1. Critical childhood voices: those voices from the past who tell you that you're not good enough, you're not creative, you're untalented, or lazy. They might have originated with parents, grandparents, caretakers, teachers or siblings. While you no longer may hear actual voices in your head, you've incorporated their views of you somewhere along the way, and these views (or self-beliefs) crop up at the worst times for your writing. The feelings of anger and self-doubt that result produce confusion, sap your motivation and makes you wonder if you should even proceed.
2. Personality style: passive or aggressive, outgoing or shy, rigid or flexible, courageous or fearful. An outgoing person may be great at book signings and marketing his work, yet block when it's time to sit down--alone--and write for three hours. The flexible person may have numerous ideas that flow effortlessly from him, and he may be able to juggle a number of different projects, yet he may block when it's time to choose just one idea and get to work. The insecure person may write fluidly and happily alone, yet block when nearing the end of her story because she's too afraid of rejection to submit a finished product.
Your past may have produced defense mechanisms that can also cause you to block. If you have been rejected by parents as a child, you may tend to reject others before they can reject you as an adult. You may quit your critique group, rejecting them before they can reject your work, and end up blocked in your writing. Get to know the quirks--both positive and negative--of your own personality.
3. Self-criticism: harsh and self-punishing judgments on our work and marketing efforts. Even when our criticism is well founded and accurate, harsh criticism defeats and blocks us before we can get started. Self-esteem plummets, courage then fails, and we shut off the computer and head to the refrigerator. We're afraid we're deluding ourselves both about the viability of the project we're working on, as well as our basic ability to tell a good story. This can certainly stop our writing in its tracks.
Great post- ....I don't believe in writing schedule cause i get inspired at any time , place or by any person or event. Another thing that tends to block the flow of ideas & thoughts is procrastination and self induced pressure. some advice I got from Melanie Pappaya of SANEF: Writers, write!! On point three - I love strong criticism & brutal honesty - its the key to self development- but i have never been put off to publish a piece that i felt was worth it.
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