (and professional) writers -- and designers -- out there will agree with me when I say that “we are never truly and fully satisfied with our work. We always feel that we can do better, go bigger and that our best work has yet to be written or created.”
So, if you're already writing ... whether for business, a blog, social media, or even possibly for a client, and you're looking to improve your skills to give your wording more structure and personality, as well as make it crisp and readable, then this next topic is just what you've been waiting for.
And with that being said, let’s just dive right in …!
Learning to write is like learning to cook. You want to improve your skills by mastering multiple mini skills first. You will want to learn how to write good sentences, be more conversational, actively study how to choose more “flavoured” words and learn to compose smooth transitions so your readers just glide across the page.
By practicing some of those skills, not only will your readers swoon over what you’re writing about but writing for you will become more joyous. Your content will become more nourishing, just like a Schmoo torte.
To nourish, delight and inspire your readers you want to also practice empathy actively.
Now, you may think that’s a strange way of thinking when it comes to writing but it means knowing the difference between effectively communicating and connecting with your audience, instead of leading them into a void. You want to understand your audience … their thoughts, their feelings and their interests, so that you don’t forget that special connection with them. Empathy truly is the key to gaining a following in every style of writing (re: blog, social media, marketing, etc.).
But remember, there is a huge difference between empathy and sympathy.
Sometimes people confuse the two.
To write with empathy you want to ask yourself …
As to co-pilot this section quite nicely, Octavia Butler says it best …
“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap, and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”
Okie dokies folks!
To sum things up, here are 10 straightforward tips to keep in mind as you write:
Writing is often the primary way you interact with people. So, the clearer and stronger your writing is, the more likely your audience will be able to decode the message, then take the desired action (if any).
And remember … the first draft is just telling yourself the story.
It’s what comes after …