Are you struggling with consistency? Is your writing going slower than you’d hoped, or just not happening at all?
Is it lack of time, or is there something else that’s really stopping you writing (not knowing what to write about? having too many ideas? fear of finishing and having to publish/ submit? perfectionism? comparing yourself to other writers?).
Before I share one exercise that works wonders for my clients and students, a few thoughts:
Perhaps slow writing isn’t bad. Ideas need time to gestate.
Trying to work too quickly, trying to work in too polished a way too quickly, expecting clarity too soon, can set us up for failure.
DeSalvo, L (2014).
What helps me write:
Writing something else, just to flex that muscle (an email or a LinkedIn post?).
Setting myself deadlines. I often set myself mini deadlines for before the actual deadline (if it’s something I’m submitting to an editor or supervisor). If there is no official deadline, you can still challenge yourself to finishing that chapter or post by a certain date (even if it’s not as good as you like).
Putting writing on the calendar and sticking to my sessions (for me, it helps to have a writing buddy, but you may not need the extra motivation!).
Using scheduled sessions to write through the block (even writing about why I’m not writing helps me get unstuck).
Mixing up my writing tools. This may seem daft, but switching from a screen to using a fountain pen and notebook works for me. My sister-in-law gave me this beautiful pen from Papier. I highly recommend.
An unblocking exercise for writers
(I’ve found this works well with academic writers and nonfiction writers writing for business though it may work for other writers too.)
This is an exercise that always leads to animated discussion and lots of brilliant suggestions whenever I’m working with classes of writers.
Write for a few minutes about these questions.
What keeps me writing?
What stops me writing?
What would I write if there were no barriers?
What if I didn’t write it?
Once you’ve tried the exercise, share your thoughts below or drop me an email. I always love to hear what helps others write!