Is It Writer's Block Or Writing Anxiety?

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

I used to teach writing classes at a local literary center and I focused my courses on magazine writing, fiction and blogging. When a student came to the class (and these were adults) telling me that they didn't do the assignment last week because they had Writer's Block I countered by saying it wasn't WB, but Writing Anxiety or in some cases, Writing Laziness! If you're a writer, you should be an avid reader and those two habits should combine to give you ideas and spark your creativiity. If you find it doesn't and you find yourself with sweaty palms and beating heart when you sit down to write a blog post, it could be a case of Writer's Anxiety.

Here are some tips to overcome that, move forward, and get that blog post written:

• Do you hate what you’re writing? If that’s the case, you should step back and evaluate why you’re writing on the topic you’ve chosen and see if you can revamp and write about something else. Has your blog taken a turn toward topics on which you’re simply not interested? Who’s to say you can’t turn it around? No one!
• Are you writing outside of your comfort zone? Did you agree to blog about something about which you know nothing and have either no – or negative feelings? Is there a reason you can’t simply say, “thanks, but no thanks?”
• Did you write a post recently that received negative (or no) feedback? While it’s easy for me to say, you need to move past negative comments and remember the person who commented is a stranger who doesn’t know anything about you and that one post on which they commented may be an aberration. They may have loved everything you’ve written before. Remember, people are more likely to complain than to praise.

When you’re hit with any of these feelings above it can make you want to throw in the towel and give up pet blogging forever, right? Don’t let it. There are ways to power through to the other side and come out happier!

• This should be a no-brainer but sometimes we need a reminder. Write about what you love! If you don’t love what you’re blogging about, every post will be a chore.
• Set attainable goals. If you’re trying to blog seven days a week, take care of the family – both two- and four-legged – hold down a full time job and take care of the house, it’s simply too much. Step back and blog less frequently. That may help bring the joy back to your blogging time.
• Do you have a goal you’re trying to achieve with your blogging? For example, are you blogging to become known in the pet field for your expertise on a particular subject? Are you hoping your blogging leads to speaking engagements? Are you blogging your way to a book? Knowing your goal will help you focus your efforts.

Nurture your creativity and look at your blogging efforts as a positive experience. Truly, if writing a blog post is as painful as a dentist’s visit, who’d want to do it? Not I! Are you suffering writing anxiety? Have you in the past? How did you move past it? 

 

 

Comments

[Kimberly, The Fur Mom]

When I'm having trouble writing, then I know that it's because I need to take a break. Writing should be fun; it's not always and sometimes it's difficult, but when I take a break and come back, it's golden and the words flow.

I tend to write in waves, which allows me to collect posts to safe as drafts for the days when I'm not feeling inspired to write.

[Lisa B.]

Sometimes I have a hard time writing because I'm trying to force a topic that isn't going to happen.

[Glogirly and Katie]

As hard as it is to be funny some days...I always seem to find inspiration in my cats. I take hundreds of photos of them so when I'm stuck, I just start looking through them and something usually pops into my head.

I also try to look at ordinary things that happen everyday from their point of view. When I personify them and keep true to their personalities, the giggles come.

; )

[Robbi]

Great ideas for getting past a block. I agree, if a post isn't fun it can take forEVER to get it written. Writing should be a joy!