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Recent Posts
- PhD research publications, authorship disputes and writing blocks
- Writing practice failure pays unexpected dividend
- “The Words” – a story of a blocked writer telling a story about a plagiarized story.
- “The Life of Pi” is a tale of writing woes, and a hero with a tiger in his tank
- When enthusiastic feedback activates writer’s block
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Category Archives: Tips for overcoming writer’s block and procrastination
Writing practice failure pays unexpected dividend
Several months ago I publicly pledged (in this blog) to write a hundred, 100-word stories in a year. It was a well-intentioned attempt to insure regular writing and improve my writing skills. I’m ashamed, mortified and perversely proud to admit … Continue reading
“The Life of Pi” is a tale of writing woes, and a hero with a tiger in his tank
In the movie The Life of Pi, adapted from Yann Martel’s novel of the same name, we have a story within a story about a struggling writer who is looking for a story. Martel inserts himself into the plot as … Continue reading
When enthusiastic feedback activates writer’s block
During a recent class I taught on overcoming writing blocks, a few students remarked that when they receive high praise for their work, they lock up. This seems counterintuitive, as one would think that positive input would put more gas … Continue reading
The rumors of Morgan Freeman’s demise are exaggerated, but he is paralyzed in, “The Magic of Belle Isle”
Sometimes dying is a great way to overcome writing blocks, and this appears to be true for the much admired actor Morgan Freeman, who was recently survived a widespread social media death hoax. Following his resurrection, he starred in The Magic … Continue reading
Flowing with “Unflow” in the writing process
In describing their productivity, writers often discuss the presence or lack of a ‘flow’ of words. There is a body of psychological theory and research, initially developed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, that addresses the concept of flow in a general way, and … Continue reading
“You’ve had the power all along to return to Kansas…and write your novel.”
In the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, when Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, informs Dorothy of her power, she isn’t referring to Dorothy’s writing block, but she could have been. Like a struggling writer who’s lost touch with … Continue reading
A blocked Paul Dano writes his girlfriend into existence in “Ruby Sparks.”
Armed with only a recurring dream about a marvelous girl and Eliot Gould for a shrink, Paul Dano manages to bust through a tenacious ‘second novel syndrome’ writer’s block in the movie Ruby Sparks. Unfortunately, he relapses, but fortunately, he starts … Continue reading
Good book for procrastinators: The Willpower Instinct, by Kelly McGonigal
For those of you who are postponing your writing, you may want to have a look at this book, The Willpower Instinct. The challenge is that somehow you have to muster up the willpower it takes to buy and read … Continue reading
Registration is now open for my fall class at Stanford; space is limited
Click this link to go to register for my upcoming class“Overcoming Writing Blocks and Procrastination” (EGL 96, Mondays, 6:30 – 8:45 pm) offered through Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program, Mondays, 6:30 – 8:45 pm 5 weeks, September 24 – October 22 1 unit(s), $260 … Continue reading
Writing Blocks and Orchid Screenplays: How Do You Do Something You Don’t Know How to Do?
To grow and develop as a writer you need to face challenges and problems that are new. This means plunging into projects that you do not have a clear road map for, and somehow trusting that you will find your … Continue reading
