Writing Blocks

Book Writing: How to Get the Writing Done

May 3, 2012 by Lisa Tener

book writing coach Lisa Tener — Your Book Writing Coach

On a call with my mastermind partners today, I suggested we use the 5-question format I use with my book writing students for accountability (courtesy of my mentor and friend Mitch Feigenberg):

What did I say I’d do?
What did I actually do?
What worked?
What didn’t?
What’s next?

Here’s how my check in went:

Out of my 3 commitments, I’d completed 2. I’d already scheduled commitment 3 in my calendar, so just scheduling again for this week wasn’t going to work. Instead, I decided first to be realistic. 8-10 hours just wasn’t happening–too much to do to support my Bring Your Book to Life participants. I scheduled a more realistic 4 hours and I also remembered a trick I’d shared with clients in the past: Call an accountability partner before the writing and after.

So, I’m calling my mastermind partner Richard before I start writing my articles and again when I complete each work period. Will it work? I’ll let you know. What tips do you have for staying accountable and getting past procrastination?

Write a Book? What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

March 23, 2012 by Lisa Tener

During a consultation with a newly enrolled Bring Your Book to Life participant, Ariel shyly admitted that she was a bit afraid I might give her a hard time for not getting started on the course materials before our session. After all, she’d been beating herself up for days. Wouldn’t I do the same?

Ariel committed to my book writing program and then her life seemed to fill with other commitments–a trip to Europe for work, trips to visit family members and, of course, all those little interruptions that make it impossible to get started–meal preparation, errands, a client project…you can fill in the blanks.

I assured Ariel that her experience was common. And we did some brainstorming. I encouraged Ariel to use her plane time to work through the preliminary course materials and enjoy the process of getting clear about her book concept and structure. She began to get excited about the upcoming trip and the way she could fit her book into her travel schedule.

meet your muse visualization for writers — Meet your writing muse to get clarity and overcome writing blocks. Photo by David Donohue.

I also introduced Ariel to my favorite client exercise: Meet Your Muse. I took her through a visualization from meadow to woods to a clearing and a small building where her muse was already waiting for her. For some people their muse is a totem animal–hawk, bear or even mouse. For others, it’s a wise being, an elder, a jester, their wiser self. And for still others the muse may be light, a color or just a sense of connecting with something bigger than their everyday self.

Ariel’s muse told her the real culprit was her fear blocking her. She could feel those people in her life who’d told her she couldn’t–those judgmental adults from childhood she carried around within her psyche. I had her ask her muse to help her start to let go of that and she could feel the knot in her stomach start to unwind.

writing muse as hawk — Your muse may be a totem animal, wise being or just a felt sense of connecting with something greater than yourself.

Ariel’s muse hugged her and told her, “Yes, you can write this book. And you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Ariel thanked me for creating a safe space where she could “mess up” and not be doing things perfectly and I pointed out that she was doing it perfectly. It turns out that the exact steps she needed to go through were the steps she needed to take her readers to go through in order to benefit from the advice in her own book. Her process was important not just for her (breaking through old blocks and belief systems and expanding into her own personal power), but important for the light it will shed on her own readers’ processes.

your writing muse — One client's muse was a bird that turned into a person when she spoke to it. Photo by David Donohue.

After clearing her fears, Ariel realized she could commit Tuesday and Thursday nights to writing. From years of experience I know that evenings can be challenging, even to a night owl, and suggested she first find some time to rejuvenate before the writing–a walk outdoors, a meditation, listening to my Meet Your Muse meditation (a free download) or playing some relaxing music. This activity could provide a supportive transition to come to the writing with renewed energy.

If you’re experiencing any challenges that are making it hard to write, I recommend a similar process to Ariel’s. First do some practical brainstorming about what you can do and then go to your muse to tap into your creative inner wisdom.

Are you beating yourself up or allowing your process to unfold? Yes, there will be a time for deadlines, schedules, holding yourself to commitments, but perhaps first you need to create the space to work through something. I invite you to listen to this downloadable gift from me–my Meet Your Writing Muse visualization and experience a shift that can help you get your book written–a compelling and powerful book that makes a difference in the world.

And please do share what you’ve done to move out of fear, transform blocks and get writing, as well as any insights you’ve received from your writing muse.

Writer’s Block? Shift Your Subconscious Beliefs

January 14, 2012 by Lisa Tener

end writers block — Gina Maria Mele uncovers unconscious beliefs to end writer's block

Many readers of this blog know my colleague Joshua Home Edwards who handles the technical aspects of my interactive teleseminars and has provided invaluable advice. Joshua introduced me to Gina Maria Mele, who does fascinating work with people’s belief systems. I asked her how she might apply her work to writer’s block and here’s her response:

Lisa: Gina, many aspiring authors get stuck. One of the most common blocks is that deep down they don’t feel safe fully expressing themselves.

Gina: That fear comes from fear of rejection, which usually goes back to childhood. In some survival capacity, even as an infant you knew it was important to not be rejected by your parents because you depended on them for survival. Now, as an adult, your subconscious, the feeling part of you, can’t make the distinction that it’s okay to be rejected, because you are not dependent on your parents anymore.

This subconscious fear of rejection is present when you take the risk of expressing yourself in writing. There are a number of specific limiting thoughts or beliefs that support feeling fear when expressing yourself.

Lisa: What are they?

Gina: “It’s not safe to express myself.” “It’s not okay to be me.” “If I make a mistake, I’ll be rejected.”

Lisa: So how might you address and shift such a belief?

no more writer's block — For me, nature often gets me out of any blocks and in a writing groove.

Gina: Often, when you realize what is underneath the emotions that are blocking you from writing and you bring these beliefs to your conscious, the beliefs lighten their hold on you and sometimes go away completely. Here’s just one technique I use that doesn’t require a facilitator:

1. Find a quite place where you can be alone and not be interrupted.

2. Have a pen and paper nearby.

3. Take a deep breath in, feeling the air fill your lungs.

4. Exhale. Feel the air coming out through your nose.

5. Notice what part of you is feeling, “It is not safe to express myself”

6. Ask that part of yourself, “What do you have to say?”

7. Listen. Write down the response.

8. Again, ask the part that is feeling, “It is not safe to express myself,” “What do you have to say?” Listen. Again, write down the response.

9. Repeat this process as many times as is necessary to get to a place where you have nothing left to write down. This process will help you uncover the subconscious thoughts blocking the writing and bring them to your awareness, so they lose their threat and lighten their grip.

Lisa: It seems this could work with many unconscious beliefs and self-doubts. Some other common blocks I hear from authors are “Who would want to read what I have to say? Or hasn’t it been said better before than I can do?”

Gina: You can this method I shared with limiting beliefs about self-worth, too.

Lisa: How about procrastination? Where would you say that comes from?

Gina: Limiting beliefs that support procrastination include: I’m not good enough. Nothing I do is good enough. I’m not capable. I’m a failure.

Lisa: Yuck. No wonder someone would procrastinate if they believe those things—and I guess at some level a part of us often has one or more of these at work.

Gina: Yes, you can use the same method I suggested to bring their specific beliefs to light and loosen their grip, or even have them go away.

Lisa: How about perfectionism?

Gina: Perfectionism is just another form of procrastination–a way your ego protects you from limiting, subconscious thoughts about yourself. Because, guess what? If you have to do things perfectly, then you can always be protected from failing and feeling the pain of failing. Since you can never quite attain perfection, this keeps you safe and stuck. Just like the other challenges, perfectionism stems from limiting, subconscious thoughts you have about yourself.

Lisa: Like?

Gina: “Mistakes and failure are bad.” “I’m not competent.” “I’m inadequate.” “If I don’t get it perfect, I’ll fail.”

Lisa: So readers can see if any of these resonate and try the method you shared at the beginning of this post?

Gina: Absolutely.

Lisa: Thank you Gina for this new way of looking at writer’s block. How can readers get in touch with you?

Gina: I invite readers to my website. And I’m also joining Tim Kelley in offering a multimedia journey that guides people to release their limiting beliefs and connect to their inner guidance.

Great Books for Writers and Authors

December 21, 2011 by Lisa Tener

Doing some last minute shopping for writers on your list (or to put on your wish list)? Perhaps a great book? As promised here are some books I recommend–a few classics and some new books, too.

Classic Books about Writing and Style

Stephen King’s On Writing: King breaks the rules by combining a memoir and how-to book on writing. The result is a compelling read and great, simple tips for writing well.

Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style: A classic for developing your writing style and it’s a quick read, to boot. My friend and mentor Teri Scheinzeit gave me a copy of the fiftieth anniversary edition, which is particularly elegant.

Books about Writing and Creativity

Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: A witty and comforting book that explores the highs and lows and gives some solid advice along the way.

SARK’s A Creative Companion: Or anything by SARK. Her books are wonderful for tapping into playfulness and creativity.

Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles: Tricia Gilmore recommended this great book in my Bring Your Book to Life Program and I absolutely loved it. If you’re procrastinating or stuck, read this book and break through.

Books Recommended by Our Write Your Book Community

From Nora Hall: “I am in the process of reading Patience, The Art of Peaceful Living by Allan Lokos and am finding it extraordinarily helpful in learning to be patient and at peace with the process of building a platform for my book. In fact, I will post a review of it on Dec 28th and an interview with Allan on January 11th. The release day for the book is January 5th.” You can read Nora’s post on the book here.

Let’s hear from you. What great book do you recommend for writers (or anyone) this season?

Ready to Write a Great Book? This post will tell you how to write a great book and show you the elements needed to get started on the path.

Inspired to Write: How to Keep the Juices Flowing

September 28, 2011 by Lisa Tener

Writing Strategies for Staying Inspired

While preparing to teach Inspired to Write tomorrow, I’ve been thinking about the importance of support in keeping our writing juices flowing. It seems to me a challenge all writers struggle with.

I thought I’d share some of the writing strategies I use myself and those I use with my private clients and in my book writing classes.

1. Find a Buddy: About 98% of the population needs some accountability to get their book (or other writing project) done. Buddies can support each other to overcome any challenges, make suggestions and offers solutions that you may not be able to see yourself and inspire you to do the writing you committed to each week. You can even meet at a cafe and write simultaneously. And a buddy is free!

Writing with a collaborator offers many rewards.

2. Engage a Collaborator. Granted, this strategy is not for the faint of heart. Collaborating takes good judgement in choosing a collaborator, a commitment to clear communication and working out the often-inevitable human challenges that can come up when working closely with someone. However, it can also be incredibly rewarding. My first book was written with two collaborators. My course materials were originally written with a collaborator and the book I am currently working on is being written with a collaborator.

Why? Three reasons:

Often, you can write a stronger book when you have people with varying expertise and perspectives.
Having that level of being accountable to someone moves me to action.
It’s more fun and co-creative!

book writing program — Participants in My Bring Your Book to Life Program in Narragansett

3. Join a Writing Program or Take a Writing Class: Here’s another strategy with multiple benefits:

A supportive community uplifts and inspires.
The feedback of a writing course provides multiple perspectives, increased creativity and new ideas, resulting in a better book (or article or blog post, etc.).
When you fall down, there are people to make sure you get back up. If you have a week where you don’t write, you have built in support to get back in the game.
Your classmates and teachers offer a refreshing challenge to any voices in your head that say, “I can’t” or “I’m not good enough.” Your colleagues can help you see your strengths.
A gifted and knowledgeable teacher will help you hone your writing skills and ability.

4. Find a Mentor, Coach or Editor: This person can provide support, accountability and technical skills. They can also help you problem solve to overcome any challenges.

5. Connect with Your Muse: We all have that creative part of us and inner knowing that can support us through any creative challenges. If you find yourself losing touch with that part of you, sit quietly, close your eyes and take an inner journey to connect. If this exercise sounds fun, try this free guided visualization for writers.

If the idea of a writing class or book writing program inspires you, consider my Bring Your Book to Life Program.

Writer’s Block? Good News about Neuroplasticity & Your Changeable Brain

July 8, 2011 by Lisa Tener

When I read Dr. RKG’s blog post on brain neuroplasticity and how to “take in the good” the lights went on for me. It hit home for me in a personal way, but I also connected some dots for some of my clients who may embark on book writing with lurking belief systems like:

– “I can’t write.”

– “It’s dangerous to express myself (or my truth).”

– “When I’m fully in my power, I won’t have anyone to love me.”

– “Telling my story/truth will hurt others.”

– “I’ll never write anything worthy enough for people to read/buy.”

It can take work to get over such belief systems (as some people call them, the tapes in their head). One of the things I do with my clients is focus on what’s working in their writing and building on that. And giving them exercises to do–replace the passive verbs with active ones when they can, for instance–and celebrating how much better the writing becomes as they incorporate such techniques.

I met DrRKG at Harvard Medical School's CME publishing course. Here I am with faculty colleague and literary agent Regina Brooks and Dr. RKG

Reading about neuroplasticity makes me see why that works so well–we’re reprogramming the brain and reinforcing the positive experiences around writing.

I won’t steal Randy’s thunder–I just highly recommend you check out her post and Dr. Hanson’s simple 3 step exercise for “taking in the good.” Your writing may take a huge leap forward when you do so.

I’d love to hear your experiences around this.

Book Writing: How to Get the Writing Done

Here’s how my check in went:

Write a Book? What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Writer’s Block? Shift Your Subconscious Beliefs

Great Books for Writers and Authors

Inspired to Write: How to Keep the Juices Flowing

Writing Strategies for Staying Inspired

Writer’s Block? Good News about Neuroplasticity & Your Changeable Brain

Write a Book

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