( click on it to show the video)Part 2
Let's try and be rational with this irrational demon. Let's make a list of what might possibly be beneath this terrible and terrifying condition.
1. Perfectionism: You must absolutely produce a masterpiece of literature straight off in the first draft. Otherwise, you qualify as a complete failure.
2. Editing instead of composing: There's your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder, yelling as soon as you type - "no, not that", " that's wrong", "that's stupid"! " Be correct, correct, correct, correct."
3. Self-consciousness: How can you think, let alone write, when all you can manage to do is pry the finger's of writer's block away from your throat enough so you can gasp in a few shallow breaths? You're not focusing on what you're trying to write, your focusing on those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.
4. Can't get started: It's always the first sentence that's the hardest. As writers, we all know how EXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must be BRILLIANT! It must be unique! It must hook your reader's from the start! There's no way we can get into writing the piece until we get past this impossible first sentence.
5. Shattered concentration: You're cat is sick. You suspect your mate is cheating on you. You electricity might be turned off any second, You have a crush on the local UPS deliveryman. You have a dinner party planned for your in-laws. How can you possibly concentrate with all this mental clutter? What other reason can you come up with?
6. Procrastination: It's your favorite hobby. It's your soul mate. It's the reason you've knitted 60 argyle sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garage workshop. You keep putting it off.
FACE IT? IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK!
The next two posts are what can be done about writer's block.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
8 comments:
Hi Dan & Deanna,
What a fabulous post today! Great subject matter...this is the meat of the matter.
I am obsessive compulsive at times...but if I had been a writer in my career it would be easier to do on a daily basis.
What helps me if the post is on a car that I really like....or a political issue.
I like way you used the word demon to describe writers block! Thanks for the post!
Peter Baca
The Car Enthusiast Online
Peter, it is always easier to do something that we like and something that we enjoy. The next two tell how to keep the demon at bay. Come back for those.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
Hi Dan & Deanna
I love the music video, it is fun.
In my view #1 and #6 are most people is problems.
Great job on this post, I really enjoyed it.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Deanna and Dan .. I sometimes write the post or most of it & then work out the subject - so the first sentence follows on.
If you know the idea of tomorrow's post .. you can mull it over - to get that first sentence or headline ..
It's that hook in the first para that's essential to draw people in ..
However if you're writing practical, logical comments and posts you need to be writing for your audience .. so stick to the same style; perhaps have a 'template' of the way you put the posts together, or articles with breaks in ..
Setting yourself a time limit - like an exam - once you've done it the habit forming 21 days .. they'll probably roll out more easily.
Useful ideas .. when I was studying for some serious exams in my 40s .. I'd rather go and do the housework, or garden than actually study .. JUST DO IT!! would help us all.
Thanks - Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
Giovanna, you are so right about # 1. Perfectionism and # 6. Procrastination they make a great problem to a lot of people. Glad you liked the video. It is fun and it is so right. The parts that say "I don't know what to put here." That fits so well with writer's block.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
Hilary,your comments are so right on. Having the note book to write things down in when you think of ideas, that helps. Knowing how you are writing for also helps.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
Hi Dan & Deanna,
Giovanna's comment is really appropriate! Those are probably the biggest issues that stop people.
Keep up the good work!
Pete Baca
The Car Enthusiast Onlien
Peter, you are so right. Giovanna sees a lot of people that do these things all the time. She knows. Thank you peter for your comments.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
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