Finding Your Inspiration Again
James Chartrand from Men With Pens offers this advice to find your inspiration again in Writing Inspiration: How to Break Through Mental Barriers over at WriteToDone.
- Simulate a scenario – What’s the worst thing that can happen if you write the piece you’re having trouble with?
- Validate your feelings – Don’t avoid your fear or uncomfortableness about your writing. Acknowledge the feelings and keep going.
- Confirm your reality – Don’t trust your perceptions about your writing. Challenge your assumption that it is bad and get an objective opinion.
To these suggestions, I’d add… just sit down to write. Set a timer for five minutes and just write, no matter how bad, confusing or incoherent your words might be. Just write.
If five minutes is too long, then write one sentence and walk away. Come back later in the day and write another. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be any good. Just write a sentence. You might find that writing one sentence at different times throughout the day moves you past your block.
What other methods do you use to get inspired?
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4 comments
James Chartrand - Men with Pens (1 comments.) on December 3, 2008 at 6:19 am
That’s a good idea. It’s exactly the 10-minute method that we use to get more projects done in less time. Works like a charm, too.
Thanks for the mention!
Cheryl on December 3, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Hi James,
You’re very welcome and thank you for stopping by!
Roz M (1 comments.) on December 17, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I needed to hear this so much right now! Thank you for posting it and for forcing me to take steps beyond my fears. The longer I avoid them, the more consuming they become.
Cheryl on December 18, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hi Roz,
I’m so glad it helped! Writing can sure be difficult at times. It’s good to hear that you are pressing on. Good luck with your writing!