Writers' Block
So if you are affected by any of the seven things that stop you writing as mentioned in this blog, here’s seven simple ways to overcome them.
1. Set a goal, but make it a big one
- what would you like to happen to you & your business as a result of your book(s) being written?
- and what transformation would you like to see in your reader?
2. Make a start
- write the opening line of your book
- write the closing line
3. Make a commitment
- set two dates – one for when your 1st draft will be written and one for when your book will be published (and/or epublished)
4. Declutter
- tidy that office, do that paperwork, sort out those nagging problems otherwise they will just come back to haunt you when you are in mid-flow
- this of course is a win-win situation 
5. Give yourself some me-time
- set aside regular time to write (as for Julia Cameron’s morning pages)
- set aside regular time for personal development/relaxation/enjoyment (like Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Dates)
6. Break it down into manageable chunks
- the way to write a book is first one word at a time and then one chapter at a time
- a chapter a week is a marvelous target
- perhaps blog your chapters and then tell the world via Twitter that another one bites the dust
7. Celebrate your milestones
- as each chapter emerges, give yourself a pat on the back in the form of a treat – a cup of tea or coffee or buying something for yourself
- when the book is finished and published, increase the size of the treats significantly – like a bottle of champagne or even a holiday
OR – why not just bypass all these steps and treat yourself to a holiday break or retreat to get all this done in one go?
Now see seven invaluable resources to get your book written & published …
[...] Seven Things That Start You Writing [...]
Excellent post Tom. Thank you x
Thank you Tom for your ideas and wisdom! Even from sunny Uganda in eastern Africa, such ideas are a spur and inspiration to go for greater things!
I need to write a short story for my East Anglia course and am stuck, once more. I have so much to do : keeping up with my main blog, packing stuff, doing my work… Massive declutter is needed again. Your article is a definite cheer-up. I will start writing the first and last lines and try to stick to a deadline.
[...] 7 Things That Start You Writing [...]
Thank you Tom, tuning in from sunny San Francisco! Currently negotiating a bit of inertia resuming my anticipated epic debut, so such words assist wonderfully.