By Indie Authors for Indie Authors.

Tag: writer’s block (Page 1 of 2)

Adjust Your Mindset

There are times when the thoughts and ideas that we want to write are right there in our mind’s eye, but when we sit down, the words don’t come. We’re not at a loss of what to write, instead we find it painstakingly difficult to get the brilliant concepts in our heads onto the paper. We sit down with great ideas and then nothing comes out, or what does come out pales in comparison to what we wanted to write, so we delete it immediately.

If you’re anything like me, you may be inclined to beat yourself up about poor writing or feel guilty about being unable to execute your ideas. If you’re like me, you’ll think it’s a failure that you can’t find the right words. Don’t be like me though. Let’s be better.


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Instead of thinking in terms of failures and successes, think in terms of results. Why did I produce this result? How can I produce a different one?  This will allow you to remove your emotion, stress and disappointment of the situation, and be able to think more clearly.

 

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When I adjust my mindset, and think in terms of results instead of failure, I think more clearly and make more rational decisions.


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Once you’re in an adjusted mindset of focusing on results, take a different approach. If the right words aren’t flowing from your brain onto the paper, one tried and true method to try is writing-prompts. You can find plenty of prompts online, or maybe just randomly pull a book off your shelf and write about the first sentence you read. How about taking a line from a song you like or a conversation you overheard? Or maybe just use the writing the prompt “I have nothing to write about” and write that line over and over until eventually, something will stream out of you. The idea is to keep the pen moving no matter what. And don’t worry if nonsense comes out. Sometimes we need to empty the crammed thoughts that are pent up in our heads to make way for something else to pour out.

Let’s try it:

I have nothing to write about.

I have nothing to write about.

I have nothing to write about.

I have nothing to write about

And neither do you,

But if we sit here long enough

The words will come through

That was unplanned and just using the writing prompt “I have nothing to write about.” Words started to come through my head and find their way onto the paper. Try it on for size the next time the right words aren’t flowing.


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Find more writing and publishing tips at Nothing Any Good.

 

Writer’s Block? Get Inspired with These Techniques

 

If you’re a writer, you know that pain of writer’s block. Sometimes you know what you want to write about, but the right words won’t come. On other occasions, you have no idea where to start. If you need some inspiration, there are lots of fun ways to get your imagination going.

 

See Some Art

Other types of art are fantastic to inspire you to write something new. Visiting a gallery can give you lots of inspiration, as well as a quiet place for reflection. But if you would rather stay home, you can just as easily look at images of paintings, sculptures and other art online.

 

Eavesdrop or People Watch

Some people might say that eavesdropping on conversations or people watching is rude. But if you’re out in public, you can’t help but hear other people talking or see them walking by. It can be a good way to observe some real human behavior.

 

News and History

Some of the best fictional stories can be inspired by the truth. If you need inspiration, try checking the news or maybe learning about a period in history. Watch a documentary or read a history book to get you thinking.

 

Visit a Library

Libraries are obviously wonderful places to find inspiration for your writing. You can leaf through hundreds and even thousands of books. But if you’re looking for some unique inspiration, you can visit a slightly more unusual library collection. If you want to write something different, you need something different to inspire you.

 


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3 Solutions to Problems All Authors Face

Writers problems and solutions

 

by Dave Chesson

Kindle Marketing Jedi, Kindlepreneur.com

 

Sometimes, it feels like the trouble we face as writers is unique.

After all, everyone’s writing situation is different. Some people struggle with making time to write, others struggle with creativity. Some writers are under pressure to meet a deadline for a book deal they have, others are desperately trying to publish their first indie work and get a foothold on the literary ladder.

Over the course of my writing career, I’ve faced a number of challenges, as well as helping other writers through their own. I’ve noticed a few helpful principles which can be applied to almost any writing situation in one way or another.

If you feel like the current problems you experience in your work are unique and hopeless, I hope you find solace in the following three ideas. They have helped myself, and countless others, and I hope they help you too.

 

Adjust Your Mindset

 

“There is no such thing as failure, only results.” – Tony Robbins

When it comes to writing, we are often our own worst enemy. If you’re anything like me, there are times you put pressure on yourself to an unhelpful extent. This can result in writer’s block or other creative challenges which need to be overcome.

If you ever find you’re beating yourself up and feeling guilty that things aren’t going as intended, take a step back. If you try and take your emotion out of the situation, and think in terms of results, not in terms of failure, you’ll often be able to break through barriers.

For example, if you notice you are making slow progress on a project, try to avoid adding the emotional weight of the word ‘failure’ to your thinking. Instead, think in terms of ‘Why have I produced this result? How can I produce a different result?’. Often, when we take a calm, analytical approach, we are able to perceive our writing challenges in a more logical light and find an effective solution. You can draw inspiration from the solutions famous writers use and see if one is a good fit for your own situation.

 

 

Improve Your Tools

 

Sometimes, the problem we are experiencing isn’t so much an issue of mentality or outlook, as much as it is a technical problem.

I’ve seen writers sabotage themselves by using less than optimal tools for their work on countless occasions, and I’ve been guilty of this myself.

For example, once upon a time, I used to email documents and versions of documents back and forth with an editor. This often became confusing and messy in terms of always knowing which version of a document was current and which wasn’t. By switching to collaboration via Google Docs, the problem was solved.

Similarly, I knew a friend who really wanted to try writing a screenplay. They had a good basic idea, but weren’t sure exactly how to structure their work. They struggled to make progress for a long time. Eventually, they heard of a piece of software called Scrivener, which allows for easy use of different templates. By using a Scrivener template designed for screenplays, they had the technical structure in place to let their ideas flow, and made much better progress.

The tools you are using won’t always be the cause of, or solution to, your problem, but it’s always worth exploring if there is something out there which will help you get through your struggle at the time.

 

Seek Support

 

It’s almost a cliche, but there really is no need to suffer in silence.

Often, we try and deal with our writing problem purely on our own, thinking this is the best way forward. In actuality, reaching out to others is often the best move we can make.

While it’s possible to find solutions from articles such as this, or the impersonal advice found in books, talking things through with someone is often the best way forward.

You can find a wealth of options by searching for groups focused on your genre or niche on Facebook, consider browsing the well-established Writer’s Digest, or even join the reassuringly named Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

Talking your trouble through with other writers online has a number of advantages. You can get a range of opinions from people who have been in similar situations to yours. You are likely to receive honest advice as the people don’t know you in real life, so will feel enabled to speak freely. You can also become an active participant in a group to help others when they need it.

 

My 3 Power Questions

 

Hopefully, some of the above ideas will help you get through the writing challenge you are currently facing.

I can boil the three above principles down to three questions which myself and others have found immensely powerful in a wide range of situations:

  1. Is there a different way I can think about this challenge to make it better?
  2. Is there a tool I could change or use differently to help me through this?
  3. Are there people who I can lean on for advice and support at this time?

Having this toolkit of questions is a reassuring resource for the toughest of times.

Facing problems as a writer comes with the territory and is inevitable. It’s not a question of if we will deal with them. It’s a question of how.

No matter what you are facing, you can find a way through it. Keep calm, and write on.

 

 

 

About the Author

Dave Chesson teaches advanced book marketing tactics at Kindlepreneur.com. He is passionate about finding effective ways for authors to get their books in front of the right readers.

 

 

 

Find more writing and publishing tips at Nothing Any Good.

8 Tips on How to Overcome Writer’s Block

We have all experienced it; the dreadful feeling of staring at a blank page wondering if you’ll ever be able to come up with anything new again.  You were on a roll once, but now, even coming up with a coherent sentence is a daunting task.

It gets grimmer with each passing second, and terrifying with each passing minute.  If you are superstitious, you may even feel cursed, having to deliver the essay, article, or book on time, while doomsday draws closer.

If you are experiencing this, have no fear. Below are 8 proven ways you can overcome writer’s block.

 

Tips for Writer's Block

1. Go for a nature walk

Science has recently begun proving that going for a walk in the park or woods has a calming effect. People living in natural environments have lower levels of stress hormones.

2. Write at a different place

Colors affect our moods. When you need to get in the mood to write, working in a new environment may bring new ideas.

3. Recite motivational quotes

If you aren’t an avid reader, recite your favorite quotes over and over again. Quotations are short, insightful, and full of inspiration.  A book may take an hour or two to lift you up, but an affirmation only takes seconds.

4. Go for a jog

Stack up the endorphins. Replace stress, fear, and anxiety with happy hormones.  Exercising also boosts you psychologically.

5. Meditation/Prayer

Whether you are religious or not, prayer and meditation have been proven to have healing effects. Releasing your fears to a higher power is one of the simplest proven ways of lightening your burdens, especially if you don’t have anyone you can trust.

6. Mentorship

Professional athletes, celebrities, entertainers, and business executives will be the first to tell you that having a mentor or trainer goes a long way toward helping you accomplish your goals. A life coach, for example, is trained to help you overcome your fear of failure so that you can achieve your dreams.

7. Work on something else

Sometimes all you need to do when you are stuck is work on a different project. When you return to it your mind will be fresh, full of new ideas.

8. Face Your Fears

The majority of fear’s strength comes from making itself out to look larger than it is. When you face your fears, you take away their power; they become weaker, and you become stronger.

 

 

Find more writing and publishing tips at Nothing Any Good.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Matshona Dhliwayo is a Canadian based Philosopher, Entrepreneur, and author of books such as The Little Book of Inspiration, Creativity, The Book, 50 Lessons Every Wise Mother Teaches Her Son, 100 Lessons Every Great Man Wants You to Know, and Lalibela’s Wise Man. You can find all of his books available at Amazon.

 

 

 

 

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