My Advice for Conquering Writer’s Block
Almost everything about the concept of “writer’s block” irritates me. The supposed greatest obstacle to success or productivity is structured so passively you’d think it was written by the New York Times trying to describe civilian death. “Writer’s block.” What exactly is being blocked and by whom? The process of writing — not writing well, just wr... See more
The Myth of Writer's Block
Alex Burns added
The thing about writer’s block is that it’s really just us feeling hesitation about our start. We feel afraid, maybe, because we don’t know what to say or how to say it, and whatever does come out may be something people hate. It may be embarrassing. It may be really bad. The good news is, that’s what editing is for. Writer’s block is basically fea
... See moreKevin Tumlinson • 30-Day Author: Develop a Daily Writing Habit and Write Your Book in 30 Days (or Less) (Wordslinger 1)
Looking back at all the tools and techniques that I've developed over the years as a writer, it occurs to me that most of them are, in one way or another, grappling with two critical mental forces: the power (and weakness) of human memory, and the sometimes overwhelming drive to procrastinate.
Steven Johnson • The Spark File
sari and added
Writer’s block is the biggest myth out there. The idea that you’re just lost for any possible words isn’t some vague illness that strikes people when they’re trying to be creative. You’re not missing the words; you’re missing the research. All ideas are combination of preexisting ideas. So if you’re “out” of new ideas it’s probably because you don’... See more
Jean added
Journalist Sebastian Junger reframed the idea of being blocked: “It’s not that I’m blocked. It’s that I don’t have enough research to write with power and knowledge about that topic.”
Dan Mall • Dan Mall’s 10 Principles for a Worthy Design Career | Figma Blog
A creative block isn’t a wall at the dead-end of an alley. It’s a bridge under construction, that needs to be built to move forward.
To build the bridge you need the right materials and the tools. Look forthe materials by diving into research, gather the tools - mental models, physical ones, change your technique.
As you prepare and work, you find that the bridge appears before you like it was always there.
“I rarely have good ideas.
To overcome this limitation, I think about one topic (like habits) for an unreasonable amount of time. Then, I revise, revise, revise until only the best stuff remains. It’s slow, but it works.
You can either be a genius or you can be patient.”
To overcome this limitation, I think about one topic (like habits) for an unreasonable amount of time. Then, I revise, revise, revise until only the best stuff remains. It’s slow, but it works.
You can either be a genius or you can be patient.”