The purpose of this exercise is to uncover and articulate specific challenges that are sources of your writer’s block.
The goal is to take the vague, overwhelming feelings of being creatively blocked and gain some clarity about how they manifest for you.
This is a crucial step in identifying the right strategies to overcome what's holding you back.
THE EXERCISE
1 — Review the list of potential sources of writer’s block below, looking for any that resonate with your personal struggles as a writer.
2 — Write down specific instances where you've experienced each relevant source.
Be detailed and honest.
Feel free to add any sources that aren't included in this list.
If an instance fits with multiple sources, repeat it under each relevant category.
Record as few or as many instances as you can.
Skip any that don’t apply.
examples below
3 — Assess the results.
1 — REVIEW THE SOURCES of WRITER’S BLOCK
Perfectionism:
Striving for perfection — especially at the wrong stage — can paralyze your creativity.
Self-Doubt:
Lacking confidence in your abilities or ideas.
Fear of Failure:
Worrying about not meeting expectations or falling short.
Fear of Success:
Feeling anxious about the responsibilities, expectations, and pressures that could come with the next level of success.
Comparisonitis:
Constantly measuring yourself against other writers.
Lack of Inspiration:
Feeling uninspired or unable to generate ideas.
Fear of Commitment:
Hesitating to commit to an idea or project because of doubts about the choice or ability to finish.
Overwhelm:
Feeling swamped with tasks and unable to prioritize.
Procrastination:
Delaying work or avoiding tasks.
Criticism (Internal or External):
Fear of being judged or receiving negative feedback, self-judgment, self-criticism.
Time Constraints:
Feeling pressured by deadlines or finding time to write.
Undefined Goals:
Lacking clear objectives, professional writing goals, or direction.
Isolation:
Feeling disconnected or lonely in the creative process.
Routine:
Lacking a routine or sticking to an overly rigid routine that stifles creativity.
Structure:
Lacking structure in the project that defines your path forward or trying to adhere to an overly strict plan that stifles creativity.
Distractions:
External factors demanding your attention and stealing your focus.
External Obligations:
Responsibilities to family, social obligations, or work demands.
Lack of Skill Development:
Feeling inadequate in certain skills.
Financial Concerns:
Worrying about the financial viability of your work; limited sources of income.
Unresolved Personal Issues:
Grieving; processing unresolved emotions; conflicts in your personal relationships; feeling reluctant to be vulnerable; trauma surfacing; substance use/ addiction.
Lack of Feedback:
Needing constructive, compassionate external feedback in order to move forward.
Physical Limitations:
Recovering from illness or injury; dealing with on-going physical or mental health challenges; medication side effects.
Burnout:
Physical and emotional exhaustion from overworking.
2 — WRITE DOWN YOUR EXPERIENCES
Here are some examples to illustrate how you might identify specific instances of blocks in your own experiences.
Your own words are best, but if it’s helpful, you can copy-and-paste any of mine that resonates with you. The goal is to get something down on paper / on screen that you can objectively assess and refer back to.
Perfectionism:
Examples:
I’m afraid my words won’t live up to the ideal work in my mind.
I keep revising the first chapter of my novel, chasing perfection rather than continuing the story.
I agonize over word choices and tiny tweaks, unable to let go and move on.
I find myself editing and rewriting my work repeatedly, trapped in a cycle of never feeling satisfied.
Self-Doubt:
Examples:
I'm paralyzed by the fear of committing to the “wrong” project and wasting my time.
I constantly question my abilities and fear that I'm just not talented enough.
I worry that my ideas are unoriginal and won't capture anyone's interest.
I lack formal credentials and worry that people won’t take me seriously.
I'm my worst critic, and the constant self-doubt is draining.
I'm haunted by the fear that I simply don't have what it takes to succeed.
Fear of Failure:
Examples:
I'm terrified that my book won't find an audience and will be a commercial flop.
I'm scared that readers will hate my work and leave negative reviews.
I'm anxious that my writing won't get any “likes” or engagement online.
I'm putting off starting my next project because I’m afraid it won't live up to the success of my previous work.
I need feedback on my draft, but I dread hearing about all the flaws and mistakes.
I'm petrified that I’m wasting my time and effort on a doomed project.
Fear of Success:
Examples:
I put off sending queries to agents because I’m afraid of what will happen if they want to see more.
I’m afraid if my writing takes off, I will lose my freedom and flexibility.
In order to take my business to the next level, I need to hire an assistant. But what if I can’t afford to pay them?
I need a team to help me, but then I’ll have to spend time and energy training them.
If this book does well, readers are going to demand a sequel right away.
I’m worried that if my writing is successful, I won’t be able to maintain it long term.
Comparisonitis:
Examples:
Reading a successful writer's latest release fills me with despair about my own skills and potential.
Seeing other writers sharing their work makes me feel like a failure.
Seeing how productive other authors are makes me feel like I'm not working hard enough.
Comparing my social media following to others’ leaves me feeling inadequate.
The success of my peers is a constant reminder of my own shortcomings.
I can't help but compare myself to others, and it always makes me feel inferior.
Lack of Inspiration:
Examples:
I sit at my desk, waiting for inspiration that never comes, and every word feels like a battle.
My creative well has dried up, and I'm struggling to come up with fresh ideas.
Writing has become a tedious chore, devoid of any joy or inspiration.
The spark that used to fuel my writing has vanished, leaving my words feeling lifeless.
Fear of Commitment:
Examples:
I struggle to choose which idea to focus on because I’m afraid I'll miss out on a better one.
I'm worried about dedicating months to a single project because I might get bored or lose interest halfway through.
I’m afraid of the long-term responsibility of maintaining a newsletter or regularly engaging with readers on social media.
I'm reluctant to pick a niche or genre because I don’t want to end up stuck in a creative box.
I worry that committing to a long-term writing project might take away from other important areas of my life.
Overwhelm:
Examples:
Admin duties are drowning out my writing time.
The sheer volume of tasks on my to-do list overwhelms me.
I feel the months of work looming in my future and I can’t focus on today.
Managing the business side of my writing seems to eclipse the creative work.
The amount of work I have to do paralyzes me. I don’t know where to start.
Procrastination:
Examples:
I put off writing until the last minute, resulting in rushed, subpar work.
I post work that's full of mistakes because I didn't leave myself enough time to review it properly.
I waste my writing time on social media.
I spend so much time getting started that I never get into the flow of writing.
I hide behind research as an excuse to avoid actually putting words on the page.
I keep signing up for courses and workshops, but never actually start writing or finish any projects.
Criticism (Internal or External):
Examples:
A single negative comment haunts me, despite all the positive reviews I've received.
The thought of seeing my editor's corrections fills me with dread, like getting a bad grade.
People finding mistakes in my work is humiliating.
A reader pointing out a typo makes me feel like a failure.
I can't see anything beyond the flaws and imperfections in my writing.
The pressure from my family to get a “real” job weighs on me.
Time Constraints:
Examples:
My deadline looms like a ticking time bomb, filling me with dread and anxiety.
I feel a deep sense of regret for every day that passes without making progress towards my writing goals.
The sense of time running out makes it impossible to focus.
There's never enough time to balance my writing with everything else on my plate.
I end each day or week feeling like a failure for not dedicating enough time to my writing.
I schedule time to write, but life always seems to get in the way.
I feel guilty for prioritizing my creative time over other responsibilities.
Undefined Goals:
Examples:
I sit down to write, but without a clear goal, my writing sessions end up feeling aimless and unproductive.
I use writing sprints to try to boost my productivity, but without a clear direction, I just end up with unusable words.
I spend countless hours on discovery writing, but I still don't know what story I'm trying to tell.
I intend to work on my current project, but I keep getting sidetracked by new ideas I feel like I need to capture.
Isolation:
Examples:
I avoid social media because seeing others' successes only fuels my sense of inadequacy and isolation.
I hide my struggles from others, because I’m afraid that they'll see me as a failure.
I'm trapped in my mind, cut off from the outside world.
I spend endless hours in my home office, never going anywhere or interacting with others.
I lack a community of writer friends or peers, leaving me feeling disconnected and alone on my writing journey.
Routine:
Examples:
I wait to feel inspired before writing, and let another day go by without working.
I stick to a rigid writing schedule, leaving no room for rest or flexibility.
I've mapped out my entire writing year, but any unexpected obstacles throw me off track and leave me feeling behind.
I'm always experimenting with new writing routines, but I never seem to find the perfect one.
Writing has become a monotonous cycle, leaving me feeling like I'm making no progress.
I beat myself up for not sticking to my writing routine, even when life gets in the way.
Structure
Examples:
I’m afraid strict outlines or templates will kill my creativity.
I feel lost without a clear framework or roadmap, unsure about where to start or how to make progress.
I worry that if I follow a specific writing method, my work will be unoriginal and formulaic.
I don’t have enough structure in my writing process and I end up wasting time backtracking and revising.
I struggle to find a balance between organization and creative freedom.
Distractions:
Examples:
I vow to stay off social media, but I always end up breaking my promise.
I immediately respond to texts during my writing sessions, even though I know I should wait.
I can't resist chatting with friends online, even when I'm supposed to be writing.
I find myself getting caught up in online gossip and drama, instead of focusing on my work.
I constantly check for notifications to see if anyone’s tagged me online.
External Obligations
Examples:
Every day it seems there’s always some new “fire” to put out, some new challenge that consumes my time and energy.
Committing to this group project was a mistake, and now I'm stuck with it.
My kids always need my attention, and I feel guilty if I don’t put them first.
My day job leaves me drained and unable to summon the energy to write in my free time.
My responsibilities as a parent and spouse always take priority over my writing.
My aging parents require more of my attention and support, leaving me with less time for writing.
The pressure to make a living from my writing is overwhelming, and it's hindering my creativity.
Lack of Skills:
Examples:
I recognize the weaknesses in my writing, but I don't invest time in improving my skills because I fear it will take away from my writing time.
I receive feedback on my writing, but I feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to address the recurring issues.
I want to learn how to use Facebook ads effectively, but I'm afraid of wasting time and money in the process.
I keep creating content for my newsletter, but I don’t have a clear strategy to turn it into tangible results.
I sign up for writing classes, but I struggle to follow through and apply what I've learned.
Financial Concerns:
Examples:
Writing demands a significant investment of time and effort, but the financial return is uncertain.
I need my day job to pay the bills, but it takes a toll on my time and energy for writing.
I worry that if I pursue writing full time, the market could change, and sales might not be as good in the future as they are now.
The success of one book doesn't guarantee that future projects will be equally successful.
I struggle to overcome the stereotype of the starving artist and the fear of financial instability.
I have no choice but to write this book if I want to make ends meet.
The success of this book is crucial to my ability to continue writing and supporting myself.
Platforms like Amazon can change their royalty percentage at any time.
Algorithms make it increasingly difficult to get noticed and reach readers.
Investing in professional services like editing, cover design, and marketing often exceeds the returns from book sales.
Unresolved Personal Issues:
Examples:
I need time to grieve, but the pressure to keep writing is overwhelming.
The conflicts in my personal relationships consume my thoughts and prevent me from immersing myself in my work.
I know my past trauma could inform my writing, but revisiting those experiences is too painful.
I struggle with self-doubt and a lack of purpose, which hinders my ability to write with confidence.
The challenges of the past year have left me feeling insecure and uncertain about my abilities.
I recognize that my substance use is holding me back, but breaking the habit feels impossible.
My fear of vulnerability prevents me from exploring deeper emotional truths in my writing.
Lack of Feedback:
Examples:
Writing in isolation without any input or encouragement from others leaves me wondering if my work is even worth pursuing.
Without constructive feedback, I’m not sure if I’m heading in the right direction or overlooking something important.
It’s hard to stay motivated without a group of trusted writer friends to share my work with.
Lack of engagement from my audience makes me question if my writing is resonating with anyone at all.
I’m afraid to find out I’ve wasted time and hard work on a bad idea.
Physical Limitations
Examples:
I want to write more, but my physical limitations prevent me from doing so.
Chronic pain is a constant distraction that makes it hard to focus on my writing.
Insomnia leaves me exhausted and unable to tap into my creative energy.
Migraines make it impossible for me to look at a computer screen.
This illness has already caused me to miss several writing days, and I’m afraid that I’m falling behind.
Burnout:
Examples:
I force myself to work long hours without breaks, even when I'm exhausted.
Just thinking about opening my writing app makes me feel drained and resistant.
Deadlines that once motivated me now leave me feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed.
The thought of writing is exhausting.
I used to have a million ideas, but my creative well has run dry.
Every minor obstacle feels insurmountable.
The thought of all the work ahead feels impossible to manage.
Writing used to be my joyful escape, but now it feels like a chore.
I can’t see the bigger picture anymore. I feel lost in the details and my long-term goals feel unattainable.
I often think about giving up on my writing dreams.
Even taking steps to help myself feels like too much effort.
3 — ASSESS THE RESULTS
Look for patterns and themes in your experiences to find valuable insight into your unique barriers and challenges as a writer.
Some questions to consider:
Which sources of writer's block do you have the most examples of?
What fears come up repeatedly in your experiences? Look for “What if…” or “I’m afraid that…” or “I worry…”
What emotional keywords do you find yourself repeating? Look for anything that follows the word “feel.”
Are there more internal or external pressures at play?
WRITE ME
Reply to the Sources email I sent you with the Top 3 ways that writer’s block is manifesting for you.
The next email in The Writer’s Reboot series explores the subconscious causes of your creative blocks.
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