It’s taken me over a year to do something about my writer’s block.
In the process of trial and error, which I’ll tell you about in this post, I discovered my personal writing process.
By that, I mean a series of rituals that primes me for writing. They light me up so that I’m feeling good by the time I sit down in front of that glaring white document.
I paid a coach to help me figure out why. The heck. I wasn’t. Writing.
The first issue was that I wasn’t making time to write. She helped me lay out a typical weekly schedule to follow.
I wanted to write in the mornings, around 5 to 7. I also wanted to go to the local library for a few hours on Saturdays to get in a different space.
But I wasn’t writing in the morning, I was snoozing. And I’d say, “I’m thinking about going to the library today…” and never went.
When my coach asked me if I felt more creative in the morning or in the evening, my gut responded for me. I’ve always been a night owl.
So I shifted writing to evenings, and I committed to a chunk of time on Saturdays just for me.
I’m writing this post from the library on a Saturday.
But more than the schedule, there was the mindset.
On several occasions, I told my coach, “I just don’t want it to come across as lazily or easily written.”
After about the fifth time, she asked me to define those words for myself.
I realized I wanted to write a book with a thoroughly developed plot — no plot holes — with characters that are relatable and surprising.
With models like J.K. Rowling and Sarah J. Maas, how could I expect anything less?
I want to write a book that someone like me will re-read the same way I’ve re-read Rowling and Maas’ works.
This thought used to make me want to hibernate until the first draft was finished. It’s a tough thing to put words on the page, knowing there’s not even a remote chance that they are what you want them to be in the end.
My high expectations were setting me up for failure.
So I shifted my focus to writing a scene I would enjoy reading.
With that limiting belief out of the way, I was free to write.
But nothing came.
So again, I reached out to my coach.
She suggested I create some pre-writing rituals to open up the word flow. Some sort of movement, followed by nourishment, setting the scene for writing, gathering inspiration on Pinterest, and finally writing.
In the past, I thought everything except writing was “cheating” or “procrastinating.” Those were limiting beliefs, too — how did I expect myself to write without priming my mind and body for it?
I bought some crystals to set out while I write (blue apatite and flourite). I burn sage to cleanse the air and my almost-frantic generator brain. I have a Spellwork tincture I use to encourage the words to flow, and hopefully imbue my work with a little magic of its own. I light a candle to soften the mood and my own expectations.
I don’t do every single thing every single time. I have to consciously avoid too much repetition, or else I’ll feel trapped. Having a variety of witchy strategies, as well as choices of media (notebooks and felt tip pens, a sketchbook with no lines and a pencil, my Chromebook and my fingers, my iPad and stylus) keeps my juices flowing. It keeps the energy moving.
Writer’s block is just stagnant energy. Find the blocks, remove them, and you’re free to write again.
Blessed Be
The Writing Witch 