Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Writer's Block, What Is It And What Can We Do About It?

Part 3

How to overcome writer's block?(click to watch the video)


Okay. I can hear that herd of you running away from this article as fast as you can. Absurd! you huff. Never in a million years, you fume. Writer's block is absolutely, undeniably, scientifically proven to be impossible to overcome.

Oh, just get over it! Well, I guess it's not that easy. So try to sit down for just a few minutes and listen. All you have to do is listen, you don't have to actually write a single word.

Ah, there you all are again. I am beginning to make you out now that the cloud of dust is settling.

I am here to tell you that WRITER'S BLOCK CAN BE OVERCOME.

Please, remain seated.

There are ways to trick this nasty demon. Pick one, pick several, and give them a try. Soon, before you even have a chance for your heartbeat to accelerate, guess what? You're writing.

Here are some tried and true methods of overcoming writer's block:

1. Be prepared: the only thing to fear is fear itself. ( I know, that's a cliche but as soon as you start writing, feel free to improve on it.) If you spend some time mulling over your project before you actually sit down to write, you may be able to circumvent the worst of the crippling panic.
2. Forget perfectionism: No one ever writes a masterpiece in the first draft. Don't put any expectations on your writing at all! In fact, tell yourself you're going to write absolute garbage, and then give yourself permission to happily stink up your writing room.
3. Compose instead of editing: Never, never write your first draft with your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder making snide editorial comments. Composing is a magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind by galaxies. It's even incomprehensible to the conscious, editorial, monkey-mind. So prepare an ambush. sit down at your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath and blow out all your thoughts. Let your fingers hover over your keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull a fake: appear to be about to begins to write, but instead, using your thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkey back into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jump in quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, let everything loose, as long as you do it with a pen or your computer keyboard.

More ideas to help overcome writer's block in tomorrows post. For now we hope that these help. Leave your comments as always we love to read them.

copyright Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

9 comments:

Peter Baca said...

Hi Dan & Deanna,

I will have to admit that I enjoyed the video....it really had me going.

I am quite fortunate that my writers block is not as bad as the girl....the video clearly outlines how bad it can.

Thanks for the post!

Pete Baca
The Car Enthusiast Online

Peter Baca said...

Hi Dan & Deanna,

Here is another site that is covering writers block!

http://katiefreiling.com/writers-block/

Thanks for the series!

Pete Baca
The Car Enthusiast Online

Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition said...

Peter, it is very much they way that things happen in the video. She got out of the house for a bike ride, when she came back she could write again. Sometimes something different makes a big difference.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition said...

Peter, we will check out the website. Thank you.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition said...

Peter, thank you for Katie's blog we added this to our blog list so we can learn from her as well. Thank you for letting us know about this site.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

Giovanna Garcia said...

Hi Dan & Deanna
Thanks for great video, it is funny.
I am sure a lot of people can benefit from this post.
Thanks for sharing.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action

Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition said...

Giovanna, thank you for your comments. Glad that you like the video.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Deanna and Dan .. thanks for your part 3 .. is good .. it is being prepared, having some idea of where you're going and if necessary, having a change of perspective - dog walkers always say their day is better started with a good dog walk, or do a cycle ride in the middle of the day - energise your body .. probably your thoughts will fall into place too

Thank you - Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters

Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition said...

Hilary, thank you for your comments. Yes, being prepared is the best way to go. Then you are not as worried about things.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"