What Are You Waiting For? Some wise anonymous person said “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Are you waiting for inspiration? For that feeling of being caught up in the writing flow where it’s easy? Where you know exactly what to write? Where … More Waiting for Writer’s Block to Disappear?
I’ll admit it: I’m a fan of Masterpiece Theatre’s Downton Abbey. I suppose if I’m going to publicly admit I watch TV, Masterpiece is the one to admit to – it’s literature, after all. I’m not just confessing to unburden myself; I promise this applies to writing and writing resistance. If you’re a fellow fan, … More Master Writer’s Block: What Masterpiece Theatre Teaches Us about Writing Resistance
Another solution suggested for the dry well problem (which we looked at in previous posts) is to beg, borrow or steal water/writing. Or as I prefer to think of it: invite, cite and rewrite. Invite: Come On In, The Writing Is Fine The point of begging is to get something for nothing because you’re perceived … More Can I Borrow a Cup of Inspiration?
In the previous post, I observed that sometimes resistance is not so much a tangible obstacle as it is an absence of creative inspiration, energy and initiative. Following the metaphor of a dry well, the solutions we would take if our water source disappeared can tell us what to do to restore our creative wellspring. … More Can You Dig Your Way Out of a Creative Dry Spell?
Imagine you depend on a well for all your water. What would you do if that well ran dry? How many alternative solutions can you think of?” That’s the question I posed to the writers attending a First Pages workshop last Saturday. (First Pages are FREE writing workshops co-sponsored by the Loft Literary Center and … More The “What If” Cure For Writer’s Block
Are you editing too soon? Do you eliminate ideas before you even get them on the page? Do you think of a sentence, decide that’s stupid, try to think of another, which you think is just as stupid? Do you give up just when the editing should really start? Editing and Drafting Don’t Mix Many … More Want To Break Writer’s Block? Timing Is Everything
In the previous post, I explained that I’m not a fan of discipline (aka punishment). Here’s why. Why Discipline (aka Punishment) Rarely Works The human brain remembers every little thing associated with a negative experience. Because any of the little details might have caused or contributed to the experience, it pays to remember those details … More Why Writers Need Habits, Not Discipline, to Overcome Resistance
One of my coaching clients is in an exciting and expansive place with her novel after years of feeling stuck. She has such wonderful insights, I asked her if she’d be willing to describe what’s working so well for her in a guest post. I’m honored and delighted to introduce you to Susan Gaines Sevilla, … More A Stack of Cards: Guest Post by Susan Gaines Sevilla
It’s not a new idea: I just heard it in a new way. In Oprah’s Next Chapter, life coach Tony Robbins says, “We are defined by the stories we tell ourselves… Is your story empowering you… or is your story causing you to fall short?” I wondered, “What story am I telling myself about my … More What’s Your Writing (Resistance) Story?
I shared a Wall Poster on my Facebook page with the “Nobody tells this to people who are beginners…” quote from Ira Glass that’s making the rounds right now. If you’re getting started as a writer, the advice is right on target. If you’ve been writing awhile, it’s an excellent reminder. If you haven’t seen … More Sidestep Writer’s Resistance with the Willingness to Suck
Bane of Your Resistance 