Erin Barrett
Everyone has a different approach that works for them —or sometimes, several tools to rotate through until something breaks through. For me, I simply sit down and write, anything at all, then work back towards a topic needing my attention. If the words just aren’t coming to me, I’ll even free-write; jot down some lines with poetic cadence, or sketch a mood or sentiment. I find doing anything at all helps eliminate the roadblocks.
But, to get to the heart of the issue is the most effective way to minimize writer’s block. And, it’s important to reframe the pressure—conscious or unconscious—that’s preventing free-flowing of words, thoughts, specific story or topic. I’ve found any blocks I’ve experienced, typically come from internal pressure, and usually perfectionism is at the center of the problem. Writers, and most artists, actually, don’t have an easy time of it, when it comes to criticism, editing, judgement. If creating is like putting a piece of ourselves out to the world, it’s not surprising that we struggle, once in a while, from blocks and paralysis, particularly when life hits some personal turbulence and we don’t have enough resources in reserve to gird our loins against potentional negatives, about our work.
Usually, though, my blocks come solely from lifelong beliefs about achievement, performance, standards of ‘excellence,’ and how those define (or not!) personal worth. Understanding that perfectionism isn’t constructive or true, but merely another way we talk to ourselves negatively, and which holds us back from living life, it’s become easier to acknowledge those thoughts/feelings, and allow them space for a moment, talk into them, if need be, and then move forward with more authentic and true thoughts. It took practice, but typically this exercise diminishes any blocks and words start to flow again.
But, to get to the heart of the issue is the most effective way to minimize writer’s block. And, it’s important to reframe the pressure—conscious or unconscious—that’s preventing free-flowing of words, thoughts, specific story or topic. I’ve found any blocks I’ve experienced, typically come from internal pressure, and usually perfectionism is at the center of the problem. Writers, and most artists, actually, don’t have an easy time of it, when it comes to criticism, editing, judgement. If creating is like putting a piece of ourselves out to the world, it’s not surprising that we struggle, once in a while, from blocks and paralysis, particularly when life hits some personal turbulence and we don’t have enough resources in reserve to gird our loins against potentional negatives, about our work.
Usually, though, my blocks come solely from lifelong beliefs about achievement, performance, standards of ‘excellence,’ and how those define (or not!) personal worth. Understanding that perfectionism isn’t constructive or true, but merely another way we talk to ourselves negatively, and which holds us back from living life, it’s become easier to acknowledge those thoughts/feelings, and allow them space for a moment, talk into them, if need be, and then move forward with more authentic and true thoughts. It took practice, but typically this exercise diminishes any blocks and words start to flow again.
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