Getting over that block

So we’ve talked about what writer’s block (fear of failure/judgement) really is and that even the best in the world feel it, now let’s move on to ways of managing it.

Now from what I’ve seen there is no ONE way to deal with writer’s block (fear of judgement/failure). Each creative has found a style that suits them and so can you.

Here’s five methods to get you started:

Dan Harmon recommends lowering the bar…
“My best advice about writer’s block is: the reason you’re having a hard time writing is because of a conflict between the GOAL of writing well and the FEAR of writing badly. By default, our instinct is to conquer the fear, but our feelings are much, much, less within our control than the goals we set, and since it’s the conflict BETWEEN the two forces blocking you, if you simply change your goal from “writing well” to “writing badly,” you will be a veritable fucking fountain of material,”

Tom Waits would talk out loud to the fear and say things like “go bother Leonard Cohen”.

You could reward the fear like you would a child.
“Now fear, if you’re well behaved and help me write for an hour, I’ll get you an ice cream”
(you might pile on the pounds with this method)

You could back fear into a corner and use it against itself with accountability.
“Hey guys, on the 25th I’m going to send you an essay, do you mind letting me know what you think of it?”
Now that others are expecting your work your fear of failure is going to go into overdrive and push you to produce something good.

You could reiterate your commitment to the fear.
“I will be delivering a manuscript on the 12th whether the work is good or not. So it would be in your interest Fear for you to work with me to make it the best it can be.”

So there you go, there’s five methods to work with your writer’s block (fear of judgement/failure). Try any one of them or create a new one, I don’t mind whatever gets you writing again!