Aaaargh, the dreaded blank page!
You glare at it, your mind as blank as the screen. But the words just…won’t…come.
Or maybe you have a bunch of half-started writing projects. They look great for a few pages but then both you and they just seem to fizzle out.
You’re not alone.
As a personal writing coach and mentor, I’ve seen loads of writers, on every level, struggle with stuckness. It can be frustrating and exhausting.
This may sound counterintuitive, but you need to get out of your head and out of your own way.
Why we get stuck?
- Fear
- Perfectionism
- Overwhelm
- Self-sabotage
- Not knowing where to start or what to do.
- Not understanding how our creativity “works”.
You can try to push and shove at yourself all you like. You can let that nasty inner critic out of their cage. You can stamp your foot and set all sorts of personal goals and deadlines too.
It ain’t gonna work!
Here’s what might:
- Let go of expectations. Yours and others. One of the biggest blocks is overthinking what your readers want, what will “sell”, or how they will judge you. Remember when it was just fun to create stuff for the hell of it? When you played with words instead of forcing them? Writing is an art form. WRITE FOR YOU FIRST! Enjoy the expression and creativity of it. Worry about polishing it into something saleable later, if you must.
- Get some expert help to create some sense of direction and structure. Professionals can help with creating book outlines, a solid writing routine, and process. Many have been where you are and are happy to help out a fellow creative.
- Let go of the illusion. Writing isn’t this romantic thing that happens in an attic by candlelight when you are “in the mood”. Sure, you can do it that way, but we have a lot of limiting core beliefs about ourselves and what writing “is” that stop us from progressing. Here’s a simple secret: A book gets written a little bit at a time, every other day, with regular effort put into it just like you would a 9-5 job, or a relationship.
- Understand your creativity. It ebbs and flows. Learn to recognise whether you are in a fertile, active creative state, one of analysis and reflection, or in one of rest.
You can schedule things like editing and research into the times where you are more reflective or analytical. And when the words flow, let them flow. Discover your personal writing rhythms.
Writer, know thyself! And respect each part of the process.
If you’re feeling stuck, reach out. As a writing coach, I’m here to guide you through these challenges, helping you unlock your potential and achieve your writing goals. Together, we can transform your writer’s block from a barrier into a breakthrough.
So, grab your pen, open that notebook, and let’s start writing. Your story deserves to be told, and I’m here to help you tell it. It might take just one inspirational session, or a structured coaching process, and we discuss that upfront.
The blank page is just the beginning, not the end.
For more information, contact us on https://harvardink.com/ or email us on in**@ha********.com
Happy writing!
