How to Overcome Writer’s Block: Stop Trying to Be Perfect
Seth Godin is notorious for the phrase – “Creative/writer’s block is a myth.”
What he means is, we are so overwhelmed by the expectation of creating something perfect, it feels like we can’t create anything at all.
“We are certainly capable of writing something poorly. No one has writing something poorly block.”
So start by making something terrible. Let it flow out of you. Regardless of the quality.
If you say you have ‘writer’s or creative block’, first show your bad writing or creative work. If you can show a few thousand words of bad writing and many pieces of bad creative work – you’ll be able to find something good in there.
No one has talker’s block or walker’s block. Everyone can babble a few words or walk a few steps. But when it comes to creating – your mind goes, “Oh no, something big is about to happen, and immediately your expectations are too high.”
Just allow yourself to create something bad that will get you going. As soon as the ball starts rolling, inspiration might just jump out of nowhere and you won’t be able to stop creating.
When you create every day, even if it’s bad work, creating will become second nature, and eventually, it will lead to great work.
“Write without fear. Edit without mercy.”
Nice one 👏🏻
Great piece of philosophy!
As a writer I agree. Getting something on paper is better than nothing at all. You can improve on something.
You’re absolutely right. “Write without fear. Edit without mercy.”
Thank you for this. I agree completely, and encourage all writers in this. Write, write, write.
You’re absolutely right. It’s much easier to edit something bad than it is to create something good right from the start. Even Stephen King’s book “On writing” is very inspiring. Just sit and keep writing. Let it flow. Don’t stop. Keep going. You can edit everything after you have a few words on paper.
“Allow yourself to create something bad that will get you going.” This is wisdom well beyond my years. I needed to hear that, thank you.
It’s my pleasure. I’m so glad you received value from it 🙂
I am sure I have “writing something poorly block” on top of writer’s block. Not even something terrible wants to jump out. Must be the cold Winter, or C-19 that is behind this uncreativity.
Haha. With everything I said – easier said than done. We all have our dark-cloudy-bleak days.
Ha awesome quote “No-one has writing something poorly block” – I can attest to that! I follow Seth Godin’s blog too. Love his writing. I agree – quantity actually produces quality. Some days it will be complete garbage – but the more you show up the more consistently good your work will undoubtedly become. Great post!
“Quantity produces quality.” – This is absolutely true!
The point is just to show up and get something done. Chipping away every day. Every now and then, something of value will show up.
For most of us, most days will be complete garbage. Especially when you’re starting out. And that’s okay. Keep creating garbage until it isn’t garbage anymore.
That’s why it’s so important to learn to love the process. Because it can take a long time to begin creating quality work.
I recently watched a TED talk where a man talked about the top Olympic athletes and what most of them have in common.
We’d think that they train extremely hard every single day, but it’s the complete opposite. They train very comfortably every single day. They only push themselves every now and then. But most days they are doing it at a steady pace. But every day. Forever. And that’s the point. The persistence and consistency is the key for long term success.
So to come back to what we were talking about. Write comfortably every single day. Make sure it’s fun and you enjoy it. Don’t box yourself in. Write on your own terms. No rules. Just write. And every now and then, when you have a really good day, filled with inspiration, then you can go all out and write the best you can, and push your creative limits. But the rest of the time, just slowly chip away, every single day.
Love this. I always start with a kindergarten version . . . .just saying, Claudia
That’s a great way to start and to get the ball rolling 🙂
Some motivational thoughts 👍
Thank you. As someone who has to write a sermon every week I always panic a bit when I sit down to start writing. More often than not I just start writing whatever comes to mind thinking surely I’ll have to delete it later. But almost without exception, it soon opens the door to something that makes me look at it later and say, “Wow, where did that come from?”
What a great example of how it should be. It should just flow out of us. Without our left brain saying, no that’s wrong. It’s wonderful to see what we can come up with if we have no restrictions or criticism during the process of creating something new 🙂
I like to call it “free writing” and it really does help!
What a great way to put it! That’s the way it should be. You should be able to move in any direction you want without restriction. That’s where your creativity will come from 🙂
So true. I was just thinking about that with regards to my photography. Sometimes I expect too much. I should feel comfortable to just take the first step.
Yes absolutely. And that first step will lead to the next one, and then the next one.
Good advice! 🌞
So true! Thanks for sharing
It’s my pleasure! 🙂
Excellent advice!
Great advice. The hardest part is getting started. So, just start, even if it terrible. Regardless of the product, creating your prototype then improving it is easier than trying to think of everything up front.
Absolutely. Just start. Our right and left brain can’t work simultaneously when we’re being creative, because we will constantly be criticising as we’re in the process of creating. Just like you said, it’s much easier to improve something terrible, than it is to create something good right from the start.
I did an entire uni performance piece on this very topic!!! Oh the memories!! Are you familiar with the book beyond the white cube! Great stuff on creativity and galleries verse “real life”
That’s awesome! No I haven’t. I’ll have a look at it!
Thank you 🙂
Reblogged this on Eternally Bonkers.
Thank you for the share! 🙂
Great boost!
Well stated!
I’m in the middle of writing two books! I hope they’re not too bad!
That’s amazing! Good luck! 🙂
Amazing post.
Thank you 🙂
totally agree with you
This is very true and a great piece of uplifting work. Thank you for sharing… I wish some people had talker’s block haha!
Thank you so much! 🙂 It’s my pleasure. Haha!
much needed. thank you for this! i’m in a terrible writing block atm
I hope it can give your fire some fuel. Just let it out. Whatever it may be. Allow it to flow out and see what you come up with 🙂
It helps to leave the judgement at the starting line. Leave your writing mind free of those judgments and it goes easier. Thanks!
You’re absolutely right!
True! great minds think alike… though coincidence.
I agree so much with this post.
I’m glad you like it 🙂
Yes! Just gotta start and see where it goes. If it goes nowhere, start again later.
You’re absolutely right! 🙂
This is awesome and 100% right!
Ideas and thoughts run through our mind 24/7, so often we are our biggest critic thinking that they are not good enough. Thanks much for an inspiring post.
This blog was right on time! I kind of know when I think about what to write my head gets in the way, but when I feel about what to write my heart takes over. I close my eyes! I take a deep breath! And them my fingers do the talking on the keys of the computer or the piano or the canvas! I take me out of the equation cause I feel what ever is expressed comes through me, but is created by Spirit within me! I’m off the hook and there is no judgment! Once again thank you for your insight!
It makes sense. I agree and it will be part of my writing practice.
Yes I agree and it makes sense. I will establish it as a practice in my writing.