There’s nothing funny about feeling blocked or recognizing that you’re spending more time resisting than writing. But the solution might be a laughing matter. The Gamma Connection Humor increases creativity. Recent research shows that “mirthful laughter” triggers your brain to release gamma waves, which are the brain’s highest electrical frequency. Gamma waves are required to … More Laugh Your Way Out of Writer’s Block
The research is in: humor boosts creativity. Laughing is a great way to bust through writer’s block. I could cite the research and I will next week, but it’s Friday afternoon, so let’s cut to the chase. A panda walks into a diner and orders a bamboo sandwich. The waitress brings him a sandwich. After … More Writer’s Block Can Be a Laughing Matter
The paralysis of writer’s block feels like your brain is frozen. All mammals freeze when we’re threatened. When mammals first appeared on the evolutionary tree, freezing was a good way to escape notice of the reigning kings of creation, dinosaurs. True writer’s block – the paralysis of not being able to write, being unable to … More If Writer’s Block Is Brain Freeze, How Do You Thaw Your Brain?
Because you have brain loops. Brain scientists are still exploring the nuances of how memory works, but we do know that we have long-term memory, where you’ve stored the capital of France and how to drive, and working memory, where you would hold the memory of what you just read in an email. The capacity … More Why Do Brain Dumps Break Writer’s Block?
1. Dogs remind us to play. Especially as puppies, dogs know that play is the best way to explore the world. If you need a reminder about the value of play, check out the Top 10 Reasons to Play. 2. Training a dog gives you practical lessons in how to reward and motivate yourself to keep … More Top Ten Reasons Dogs Are a Writer’s Best Friend
One my coaching clients asked me, “Why didn’t you tell me writing was going to be so hard?” I’m pretty sure I did. And I’m pretty sure my mentors told me writing is hard work and yet I remember how surprised I was when I made my own transition from the high of writing when … More Writing Is Hard, Not Writing Is Harder
Once upon a time, I was a programmer/analyst for a Fortune 500 company. Really. I don’t know if I’m having flashbacks or what, but I’ve been thinking about the questions writers need to ask and the actions they need to take to recognize and move through resistance as a flowchart. Flowcharts excel in illustrating a … More How to Get Around Writer’s Block
One of the best ways to move yourself out of writer’s block is to move yourself. Literally. Yoga is a delightful form of Self-care that offers the benefits of exercise and mediation. Today’s guest blogger, L.Z. Marie — author of the Merkabah series wherein cosmic mysteries meet ancient legends when an empathic professor and her … More Yoga Cures Writer’s Block: Guest Post by L.Z. Marie
When I switch from one stage to another in the writing process, I sputter like an old engine that’s not firing all cylinders. At the start of the year, I struggled to start reading my (previously abandoned) novel. But once I coaxed my mind to shift gears, I found my reading rhythm and chugged along. … More New Book Update: Sputtering On
Do you question where your writing is going, what genre and sub-genre it belongs in, if it’s good enough? Do you question your writing because you’re resistant or are you resistant because you question your writing? Do you remember why you wanted to write back when you first entertained the idea? I started writing because … More Where Does Your Writing Belong? And Does Not Knowing Cause Writer’s Block?
Bane of Your Resistance 