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Writer’s Block

As any writer knows, there are times when, for whatever reason, the words and ideas do not flow or cannot be captured.

What makes this happen?

A block or blocks can cause this difficult state. The subconscious is busy, all the time taking everything in and then passing us subliminal messages. Consciously, we may be celebrating at the thought of our successful book, imagining it in the shops, imagining the trappings of our success. Subconsciously, we may be dreading the thought of everyone knowing we have written a book, ‘which is bound to be rubbish’, or fearing the responsibility of success. Past experiences create limiting beliefs and limiting decisions as well as positive and any limiting belief or decision is rooted in past experience.

So, are you going to stay in the darkness of your fears, frustrated with yourself because you can’t stop procrastinating, or for whatever reason it’s just not happening, or are you going to gently lift your face to the sun, open up and move into lightness of being and writing?

I am going to presume that your response to that question is the latter, so let’s get started.

1) Start Noticing and Questioning

Rather then giving yourself a hard time, verbally beating yourself up, feeling like a failure or however you respond when you get ‘stuck’, start to get really curious about what might be stopping you.

There are many reasons for our inability to do something we want to do and writing is just one activity which brings our blocks to the fore. Whether you are writing an autobiography, a self help book, or a murder mystery, you are putting yourself into your writing, and with ‘yourself’ comes all of your past, present and future; your hopes and fears, your automatic thinking and beliefs.

I was recently working with a client who came to see me because she was writing a book, and then stopped – she couldn’t move forwards in anyway. Why? She feared the success of her book because she believed, deep down she would be laughed at, that no publisher would take her seriously. She believed that she was not good enough/not qualified enough to write this book. As you can imagine, there were a lot of associated aspects around those issues.  These have all shifted and she is in the process of writing a book proposal to submit to publishers in a few weeks time. She now writes everyday for about 4 hours, and feels happy about the possible success (or even failure) of her book.

2) Ask yourself; what are the costs and benefits of writing, whether it is a blog, an article, a book or even a letter?

For example;

Benefits:

I get to tell my story, I get to make a difference in people’s lives, I make some money,

I will be known as an expert; ‘I’ll be on TV’, ‘I’ll be recognized’

Costs:

‘No-one will like my book,’ ‘no-one will buy it and I’ll look like an idiot’, I’ll be judged; ‘People will think I am an expert and I’m not’, ‘I’ll have too much money’, ‘I might have to go on TV’, ‘I might be recognized!’

What are your blocks?

Make a list of the Benefits and Costs for you of writing/finishing your project.

Anything that brings up any kind of discomfort (which assessing your costs will do) can be dissolved easily, quickly and permanently using EFT.

3) What might be stopping you?

Lets start to get clear on what might be blocking you. Take a look at the fears below. Which ones resonate as you read through them? Which one/ones jumps out at you so you know instantly that is one of your blocks?

Fear of success

May encompass

• Fear of being ‘out there’,
• Fear of being judged, ‘I’m not good enough’ ‘I’ll be pigeon holed’ ‘I’ll look like a fool’.
• Fear of being ‘seen’
• Fear of recognition; ‘Success will change me’ ‘I’m happy as I am’ ‘Everything , will change’
• Fear of too much responsibility; ‘success will change me’, ‘I won’t have any time to myself’.

Fear of failure

• This block encompasses all ‘failing’ means to you – every time you have ever failed.
• Being ridiculed, Getting it wrong, Not good enough, Being judged,
• Being laughed at.
• Fear of a lack of recognition; ‘I’ll loose my independence’
• ‘I’ll be nothing’, ‘It’ll prove that I’m nothing’.

For some, failure is simply not an option, and they will avoid doing anything just in case they fail.

Fear of change

This block may encompass the fear of what comes next, the loss of constancy, loss of ease, fear of not being able to cope.

• Fear of the unknown
• ‘I might not like it’;
• ‘It might be harder’
• ‘It’ll be different and that might not be safe’
• ‘I might not be able to cope’

Fear of ridicule

• Fear of being laughed at,
• Fear of getting it wrong,
• Fear of not being good enough

Having a good idea of what is blocking you, is an excellent start. ‘But how do I get rid of this block?’ I hear you ask.

The block, having been identified, may naturally move of it’s own accord. Or, I recommend Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). This technique is often called Acupuncture for the Emotions without the Needles. It will shift blocks within minutes or hours as opposed to months and years in Therapy. It is a technique for eliminating both emotional and physical problems. It involves tapping on meridian points (as in acupuncture) on the upper body. EFT is non-invasive, quick, effective and painless. It is easy to learn and almost anyone can have immediate results. I have personally worked with hundreds of people with a whole range of blocks and this stuff works!

‘EFT represents freedom – freedom from years of self doubt, from grief, from anger or negative emotions attached to memories; freedom to earn more money, make cold calls, start that new business, improve your golf score, and lose that weight; freedom from intense fears – phobias, anxiety, panic attacks,  depression, or guilt.

EFT represents the freedom to express love more easily and to walk on this planet with confidence and grace’.

You will find all the information you need to get started including a videos and a free started pack on this website!