The words are not flowing:

Shifting writer's block

I can’t write
The words are not flowing
I feel pressure
Deadlines coming
Pressure on myself
What if thinking appears
                        No words
                        New words
                        Panic
                        Tension

Sometimes the words just don’t flow. And it happens to all of us, no matter the experience, investment, or interest in the work. I’ve been in this rut for a few months now. All the strategies I have maintained just aren’t working for me. So, it’s time to switch it up and investigate what else might help me.

To do this I’ve tuned into what I have done in the past:

- First thing in the day write post exercise and before email

- Writing rituals with green tea at a local café

- Block out time regularly

- Plan for the next day’s writing task the day before

- Track writing as a monthly visual in a notebook where I can handwrite achievements and record celebrations just for me

None of these things are really working for me at the moment. I’ve dropped the celebration and appreciation as there is nothing to really celebrate or appreciate when it comes to writing (but I know this will change). Words aren’t flowing. I have ideas, maybe too many or maybe not enough to get into the flow. I’ve ignored (hoping that the writing mo-jo will come back) and entered into a bit of worry and what if thinking but I’m now tilting towards trying something else. I’m listening to my intuition that is telling me these aren’t working for me right now as I’ve changed, the context has changed, life has changed.

So, instead of beating myself up and getting stressed that what I normally do isn’t working, I’m being curious into what I could do instead. I’m sharing with you some ways that might help you also.

Different ways to think about time

· Embrace micro moments of thinking that comes in the weirdest of places. Take a notebook and pen everywhere you go and quickly jot down any ideas.

· Take a break from writing and do something else – take a walk, read a book, watch a movie, go for a jog.

· Take a break and observe the world around you.

· Look through old notebooks or files with ideas and inspirations.

· Set a goal for the amount of words or pages you want to write before the day is over. But note to self, don’t beat yourself up if one day is less, as the next day maybe more.

· Set a timer and challenge yourself to write as much as possible until it goes off.

· Rewrite old stories or poems to find a new angle for your current project.

· Take notes whenever ideas come to mind and come back to them later.

· Work on the project in multiple sittings; don’t try to write it all in one go.

· Keep the work close to you; carry it around with you and work on it when you have free moments.

· Write down a list of all the ideas that have already come to you and narrow it down.

· Free-write for a certain period of time, no matter what comes out.

· Write in short bursts, such as in 5-minute intervals

New habits and rituals to consider

· Keep a journal to record your ideas and discoveries.

· Get away from your desk and find a new place to write.

· Detach yourself from the work and be a critical reader; what would you want to change?

· Talk to yourself out loud and record your thoughts.

· Divide the project into small manageable chunks and work on it in short bursts.

· Focus on one part of the project and avoid distracting yourself with other tasks.

· Try using a mind-mapping or brainstorming tool to explore ideas in a different way.

· Use writing prompts to give yourself a starting point.

Different approaches to writing

· Write down phrases that come to mind and develop them into more concrete ideas.

· Make a list of words that come to mind, either related to the project or not.

· Write down all the questions about the project and answer them.

· Write down any and all thoughts that come to mind, even if they don't make sense.

· Rewrite an old paragraph or section of another project that you have already written.

· Blah write, just write and brainstorm ideas and jot them down quickly; don’t focus on each idea before you move to the next. Just get it out and see where the flow takes you.

· Try writing without an outline from a high level of thinking about your work.

· Try writing in a completely different style to find something new.

Learning from others

· Brainstorm ideas with a group of people to get different perspectives.

· Ask questions and generate ideas that you can work with.

· Read other people's work for inspiration.

· Critique your work to that of other writers in the same field to get ideas – you could do this in relation to writing style or content for example

· Listen to music, a podcast or audio book to inspire your inner voice.

· Talk to a friend about the project and their ideas.

· Read books or blogs about creative writing and see what insights you can gain.

· Put yourself in someone else’s shoes; why would they be interested in this topic?

· Binge on a TV series or movie that is related to the project to gain insight.

· Have someone else read your work and give feedback.

Now this is a huge set of lists. Think of them like a menu. Pick one from each category and explore. Right now I’m trying:

1. Keep the work close to you; carry it around with you and work on it when you have free moments. (Different ways to think about time)

2. Talk to yourself out loud and record your thoughts. (New habits and rituals to consider)

3. Write down phrases that come to mind and develop them into more concrete ideas. (Different approaches to writing)

4. Brainstorm ideas with a group of people to get different perspectives. (Learning from others)

What will you pick?

The words are not flowing: Shifting writer's block

I can’t write

The words are not flowing

I feel pressure

Deadlines coming

Pressure on myself

What if thinking appears

No words

New words

Panic

Tension