avatarAngie Mangino

Summary

The webpage discusses writer's block, its psychological nature, and presents 30 cures and strategies to overcome it, including personal insights from various authors.

Abstract

The article "Writer’s Block: Symptoms & 30 Cures" delves into the phenomenon of writer's block, defining it as a psychological barrier preventing writers from creating written work. It acknowledges the realness of the struggle, suggesting that while the condition is mental, its symptoms are tangible and debilitating. The piece offers a comprehensive list of 30 solutions, including two personal tips from the author's experience: confronting fear and separating the creative and logical processes of writing. Additionally, it references three other articles that provide a total of 28 additional cures, emphasizing that writer's block can be overcome with the right approach. The article encourages self-awareness and honesty in adopting these strategies and suggests that with persistence and the right techniques, writer's block can be effectively managed and even eliminated.

Opinions

  • Writer's block is both a psychological and real impediment to writing, with symptoms that manifest physically.
  • There is no one-size-fits-all cure for writer's block; individuals must find the strategies that work best for them.
  • Fear, both of failure and success, can contribute to writer's block, and acknowledging and facing these fears is crucial for overcoming the condition.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of separating the creative process from editing, suggesting that the brain's logical and creative sides should be engaged at different stages of writing.
  • Vidya Sury suggests that writer's block can be avoided by understanding its nature and taking proactive steps.
  • Jeff Goins proposes unconventional but effective methods to tackle writer's block, such as writing about the block itself.
  • Dr. Mehmet Yildiz outlines six broad categories of strategies to help writers become more prolific and overcome writer's block.
  • Sahil Patel's concept of "Reciprocal" implies the value of mutual support in the writing community to aid writers in their journey.

Writer’s Block

Symptoms & 30 Cures

Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash

What is this block that stops you from writing?

From Cambridge Dictionary:

the condition of being unable to create a piece of written work because something in your mind prevents you from doing it.

From Merriam Webster Dictionary:

a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece.

Wait!

Is writer’s block all in the mind?

Yes … and No.

When you have trouble writing it’s very real. The symptoms are all there. You can’t physically break through the stall.

What I believe to be most effective is to figure out the cure that works best for you. Once you do that, writer’s block will disappear.

You can do that right now by being honest with yourself as you read alternate points of view on the subject.

Before I share the 3 articles with a combination of 28 cures for you to explore, let me add 2 tips of my own that I’ve used in my writing career to bring the total to 30.

1. Feel the fear. Face it. Overcome it.

One of the most quoted causes of writer’s block is fear of failing, but please consider its flip side of fear of success.

I finally figured out I was afraid of how family and friends might think of me if I became a professional writer. There would be changes in routines, but facing the fear, I realized who I am wouldn’t change. The words continue to flow after 27 years as a published writer, with my family and friends my biggest supporters.

2. Remember our brains have 2 sides: one side logical, the other creative.

I never edit while writing.

The creative side has full reign when I write as I regurgitate what is inside me to get it all down into a first draft.

Caution: first drafts are never seen by anyone else.

It’s the rewrites that make for good writing.

The logical side takes over with the edit.

When deadlines permit I like to leave the first draft for a day or two. When I do the edit I’m seeing the writing with fresh eyes, and it goes more smoothly.

Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles shares 8 reasons writer’s block can’t touch her.

The good news is you don’t have to face writer’s block.

You have the power to break out of it.

Jeff Goins shares 14 ways to battle writer’s block.

Writer’s block. Every writer struggles with it. But what you do with it is what really matters.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz shares 6 easy steps with writers to help.

Here are the six broad categories with helpful tips and examples to overcome writer’s block and transform into a prolific writer.

Thanks Sahil Patel for Reciprocal.

Reciprocal
Writing
Writers Block
Books And Authors
Writers On Writing
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