Most days, my fingers don’t want to move to the keyboard and get tapping. They resist, and my creative mind closes shut like the drawbridge to an ancient castle. Can you hear it squeaking?
Here’s what helps:
#1 Take a brain break.
Staring at the same old screen (or whatever tool of the trade you are stuck on) is part of the problem with any creative block. Set your timer for a reasonable block of time, then step away and do something physical. This is even better if the activity is something you don’t ordinarily do. (If yoga is your go-to, try an asana you haven’t done in a while.) Then get back to it.
#2 Take your creativity on a date.
The brain gets bored easily. You need to show it variety. Even if this means taking a different route to the grocery store, your brain will respond to the visual stimulation in positive ways. Even better, take yourself on what Julia Cameron calls an Artist’s Date: something fun you do just for you.
#3 The magic is in the medium.
Usually, as a writer, I use a keyboard and a Google doc when I’m writing. But if this isn’t working, and the ideas aren’t flowing, sitting staring at the screen doesn’t help. What does help is grabbing my favourite blue pen and a notebook of lined paper, and scribbling out my thoughts. There is something about the act of writing by hand that stimulates a different part of the brain. I have been writing this way for so long that I don’t have to think about the act of writing , whereas typing on the keyboard seems to add distance between my thoughts and the words.
#4 Read and respond.
Good writers are good readers. If you can’t think about what to write, flip through a favourite book and stop on a random page. I especially love doing this in books about writers. I love Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird; Some Instructions on Writing and Life. If books aren’t your style, curate a list of blogs to follow, and dip in there for inspiration. RESPOND to what you read, use it as a springboard for inspiration. Agree, disagree, let it take you on a tangent.
#5 Work lightly.
Writer’s block, or any kind of procrastination, is often caused by self-censorship. Perfectionism blocks creativity like nothing else! Follow George Kao’s advice and work lightly. This is almost like a form of non-attachment; I create for the sake of creating; I stay curious about what wants to be written/created; I share it with my audience before I’m sure it’s perfect, because perfection isn’t the point.
#6 How do you eat an elephant?
Sometimes creative blocks come up because we get overwhelmed by the scale of whatever we are working on, or the timeline we have set for it. Fix this by breaking the task/project into smaller pieces, stretched out over a longer period of time. Who cares if it takes a week to write a blog post instead of an hour? Set a timer, write a draft, put it away and schedule time to look at it again tomorrow. Bite by bite, it will get done!
#7 Work in Community
One of the pitfalls of being a solopreneur is that we often work in isolation. As a content creator, it can be game changing to get an objective opinion from a trusted peer. There are many ways to do this, from finding an accountability partner on Focusmate, joining a creative community like Soul Gym, or working with a writing coach, like me!
What do you do to break free of writer’s block? I’d love to add more options to this list!
There are lots of ways to be in touch:
Email me: susan@seachangecreative.co
Join me on Instagram: @seachange_creative.
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