Writer’s Block Is Just Your Fear of Rolling Around In the Mud

Getting dirty means you clean up better every time

I used to think I had writer’s block when I didn’t write. But back then, I wasn’t writing a lot more than I was, and I didn’t have the confidence I do now.

The bottom line is your message is more important than your style or capability of writing it.

Writers are publishing every day that didn’t win any spelling bees or use editing software. FYI, some of them are super successful.

It’s their message that pulls you in — the message, not the grammar.

So, for the love of all things good, don’t let that tiny detail stop you!

Unfortunately, the blogosphere no longer awards points for meticulous grammar or your Hemingway-esque approach.

That era is long gone. I’m still a lil’ salty about it.

A friend of mine is a desert trekking survival expert. I’m talking hardcore desert minimalism — scorpions included.

He offered to teach me how to survive in the desert. I accepted, and I’m a little terrified.

The longer I’m on the planet, the more I love a brutal challenge of self-will. Truthfully, I’ve always fancied myself a survivalist in many ways, and I yearn to be outdoorsy.

My family never went camping, and I was jealous of those who did.

A friend once asked me if I wanted to go camping, and I lept at the chance.

What she didn’t realize is I was useless in the wilderness and not very willing to get dirty.

It ended with her trying to pitch the tent in a thunderstorm while I watched from the car.

I offered to pay for a room at the Holiday Inn after watching her struggle for what seemed like an unnecessary amount of time.

She agreed, and we took some pictures in front of the half-pitched tent to document the fact that we tried.

Back to my desert survivalist friend.

Wendy, do you know how we wash our hands in the desert?

Somehow, the answer was stored in my collective consciousness. I knew.

Yes, with dirt.

I think he was surprised I knew because I was surprised. I knew.

I’m already planning out the whole what makeup items would you take to a deserted island if you could only take 2? Lip balm, mascara, and, wow, no loose powder?

This is torture. Fine. Sign me up. I can’t pass up the opportunity to be wild in the desert and live to tell the tale.

I’m trying to put myself out there mentally to see if I can embrace the dirtiest, least appealing version of my physical self. And then deal with others witnessing the event.

I’m obsessed with survival as a kind of tribal initiation, like our ancestors experienced.

Humans are fairly clueless about survival these days, and it feels super weird how we’ve lost such basic knowledge.

Yet, survival skills are no longer basic knowledge. They’re more like a set of magic skills passed down from generation to generation (if you’re lucky) or otherwise lost to the passing of time.

Yes, I’m still talking about writer’s block. The point is, if you're going to do the whole writer thing; you have to have to roll around in the mud.

This applies to everything you want — your dreams, hopes, and ambitions.

When it comes to writing, I used to convince myself I had writer’s block often.

The truth is, I didn’t want to do a swan dive into a mud pit while everyone watched. I thought I could skip that part.

Nobody gets to skip the mud bath, and that’s a good thing because it's how you know you're in the mix.

And life is sweeter when you're making a spectacular disaster of things because you're learning.

Next time, you won't be flailing all the way home. You’ll get up faster and clean up nicer. You’ll develop a rhythm and confidence.

Most importantly, you won't be too worried about the grammar police, or the Hemmingway app, or anyone who’s around to witness the wreckage.

Trust me; nobody’s paying much attention, anyway.

The next time you feel you have writer’s block, dig into a writing prompt or a writing challenge.

One of the best parts is that you will feel part of a collective because others are beside you for the same challenge.

It's incredibly inspiring and teaches you to be more comfortable expressing yourself without so much judgment or fear.

Writing prompts & challenges also helps you honor a timeframe which improves your odds of completing them.

Choose a smaller publication if the bigger ones intimidate you. Do what it takes to inch forward a little. Look for ways to say yes to what you really want.

There's an alchemy that takes place when you assign yourself a personal challenge.

It's sacred and more meaningful. You become invested in proving what you can do and who you are — to yourself.

This level of self-growth rewires who you are and creates a portal of empowerment.

My wish for you is that you seize your moment and dive into the mud pit headfirst. Roll around in it like it's liquid gold because, my friend, it is.

The gods are waiting to watch your next move as the universe pulses under your touch.

Your thoughts are incantations to the divine. May you wield them with the greatest of care.

Your treasure waits to be excavated, your precious metals mined, and your stars plucked from the cosmos like crystalline quartz.

I need coffee strong enough to wake up my ancestors! You can buy me one here if you enjoy my scribblings! Thanks for stopping by xoxo