I said, Go Block Yourself!

Delving further into the dreaded Writers Block and how to prevent it.

#writerswednesday #writingwednesday #amwriting #writinglife #morningroutine #morningmotivation

In celebration of my first milestone, reaching the first 10,000 words on the ⅘ draft of my novel, I wish to discuss with you my 4 am routine and the effects the early rise can have on your productivity, so keep reading…

So, as you saw last week, there are numerous reasons, psychological and physical that cause writer's block. This week, I’d like to discuss what the block can be done about it (I’m getting too fond of using blocks as a bleep now). This week is all about solutions. And as I mentioned in Part One last week, I have tried and tested them all, and I wish to share my particular go-to’s with you.

Well, more of what those experts say is mentioned below, but you have added reassurance. I’ve done them all, and I have my favourites.

But first, I want to take a moment to mention how important both your physical and mental energy is. There are suggestions within the text that maybe some of you are not ready for yet, and when I get to my morning writing routine, you’re going to ask, ‘Are you showing off to rub it in our faces, or what?’. Be assured, this did not come easy and only when I was ready. The whole purpose of talking about writers' bock is because, for 6 years, I had nothing but that at the worst of times - the worst of times being all the time and always after a crash of non-stop writing. From one extreme to the other, writing to wanting to write, being ecstatic to fully depressed and guilt-ridden, I promise you, I am the voice to tell you how it can be ok! We do so much fretting about what others look like they're doing that we lose ourselves, hence why I was so firm on the damages of perfectionism last week.

I'm showing up for my part. You do yours!

I will go into full, honest, and genuine details about how it was for me and how it is now. You can build yourself up to this, too.

When you start feeling yourself staring at the screen or wishing to do something else, something more entertaining and less mentally straining, I urge you to try one or mix the following before you look back at the wasted time and a dust-filled manuscript, unfinished and neglected:

Walking:

As someone who’s pushed out a baby or two, I've thrown myself into workout after workout. I detest running, and the only cardio I enjoy is swimming. The rest are weights orientated. But every PT has said the same thing. Walking is the best way to lose weight when you haven't worked out in a while. But we’re not exercising our bodies; we are exercising our imagination, and sometimes that means giving it a break and allowing it to come to you when it can. Walking out in nature could be just the trick - walk through the woods or your local park. Take a trip to another area you’ve been dying to see. Hike a mountain and do it for the love of nature because it is nature that will bring your stories to life when you least expect it. You could be throwing bread to the ducks while strolling around the pond, and all of a sudden, it’s the ripples in the water that give you inspiration to start your story with a memory or watching a child play in the sand only for one of the big kids to know over their sand-castle you want to write about a knight avenging the mutiny of their fathers, fathers, mothers donkey that you tended in the stables… you catch my drift. Get out and walk at your leisure and at peace.

Discipline:

4 am mornings or 11 pm nights, write at the same time! It doesn’t matter how you prefer to write but be advised that when it comes to writer's block, you are not going to want to. So get to your laptop when the time is right for you and write anything. Just any amount of complete and utter shite will do for now. Just show up at the same time every day and create your routine. I go through my own towards the end of the post, and I can assure you, no one's days are going to be as busy as mine, so don't worry, thinking your planner has to be jam-packed; mine’s not like that every day!

Use Another Project:

I am a sucker for this, so those of you that tend to get easily distracted, or are on the neurodivergent side, do this with caution. Sometimes, you need a break. But you don't want to maintain that momentum. Turn your journal into a blog. Come up with a sequel idea. Write a terrible play that no one will ever see because it's too raunchy. Anything. This will get the creative juices flowing so that you can turn the narrative of your original story on a whim into the next phase or scene. You'll miss your work and want to rekindle your connection.

Try Subconscious Writing:

Another name for this type of writing is ‘Free Writing’; this is pure messy fun. If you're into that kind of thing, try saving this for the morning after your dream recordings. You write whatever the F%*k comes into your head. It is not supposed to make sense. It is genuine and intentional gibberish—So get wild, go crazy with this one. Lines and lines of rambling thoughts piled into a page of nonsensical poetry!

Reading:

They say always read what you want to write. And you should. But for leisurely purposes, read whatever you want, whatever you crave… And don't forget to read WILDLY!

Writing Groups:

This is the prime reason I decided to look into my Writing Community. They help with writer's block by engaging with other writers, getting a different perspective, and extra eyes and ears. Giving feedback on someone else's work and listening to the imagination from worlds and worlds of others' minds, the energy in Writing Groups is timeless. It doesn't even have to be a group. Reach out to a mate or college in the same area as yourself, swap manuscripts, short stories, or even memoirs, and give each other valuable feedback and support!

Now that you have the solutions to your Writers Block woes, you can tell them yourself to Block off.... now for 'wise old woman advice' on why I think you should consider a 5 am start, at the very least

The Early Riser

The Early Bird Catches The Word Count…. Did I just come up with a title for another post I can elaborate on? Me thinks so!

I used to be a night owl. In fact, I swore by the creative powers of the moon and denied any reasons for writing at any other time. But, I'm frickin busy, man! I learned quickly enough that I could not rely on the creativity genius to pop up whenever they felt like it. As Elizebeth Gilbert put it, I'm showing up for my part. You do yours!

My 4 am start may be extreme to some people, and you're perfectly right if you don't have the wiggle room, and sleep is REALLY IMPORTANT. Don't ever say you're going to get up at 4 or 5 when you've only had an hour or two of sleep, and certainly don't feel guilty about testing or napping )if you can) on your breaks. But I couldn't push harder for you to consider 5 am. Sometimes, the only way to fit anything in is to do it before work. In other words, start your day before the start of the day. It takes breaking into, but if I can manage it, you can too. And that's coming from a former 'snooze alarm' advocate.

I’d like to share with you a typical day for me since I really started getting in gear with my writing and giving a middle finger to writer’s block.

Note: as mentioned above, my days are unpredictable. The routine I have below is a ‘typical’ day where I haven't decided to get out and work in the library, or there isnt an appointment or last-minute pick-up of the kids sick from school. This is usually how I start to plan the day but I allow myself the freedom to skip times, change them around, or note to save them for a better day. Life is stressful enough without getting anxious over a box left unticked! The main point of my routine is that no matter what is going on, I keep showing up with intention!

Now, the above looks lovely and tidy, but that’s just to give you a sneak peek at a simplified day without any setbacks, mishaps or rescheduling. It’s more of a wishful-thinking schedule. This is more of a typical day for me:

There’s also a lot more detail in my planner than the template; I literally did that on Canva, which took me only 20 minutes last night before bed. I have a journal that I use for the evening should I have homework for the day or need extra time. It looks like this:

It's not as satisfying with all of that blank space at the top of the schedule list, but I need it. The Power Planner only runs from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and I need to set targets for the evening.

Plus, do you see how messy the Power Planner is? There’s something about the clutter of the day plan, though. Those red ticks are scrumptious!

And as I mentioned before, the days don't always look that cluttered. Like I said in my post, Don't You Know About the Word Count? You often hear of praise for Mark Whalbergs routine. People forget his routine where there are only three recorded hours of sleep and family time is only when he is preparing for a role. It’s not like that all of the time; otherwise, the man would be a schizophrenic mess! My schedule is much the same simply because I must learn about other projects now. There are plenty of days when my list looks like this:

I was clearly unsure of my intentions on this day, and my evening journal results were quite low. I make sure that I am honest with myself on days like this, which is a day I know I will be out and about, too. So, I wasn't able to keep up with some of my projects, and at this stage, I hadn't organised my curricula.

That’s what I love about the Power Planner. It’s focused on progress, and if it wasn't for days like this, I wouldn't have the busier ones, nor would I be able for the usual unpredictable setback that so easily and frequently occurs!

Now…Getting back to the reason we’re here: Writers Block.

The reason why it's so prevalent in the arts industry, particularly the writing industry, is because it’s one of the most valuable and vulnerable things we will ever do in life. If lists and organisations help us fight that dreaded block away, then do it. If you're a powerhouse, remember to rest and, above all, keep showing up

Your lists shouldn't control everything. They are simply guides. I realise my day plans and evening journals may seem a bit much, but remember, like Mark Wahlberg, I am preparing for my role.

For some of us, writing is our breath; for others, it's our cherished companion. Letting the world in on that intimacy is intimidating and terrifying. So don't look at the negatives and the worst-case scenarios; look at the possibilities for yourself as an individual, a professional and, first and foremost, as a writer.

All that being said, I recognise it’s quite easy. Talking about it, I mean. But many people have been stuck on chapter 3 of their stories or the start-up of their business idea with no signs of return, not just because of the aforementioned causes and solutions but because of a lack of energy.

That’s why I want you to consider how your energy and stress levels can greatly impact you negatively and positively. And that, dear readers, is your hint for next week's topic…

That's it for week three. Don't forget to recap on Go Block Yourself Part One if you missed the reasons writer's block occurs. It's always good to have the whole set!

Thanks again for checking me out. I'm ever so flattered.

I'd like to leave you with a final message. Your lists shouldn't control everything. They are simply guides. I realise my day plans and evening journals may seem a bit much, but remember, like Mark Wahlberg, I am preparing for my role. My schedule will calm down, my days will be filled with more chores and mundane duties, and I have a baby on the way. So, let's just say things are about to get interesting. Oh, and full disclosure, as mentioned in my Reel, I haven't even begun to mention how times have changed for me. I have a very supportive blue-collar partner. That really, REALLY helps get a lot of stuff done, and there are plenty of days when, no matter how far ahead I plan, things go astray! Just keep it up the next day. Life is supposed to be unpredictable, much like the first draft of your novel. So be kinder to yourself

To keep up with any updates on my Raid Writes: Remote Writing Group, follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Hell, I'm practically on them all, but those are the dominant platforms I am in the midst of building.

If you are happy with my content or have any questions, subscribe to the blog, and don't be shy. You can always reach me on my platforms or here at maireadcauthor@gmail.com for collaborations and feedback.