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- “The Words” – a story of a blocked writer telling a story about a plagiarized story.
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- When enthusiastic feedback activates writer’s block
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Tag Archives: anxiety and writing
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
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
FDR, writing avoidance and the lizard brain
Sometimes when I contemplate facing a writing task I feel an agonizing resistance in my guts, without really understanding why. The most striking experience of this sort occurs when I am doing taxes or writing checks to pay bills. My … Continue reading
I’ll be teaching a Continuing Studies class at Stanford University, beginning September 24th
I am pleased to announce I will be teaching a five-week class through Stanford’s Continuing Education Program beginning on Monday, September 24, 2012 entitled: “Overcoming Writing Blocks and Procrastination.” Registration begins in late August. This class will be limited to 30 participants … Continue reading
Posted in Common Writing Block Problems, Feedback and criticism, PhD and dissertation/thesis writing issues, The Blocked Writer's Book of the Dead, Tips for overcoming writer's block and procrastination
Tagged anxiety and writing, avoid writing, Mental Health and writing, writer's block, writing advice, writing habit change
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How success can mess with your writing routine
Success is challenging to some writers, and can actually lead to writing blocks of various sorts. You’d think that experiencing public acclaim, publication, best seller sales numbers or winning awards would feed a writer’s confidence and spur him or her … Continue reading
Instead of “OMG! what will they think of me!?” try, “What will help the writing?”
None of us can completely separate our feelings about our “self” when judgments are made about our writing. But perhaps we can move in that direction just enough to prevent criticism and rejection from precipitating OMG! reactions that paralyze our writing muscles. One … Continue reading
Fertile void or black hole of nothingness?
The good news about having nothing in particular to write about is that possibilities are limitless. The bad news is you have no idea about what, if anything, will emerge. I decided to conduct a quasi-scientific investigation into the question … Continue reading
Hate writing? You’re not alone….
Here’s a video that explores what people hate about writing and why. There’s lots more to say about the problem and what to do about it, but this is a good portrayal of the problem. Aversive feelings about writing are … Continue reading
