Janet Brook, writing as J.L. Brook, is the author of Trickster’s Wind a Young Adult Fantasy about magic, mayhem and chaos, three words that describe her writing journey as well. Hoping to inspire other writers to persevere, she shares how she overcame roadblocks with persistence and short drives (aka baby steps). I learned to sabotage … More Exiting the Land of Guilt: Guest Post by Janet Brook
Sammi Soutar, former business owner and investigative journalist, has taught creative writing and facilitated writers’ groups and roundtables. She is currently revising her first novel and tells me she keeps a copy of Around the Writer’s Block with her at all times. But that’s not why I invited her to share this post with us. … More Fight Prolonged Resistance with Prolonged Persistence: Guest Post by Sammi Soutar
Every writer I know has to respond to the big D: Doubt. If we don’t respond effectively when Doubt comes to call, it can open the door for the Saboteur and all manner of writer’s resistance. Which is why I so appreciated Ellen Shriner’s perspective on doubt and how to respond to it. I think … More A Fool’s Errand or a Worthy Risk? Guest Post by Ellen Shriner
“Part of what helps me stick with my writing is the chance to reset my commitments every week when I check-in with my writing buddies. If I fall off the wagon (in other words if I don’t do everything I committed to doing), I get back much sooner. It’s easier to get back into the … More Auto-Correct Writer’s Block with Weekly Check-ins
Steven Pressfield’s latest post was so on target, I’m taking the liberty of using it as a launch point. Please come back after you read Love in the Time of Resistance. Have you ever felt your writing was sabotaged by your partner? I know it happens, but I haven’t experienced it. So I have a … More Does Your Partner Support or Sabotage Your Writing?
What’s GEMO? a) Tickle Me Elmo’s cousin b) a command for sled dogs meaning go right (Gee) even more (Mo) c) a motto that will get your writing unstuck and keep you moving If you answered c, you’re correct. If you answered a, you’re going to have a hard time finding GEMO at ToysRUs. If … More GEMO Ends Writer’s Resistance
Too much structure or structure applied too soon in the writing process can weaken a novel or memoir by making it all head and no heart, all lines and logic with no curves and imagination. Resistance sets in because it was your imagination and heart that called you to write in the first place. If … More Goldilocks Your Way through Resistance to Write Your Novel or Memoir
When you’re stuck or notice that you’re resisting your writing time, you have two alternatives: pay attention or daydream. Which should you choose? Depends on what you’ve been doing lately. We have two different attentional states: focused attention, officially called the Central Executive mode, and daydreaming or the Mind-Wandering Mode. (more about two attentional states … More Two Ways through Writer’s Block
Don’t know where you’re going? Excellent! Not sure how you’ll get there? Outstanding! On your way anyway? Kudos! Know everything? My condolences. Resistance is caused by fear. And fear of the unknown is the biggest fear of all. But it’s not not knowing that causes problems, it’s the fear of not knowing. At the heart … More Brainy Writers Seek Uncertainty to Solve Resistance
It’s all about the habit…
Bane of Your Resistance 