I wonder, Jillian, if "talking" to yourself might serve the same purpose. In reading Steinbeck's notes, he is essentially talking to himself as he writes to his friend. I once read advice about anxiety that was to use your own name, and talk yourself "down." I wonder if writing to yourself about your writing might work. Hmmm....
What works best for me is to read examples of really great writing. This may not work as well for novelists but when I was a journalist, I’d read longer form features from great writers or publications I respected (NYT special sections, The Atlantic, New Yorker, etc.). It made me feel inspired to write after I read 5-10 or so.
I like to do this as a writing warm-up exercise. I read writing I admire and hope it will somehow infuse my own style. Sometimes I'll pick a word I want to use or a turn of phrase to imitate.
My writer's block tackling-tip is reading about writer's block, and this is the best I've read about it so far! Thankyou for writing this, Jillian. I really loved the last tip - human connection is everything, and as solitary writers we often forget that this is the point of it all. I too feel that my best writing is when I write letters; Steinbeck's letter-manuscript is genius, I'm so inspired to try it!
oh wow..just wrote a piece on my unblocking this AM through reminders popping into my head as I woke such as 'write from where you are' and 'what you know' until an 'accept / reject cookies' info box popped up and like a fool I clicked it and lost a long and intricate reply. Never mind. You get the idea. When I write about being blocked, here and now the relief of writing something is palpable. Love your posts. Thanks.
Thank you for this. I think your get-go point about not actually believing in writer’s block, but rather acknowledging that a whole range of issues can impeded creativity, is the most valuable premis for the rest of your piece: it’s helpful and generous. It’s saying that yes it can be hard, but it’s hard for everyone (how on earth could it not be!!!?) and here are some cool ideas that worked for others who have created substantial material.
I do think, as with notebooking, that the trick is still to read and imagine and be interested and intrigued but then find one’s own way with that material. It just never works to plonk someone else’s practice onto one’s work life; I just went through a short period of trying a different way of using my notebook after reading about it…man, it felt like trying to write with my right hand…it was worth trying and playing around with it for a bit if only to remember that I still need to notebook the way that really works for my second brain (as per the really helpful @Oliver Burkeman). And maybe the trying, the working through, is what remains the thread with your examples: each are so different to the other.
Switching to another creative practice also helps. Simple things like cooking a meal, making art, gardening, crochet and the likes help take away the stress associated with writing.
I am a writer who flits between poetry and art, project to project, and reading when I get tired of it all. It seems to suit my ADHD and I am less discouraged and more playful. Love this in-depth research!
I've started keeping a "process journal" (similar to Steinbeck's work diary) since reading about Ruth Ozeki's practice of using one. It's been especially helpful with working through feeling stuck in a piece of writing. When I've really felt "blocked" the only thing that has been effective is breaking down writing goals into tiny manageable units, i.e. write for 20 minutes, take a break, if I can write for another 20 minutes I do, if not, I don't. Usually when writing feels difficult it's because I need to "refill the well": read, go on "artist dates", visit with friends, etc. The main practice that has helped me avoid feeling blocked is probably daily meditation. It's great practice for returning to sit every day, whether it feels easy or not, without expectation of a particular result.
Sometimes I find it is about ourselves rather than the project or book and often is based on fear. I found going to therapy meant no more writers block.
Steinbeck's letters were something like the Morning Pages, something to clean the subconscience before get things done.
Yes, I can see that!
Exactly—and you could even write the pages in the form of a letter that’s never sent…
I wonder, Jillian, if "talking" to yourself might serve the same purpose. In reading Steinbeck's notes, he is essentially talking to himself as he writes to his friend. I once read advice about anxiety that was to use your own name, and talk yourself "down." I wonder if writing to yourself about your writing might work. Hmmm....
I really like this idea! I might try it out :)
Fascinating, Jillian!
Thanks, Jolene!
Love this!
Thanks, Jasmine!
What works best for me is to read examples of really great writing. This may not work as well for novelists but when I was a journalist, I’d read longer form features from great writers or publications I respected (NYT special sections, The Atlantic, New Yorker, etc.). It made me feel inspired to write after I read 5-10 or so.
I like to do this as a writing warm-up exercise. I read writing I admire and hope it will somehow infuse my own style. Sometimes I'll pick a word I want to use or a turn of phrase to imitate.
My writer's block tackling-tip is reading about writer's block, and this is the best I've read about it so far! Thankyou for writing this, Jillian. I really loved the last tip - human connection is everything, and as solitary writers we often forget that this is the point of it all. I too feel that my best writing is when I write letters; Steinbeck's letter-manuscript is genius, I'm so inspired to try it!
I also love reading about writers' struggles. Even when I have bad writing days, I realize I'm in good company!
oh wow..just wrote a piece on my unblocking this AM through reminders popping into my head as I woke such as 'write from where you are' and 'what you know' until an 'accept / reject cookies' info box popped up and like a fool I clicked it and lost a long and intricate reply. Never mind. You get the idea. When I write about being blocked, here and now the relief of writing something is palpable. Love your posts. Thanks.
A lovely post. Hadn't seen or known of those Beckett doodles before!
Definitely need(ed) these, thanks Jillian!
Thank you for this. I think your get-go point about not actually believing in writer’s block, but rather acknowledging that a whole range of issues can impeded creativity, is the most valuable premis for the rest of your piece: it’s helpful and generous. It’s saying that yes it can be hard, but it’s hard for everyone (how on earth could it not be!!!?) and here are some cool ideas that worked for others who have created substantial material.
I do think, as with notebooking, that the trick is still to read and imagine and be interested and intrigued but then find one’s own way with that material. It just never works to plonk someone else’s practice onto one’s work life; I just went through a short period of trying a different way of using my notebook after reading about it…man, it felt like trying to write with my right hand…it was worth trying and playing around with it for a bit if only to remember that I still need to notebook the way that really works for my second brain (as per the really helpful @Oliver Burkeman). And maybe the trying, the working through, is what remains the thread with your examples: each are so different to the other.
Once again, many thanks for a lovely piece.
Switching to another creative practice also helps. Simple things like cooking a meal, making art, gardening, crochet and the likes help take away the stress associated with writing.
I am a writer who flits between poetry and art, project to project, and reading when I get tired of it all. It seems to suit my ADHD and I am less discouraged and more playful. Love this in-depth research!
Taking a break in the form of a walk always seems to free up the mind!
I've started keeping a "process journal" (similar to Steinbeck's work diary) since reading about Ruth Ozeki's practice of using one. It's been especially helpful with working through feeling stuck in a piece of writing. When I've really felt "blocked" the only thing that has been effective is breaking down writing goals into tiny manageable units, i.e. write for 20 minutes, take a break, if I can write for another 20 minutes I do, if not, I don't. Usually when writing feels difficult it's because I need to "refill the well": read, go on "artist dates", visit with friends, etc. The main practice that has helped me avoid feeling blocked is probably daily meditation. It's great practice for returning to sit every day, whether it feels easy or not, without expectation of a particular result.
I resonate with so much of this!
Thank you for this. I’ve been stalled - to a
Complete stop-
for many months and this helped.
Sorry to hear that, Sandy. I hope you know you are in very good company!
Bless you! 💜
Sometimes I find it is about ourselves rather than the project or book and often is based on fear. I found going to therapy meant no more writers block.
Love this, Simon!
👋🏻