what type of writing block is it?
plus our next author visit + book giveaway
“I think some of the biggest bursts of creativity and artistic growth I’ve had are usually preceded by a big creative block.” – Ashley Goldberg
Hi friends,
A creative block holds information. It can tell you that something else needs attention. A block gives you a reason to pause, ask yourself what you need, and pay attention to what truths come up, even when they feel inconvenient and make your goal seem further out of reach. Sometimes it’s an emotional inner conflict that needs to be acknowledged; tension between desire and doubt. Sometimes it’s what’s on our plates, our routines, or mental hygiene. Sometimes we don’t trust our intuition or our process.
How many times have you found yourself trying to think harder, create faster, pushing yourself to perform? Not realizing that you might really need a nap, a healthy meal, some movement, or some artful inspiration. The takeaway here is to engage in frequent self-check-ins, dropping into your body, asking yourself what you need.
If you ever struggle with blocks and find yourself panicking when you do, I’ve provided some perspective for you below, and a bunch of free resources here. Before I get into that, I want to remind you that we have an author visit coming up next week and a book giveaway, too.
author visit w/ ashley m. coleman (open to all subscribers) and book giveaway
Starting this month, our monthly author visits are open to all subscribers, however, the archived videos will only be available to Inner Story members.
Our June author chat will be with the lovely Ashley M. Coleman, a writer, author, music industry executive, and community builder. She is also the founder of Permission to Write, a membership for writers that believes in community and accountability over competition.
She has been a dear friend since my blogging days, and a source of collaboration and inspiration along the way.
Her first traditionally published book, Good Morning, Love, is a contemporary romance novel that examines the uncertainty of being a new professional in the music industry looking to chase a dream while also trying to survive in a world that’s not always kind to ambitious women.
We are going to help Ashley celebrate the two-year anniversary of Good Morning, Love. We will chat about the book, her writing journey, and her creative process.
Our chat will take place on Saturday, June 22 from 11 am - 12 pm et. You can RSVP here.
As for the giveaways, there will be two of them: one on Instagram (which will be announced tomorrow) and one open to those who attend the author chat. You can purchase a copy of Good Morning, Love here.
Okay, back to creative blocks.
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what kind of creative block is it?
Many people will say that there is no such thing as writer’s block, and I understand that perspective. But anyone who has sat down and tried to write only to find their mind blank or uncooperative would likely disagree.
We all have thoughts so what keeps us from writing them down? What causes this resistance?
Self-judgment. Distraction. Fatigue. Numbness. Boredom. Expectations. So many reasons. Blocks happen when we can’t get the words out the way we want to, but not all breaks from writing are necessarily creative blocks.
If I sit down to write about my mental health, but I’m afraid that writing about it will be painful, or that I won’t be able to describe it poetically, or that people will criticize me for what I’ve written, all of these doubts and distractions may block the flow of unfiltered expression.
If I am sleep deprived, distracted by noise and clutter, or burnt out from a long day, then I’m trying to pour from an empty cup.
If I am trying to write perfect sentences on the first attempt and I can’t get more than a couple words out without my perfectionism kicking in, then it’s no wonder that I can’t find the flow. You see what I’m saying here?
Resistance is when we want to take a certain action, but our energy is not aligned.
Here are some of the culprits:
You’re drained. You might have too much on your plate, and you’re not giving your body, mind, and spirit enough time and space to recharge. Too many activities. Too many classes. Too many commitments. Even if everything on your plate feels authentic and aligned, it can still be too much. There is room in your life for everything you love, but not all at once. Take stock of how you feel and decide how to adjust your schedule for more rest and recharge. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
You’re procrastinating. Procrastination is less about time management and more about mixed feelings. Mixed emotions cause inner conflicts that we’re often not aware of until we feel stuck, or a pattern starts to emerge, forcing us to take a closer look. We procrastinate because of our fears about the uncertain process ahead, our expectations, our resistance to discomfort. If you’re procrastinating, explore the deeper why. Do the inner work to go beyond the resistance and identify where your desires are in conflict with your doubts.
You need a fresh routine. Are you telling yourself that you will get up at 5 am each morning to write, but still going to bed at 1 am, knowing deep down that you won’t wake up? Are you having trouble protecting boundaries when you set aside time to create? Have you considered getting out of your usual setting and working somewhere different? Maybe in a public place? Or near a window? Do you know the time of day when you feel most creative? Try little experiments to see what you can discover to inform your process. Sometimes the smallest tweaks to your routine can make a huge difference.
You’re overstimulated. We all know how busy our minds can get when we don’t have intentional practices to slow things down and find peace inside our own heads. Sometimes we need to get out of our brains and into our bodies or out in nature. You know you’re overstimulated if you sit down to write and can’t stop thinking about your to-do list, your mother’s opinions, your upcoming doctor appointments, that weird noise in the basement. Try doing breathwork, meditating, or something you find calming to ease you into the creative process.
You’re forcing it. You might be trying to engage with something that you’re genuinely not that interested or invested in. Can you find any connection at all to make it compelling for you? Where does the topic or task intersect in any remote way with something that you care about? If you’re forced to write about something that you’re not interested in and don’t care about, write about why you don’t care about it. Make it a practice in honoring your truth and authentic voice.
You’re incubating. We are creatures of nature and we have rhythms and cycles. What you think is a block could also be a season of absorption. Let it be. Engage in creatively stimulating activities other than writing. Read books. Consume art. Make something with your hands. Instead of panicking at the thought that you’ll never find the flow again, know that the creative process is always working for you and with you if you trust it.
What kinds of creative blocks do you experience and how do you work through them? Share with us in the comments.
drop in and write with the community this month:
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June 22. Author visit w/ Ashley M. Coleman // 11 am - 12 pm et
June 26. Practice Session #16 - Group Journaling w/ guest Erica D’Eramo // 7 - 8:30 pm et (free for paid subscribers or $15 drop-in fee)
take a class with me through the writer’s center:
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June 23. Vulnerability in Personal Storytelling // 1 - 4 pm et
I’m great at overthinking. One of my blocks is that a lot of my mental health issues stem from my relationship with my son, and some with my husband. If I wrote all of that truth, I would be divorced.
You nailed this. Writers block is typically overthinking. This is a vital reading.